Yak-1 - The Soviet Pilots' Favorite

The Yak-1 entered service just before the German invasion during the Second World War and quickly became the pilot's favorite. It was the first in a dynasty of aircraft that saw more than 35,000 units produced. Join us for a look at this pivotal aircraft.
Game footage and aircraft models
War Thunder - / warthunder .
00:04 History
08:26 Legacy
10:49 Conclusion
Disclaimer - This channel is apolitical. We do not endorse any kind of political view.
Corrections
None
Music by order of appearance
History:
- Beautiful Oblivion by Scott Buckley ssoundcloud.comscottbuckley
Music promoted by httpswww.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
screativecommons.orglicensesby4.0
Legacy:
- Sacred Garden by Guilherme Bernardes from Pixabay
Conclusion:
- USSR | The Grand Score by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Sources
- Yakovlev's Piston-Engined Fighters - Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Khazanov.
- Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7 - Eastern Front 1941-42 - Dmitriy Khazanov & Aleksander Medved.
- Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume 1 - Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Khazanov.
- Yakovlev Aces of World War 2 - George Mellinger.
I do not own any of the images used in this video. The owners of such images are identified in the video itself.

[@milanvondrich9749]

When it comes to Soviet fighter aircraft, I always liked Lavochkin the most.

[@dante001ish]

I have a thing for the aesthetics of the Polikarpov I-16, She just looks like the last of the seat of your pants fighters & comes from an age before everything had to beat the 109 or 190.

[@thomasroth4695]

Lol. The Donkey is one of my WW 2 favorites. Fiat 55 also

[@dannya1854]

Brooo same I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. It looked like a true plucky doughy eyed underdog compared to other planes, and small and cheap enough to put in a personal garage.

[@alexwest2573]

The I-16 and CR-42 for me

[@ATBatmanMALS31]

I'm 37, and used to love the cartoon "Tailspin" when I was a kid (show about a variety of furry quadrupeds flying prop aircraft for delivery, piracy, and conquest). The I-16 was clearly and inspiration for some of the pirate planes, and I can't help being reminded of that every time I see one in War Thunder. Because of that show, I am romantic about open cockpit aircraft.

[@Scrat335]

In its time it was a good fighter but it was made obsolete quickly because of quickly advancing technology.

[@Cuccos19]

My favorite Soviet fighter from WWII is the Yak-3 with 3x 20mm Berezin B-20 cannons. Plenty of punch in such a tiny bird. Just to notice: Berezin B-20 was about 25kgs, the ShVAK cannon was about 42kgs and delivered about the same performance. ;)

[@ernest-ru]

Yak-3 with one 20mm Shpitalny and two 12.7mm Berezin. Yak-3P are prodiction in april 1945, out of war. Compare with FW-190D9 (with number of shells), Me-109K, Tempest.

[@austingode]

I find that these videos are just incredible…. So educational, beautiful plane ,when you forget what it was for

[@AllthingsWW2]

Thank you!

[@austingode]

@@AllthingsWW2 your welcome 🙏 love your channel

[@MDzmitry]

Thanks for not blaming every sin possible on Yakovlev. The Polikarpov controversy has seen some reignition here, and so far there is more evidence that Yakovlev tried to push I-185 into production (albeit a small scale one, alongside his Yak-9 with M-107 since both engines needed to be produced very precisely). As for my favourite Soviet fighter of WW2, I could go with La-5FN or La-7, but my favourite is Yak-3. When it comes to pilot friendliness and overall comfort, Yak is superior. Say "hello" to La's 40-60°C temperatures in the cockpit.

[@johneastman1905]

Thank you for the thoughtful and considerate note before your historic documentary. The Russian people have unfortunately suffered for century’s of bad leadership … Where as individuals have proven the virtue and merit of their value to society .

[@slashdotism]

The majority of the people still support these bad leaders though.

[@tomsoyka4801]

Same as Brits and Yanks

[@EneTheGene]

@@tomsoyka4801 Well, I would say that both the UK and US have had much better leadership. Just on the base that they haven't been dictatorships, where as Russia has always been a dictatorship. Of course some people think that dictatorships are superior, nothing objectively wrong with that.

[@SerbanOprescu]

@@EneTheGene Dictatorships have various forms, so, yeah. Some people do think their dictatorships are better.

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

They had Gorbachev but threw him away

[@jagers4xford471]

Your knowledge understanding and ability to transfer this information in a understandable format, is refreshing. Greatly appreciated is the accompanying accurate photographs and simulations. Thank you again!

