|
rotecradial Polikarpov
I-16
Fighter |
Navigation
- Back to: |
|
|
|
||
..
..........Polikarpov I-16 Completed:
..........Videos of 1st Sart and Taxi Tests: rotecradial
Three
Videos: 
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3)
Three
Videos: 
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3)
High
Speed > 
....
.VVV FLYING & Volker's Comments!
17th June 2009:
First Series of Pics> .
.
.
.............
Hi Guys,
VVV commited aviation today. Many thanks again for your wonderfull engine. It sounds awesome. Just a few adjustments to the airframe are needed, the engine runs perfectly. Nr 2 cyl runs slightly hotter in a longer climb, we'll see how this runs in over the next few hours.
cheers
Volker19th June 2009: Added 4 more videos and large static shots ...
..
..
..
. .
2nd Series of Pics >
9th July 200: Hi Jim, Hi Paul,
The plane has now flown allmost 5 hours and the engine performes flawlessly. Many thanks again. Please find some new video here:
I changed the prop pitch, so that we can only get 2600 rpm (engine) statically. On the takeoff run this drops slightly when the prop gets some grip and then gets up to 2800rpm for the climb at 100kts. With this we can avoid overreving the engine at higher speeds. So-far we got the plane to 165kts and the engine would have ample reserves, but needs a constant speed unit. Otherwise, all people that see and hear it are impressed, and you have to say, the sound is awesome. :)
So long, -Volker
..........Classic Photos: r
. 
.
.
. 
.
. 
. 
Volker Writes (3rd November 2008):
The tests
yesterday were at half power, just to get a feel for the plane (I was
on the brakes the whole time, I have to consciously get my feet off ;)
.
The prop uses blades are from GT in Italy but the hub is made locally.
I did the design and verification calcs (TBO min1000h). The hub bolts
on using a rear flange, like MT props have. Dia 1.94m.
Today full static power runs had to be shut down after 1min each as the
CHT ran away (no cowling), max static 2300rpm (prop).
After that I did the high speed taxi tests today as well (w cowling).
without backpressure the tail comes up, but I didn't dare and look at
the ASI then. The slowing down was spectacular for the bystanders (no
video of THAT), I have to remember the massive torque, my plane has NO
roll inertia :)
Max rpm on the go today 2000 prop rpm. The gain still to go is rather
scary :) It would certainly fly off even at half throttle, if I would
let it.
With cowling on the CHT was not a problem, the augmented exhausts work
well.
Wing loading is about 80kg/m2 at MAUW, so only 2/3rd of original...
Volker
More to come ...
rotecradial Now read about the project:
Volker Heydecke Russian Polikarpov I-16 Fighter (1st of its kind):
A
Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 over the eastern front during World War II.
Often referred to as the I-16 Ishak (Little Donkey)
Originally powered by a 450HP radial it made its first appearance in 1933 and flew in December of 1933 achieving a creditable 376 km/h (234 mph).
Development continued and the I-16 took on a 1000HP radial which provided speeds reaching over 520km/h (325 mph).
It was also used by the Republicans in the Spanish Civil war (1936). rotecradial YOU ARE @ HOME of Rotecradial
|
Specifications
Polikarpov I-16
|
||
|
Original
|
2/3
Scale (as scaled by Volker)
|
|
| Wing span | 29 ft. 6.5 in (9.18 m) | 6 m |
| Length | 6.13 m (20 ft 1.25 in) | 4 m |
| Weights | Empty: 3,110 lb. (1,412 kg) | MAUW 400Kg |
| Operational: 4,034 lb (1,831 kg) | max pilot weight 90kg | |
| Speed | 288 mph (463 km/h) (Maximum) | VNE 240kts and a stall speed 45kts (full flaps) |
| Service Ceiling | 29,500 ft. (8,998 m) | |
| Range | 500 miles (805 km) | tank volume max 80L (plus drop tanks) |
| Powerplant | Shvetsov M-62R 1,000 hp 9-cylinder radial | 150HP 9 cylinder Rotec R3600 (3:2 Geared) |
| Armament | Two 7.62 mm machine guns with two 20 mm cannon. | |
Additional info from Volker: Polikarpov and RotecRadial home page
As I need to outfit my plane with flaps to achieve the low stall speed I will finish the plane with the ideas of the early models of the I16, i.e. sliding canopy, flaps, no gun fairings.
