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Sukhoi Su-1 / Su-3

1940 WORLD WAR 2 X-PLANE

History

The Su-1 (and related Su-3) fighter jet was a short-lived prototype development focused on the Soviet Sukhoi - essentially the beginning of the company's long history of quality aircraft, which has since continued to include the superb Su -27 Flanker air superiority Fighter and its many derivatives. The Soviet Air Force ordered an interceptor/high-altitude fighter in 1939, with the Sukhoi OKB-51 (founded in 1939) in charge. The type will be a state-of-the-art metal-wing monoplane design with a streamlined fuselage and a three-bladed propeller in the front.

The aircraft was given the prototype designation "I-300", also known as "Su-1".

The layout of the Su-1 for World War II fighter jets was very traditional. The engine moved forward in a compartment in front of the single-seat cockpit. The nose section of the spacecraft is streamlined aft of the tapered propeller hub. The metal-skinned single-wing structure is low and slightly V-shaped, with a straight overall shape.

The rear wing is conventional, with a curved vertical rear wing and applicable low horizontal plane. The pilot was seated amidships under a framed cockpit and had generally reasonable visibility around him, but limited visibility during ground operations due to the aircraft's long nose section and wing area. The landing gear consists of two single-wheeled main gear legs that retract under each wing root. A single-wheel tail wheel was mounted under the tail for support. Despite the metal wings, the overall fuselage structure was wooda sure sign of changing times (all-metal planes soon became the norm in WW2).

The design of the Su-1 is credited to Mr. Sukhoi himself - Pavel Sukhoi

The Su-1 prototype was completed in the spring of 1940, and the aircraft made its first flight on June 15 of that year. The outing proved a success, and additional developments followed, leading to more flights. However, during a test flight on August 3, the pilot accidentally landed the prototype with the landing gear up, resulting in weeks of repair damage (especially to the propeller blades).

In September, the prototype was again ready for testing. On October 2, another test flight resulted in an engine failure, sending the Su-1 prototype into a controlled glide landing. Technical problems with the turbocharger have plagued the program since then, resulting in few recorded flights.

However, in April 1941, the prototype reached an altitude of 32,810 feet and had a top speed of 400 mph.

Continued work on improving the Su-1 design, leading to the related Su-3 development. The wing arrangement was revised while retaining the Su-1's troublesome TK-2 turbos.

While the new wings helped improve performance figures, technical issues related to the Tk-2 system would eventually stall the program and eventually lead to its cancellation. The design of the Su-1/Su-3 absolutely required absolute performance from the turbochargers in flight, and their troublesome mass all but ensured that the aircraft would never be in service.

The Su-1/Su-3 program was completely discontinued on 16 April 1941. Both prototypes were later destroyed in airstrikes by German aircraft when the Soviet Union went to war with its former allies.