As the scale factor is hitting everybody over the head I did need to make changes to the original layout of the plane, i.e. the wing sweep, nose length (the 9cyl is not heavy enough!), aileron shape, as these changes make the plane not unrecognisable but hopefully easier to fly.
Mr. Polikarpov in the early days had good intentions by making the design tail heavy by nature but we're not all fighter pilots or expendable.
The Russians did build this plane so lightweight, it's quite frustrating
at times to see what we can do today. For example weight of the outer
wings of the original plane 35kg each, holding 18g (1550kg MAUW - makes
about 7700kg load on that same bit of wing). That's a benchmark I like!
Volker
Date: 3rd May 2007:
Volker chose positive molding techniques. This means cutting plugs out of foam and glassing over (The foam will be removed to save weight)
It's a composite structure, the front and wing will be mainly fiber glass, cockpit and tail will be mainly carbon fiber..
At this stage the cockpit is ready to be outfitted with instruments and steering, the wing will get the undercarriage mockup next week.
.
.
. 
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge ...
At the moment I'm joining the tail cone to the cockpit section (weighs 35kg altogether), after which the tail feathers will be fitted and then the engine can be mounted.
Date September 2007:
October and November 2007:
. 
. 
April 2008: Hi Jim,
. Just
to let you know, I'm still working on my plane ;).
At the moment I'm waiting for the engine mount to be welded up.
The
cowling front is finished and incorporates a shutter, long air guides
towards the cylinder and a carb heat valve in the top carb air inlet
duct.
Cheers Volker
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge ...
6/5/2008
Hi Jim,
After
a few weeks waiting for the engine mount to be finished I got it and
painted it yesterday and today at night I mounted the engine. All went
well and the engine is sitting very proudly and wants to take the rest
of the plane for a flight :)
< (Left and right views of engine mounted)
Please find some pictures attached. I trial mounted the cowling front as well and it fits. The top air inlet with the carb heat box needs to be reworked slightly but otherwise it will work. As the engine had to move forward (the cylinders now sit at the correct scale position, but the PSRU makes the cowling a bit longer) for CoG reasons I now find ample space behind the engine for a straight down channel to the carburetor.
.In
the next days I should get the new canopy, the steering is allmost complete,
so the biggest hold back at the moment is the prop. But I'll sort this
out asap.
cheersVolker
< (Engine cowling and air flow shutter)
8/5/2008 Hi Jim,
Please
find attached a picture of the canopy blank that I got today. The work
on a mold for that really worked out.. Even so the russians used a multi-
facett canopy on the earlier types, I think Polikarpov would have used
a blown or vacuum (like mine) pulled canopy if it would have been available
at the time.
I'll make one sliding canopy with the short wind shield and one as a fully enclosed canopy. Testflying will be done with the short version pushed forward..
cheers Volker
Top Cowling and Exhaust (25th June 2008): Click on the thumbnails to enlarge ... rotecradial
Please find some more pictures attached here.They show the engine compartment and some details. Cowling
I finally went to a laminated vinylester oil tank in the top of the cowling front, high temperature stuff. It's sitting as much forward as can be and cooling of the oil should never be a problem. Only every 25h I have to unplug most of the hoses to get the cowling front off for the PSRU inspection. But it's a 5 minute job only..
The drain and overflow sit in front of the cylinders in the cowling between two inlets. For the cylinder drain I remove the whole bottom cowl, takes only 1 minute, less time than on the other planes we built with normal screws to hold the cowl on.
In between the rocker cases I made those baffles, I still need to establish if I need baffles between the cylinders..
Some more things to put in are the CHT and EGT probes and the stainless fire membran behind the exhaust stubs.
The whole installation looks now quite similar to the original russian (I guess a good thing here), only they didn't use fire sleeve arround the oil hoses.
Cheers
Volker
.
<
Cowling
.
<
Cowling
< Access
<
LH & RH Inside view
< Oil Tank
Volker
- Feb 2009:
I made a spinner and gear doors (all made by hand, it only takes time,
allmost no money).
The spinner has a central air intake with a diffusor aft, then a bulkhead in front of the prop hub and a back plate behind, both with holes to let the air through. I only have to fit seals arround the prop blades.
I
also cut holes in the front of the cowling (closing up when the shutter
closes) and put cooling ducts behind to guide the air onto the PSRU.
.
.
.
.
Wow!
Please
review the project as a whole by starting from the top...Clik the arrow
to go to the top: 
rotecRadial