[@Stripedbottom]

I have always had a penchant for the I-16. Basically the monoplane version of I-153, it's in a way a transitional aircraft between the pinnacle of the biplane fighter and the first successful monoplane fighters, and was very advanced and modern for a time. Being short, stubby and decidedly old fashioned looking compared to the 1st line fighters of WW2 it has this kind of "I may be small, but I can be spicy" air about it. Otherwise I have always also liked the other WW2 second line fighters in the same envelope that were pretty obsolescent when the war started, but in capable hands could still bring down a Bf-109 or similar in a favourable situation, and were certainly dangerous to most bombers. Such as the M.S.406, Fokker D.XXI and Fiat G.50. And of course the last of the dogfighting biplanes - I-153, Gloster Gladiator, Fiat CR.42, Avia B-534 and so on.

[@lllordllloyd]

A beautiful plane snd a well made video. I liked the way you explained the family tree of the Yaks... it can be a bit confusing because they do not really supercede one another, but rather the family branches into two.

[@AllthingsWW2]

Thank you!

[@PeteSampson-qu7qb]

It's just wonderful to learn more about these planes from a not-British/American perspective.

[@supergreg72]

I’m a big fan of the yak-1 in sims. It has everything: speed, turning ability and strong finishing power with the 20mm cannon. Fantastic plane!!! The yak3 and yak9 are also very satisfying to fly but I often come back to the yak1 and yak1b in low BR games. They are so good. I wish there would be Yak1 radio controlled models available… All we see are Mustangs and Corsairs…

[@csjrogerson2377]

So good that it had the highest loss rate in the USSR!! The power of a single 20mm cannon!!! Get real. It's speed and turning ability were nothing other than ordinary. The Yak 3's and 9s were much better as were some of the La's.

[@supergreg72]

@@csjrogerson2377Strictly historically speaking, you're right of course. But my comment was about video games (not reality or history). In flight sims (played on PC or consoles), and particularly in low BR games, equal planes are facing off. And in those specific conditions, the Yak-1 is often a rare plane with a 20mm cannon and it's got a tight turning circle making it very competitive. Of course, if you ignore the context and speak historically, what you said is accurate. If you haven't tried flight combat sims, you should try especially if you love planes! Cheers!

[@wa1ufo]

Thank yo for your videos!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

These videos are well made and narrated, after watching each of them I actually learned new facts I didn't know. The Yaks were very sleek looking aircraft, especially those with the lowered spine.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

Looking forward to you covering the La 5/7. Thanks.

[@deepsouthNZ]

Beautiful looking fighter

[@carsten9168]

My personal favorite was the Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighters of the Red Army Air Force. A sky worthy plane and easy to fly.

[@ernest-ru]

The Yak-7 -- the Yak-9 was easy to fly. The Yak-1's center of mass was too rearward, and the wing mechanization was insufficient. Compare them. And think about why the Yak-7 appeared and became the mainstream.

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

For an early and simple aircraft the Yak 1 was a beautifully streamlined and shapely plane, accentuated by a nice gloss coat it was obviously among the Russian aircraft available in June 1941 extremely important.

[@franksgattolin8904]

Thanks for your info. My favorite Russian fighters of WWII was the I-16 and Yak-3.

[@masnovitachief]

Without any doubt La5FN, the plane who balance the sky between VVS and Luftwaffe

[@kurdtcocaine0]

Yes! i love this. My favorite Yak being the Yak-1 Series 69

[@jimgoff1170]

Sturmovik, I like ruggedness in aircraft.

[@GauravSanjeevKumarBhardwaj1220]

I use this plane as a turn fighter in 5.3 br with other yaks like 3,3p,9u,3u. It's fun lol, and it's fun cuz it's turn time is soo good it can also keep up in vertical turns (gotta use wep).

[@jasonmussett2129]

The Yak 9 is my fave

[@copter2000]

What a timing!

[@johanalitalo8331]

Truly a beutiful aircraft. Hope to see videos of other fighter aircraft like the spitfire, me 109, Re2005.

[@MWM-dj6dn]

A wonderful channel that deserves a thousand thousand greetings, great admiration and greater respect. Your esteemed channel is full of very accurate and useful information. Your effort is remarkable and great. I wish you lasting success. And I write to you with the utmost frankness and respect, and in the form of hope ((translate into Arabic)) The number of your followers will increase greatly. I am absolutely confident that you are interested in providing benefit to everyone without exception. My utmost respect, appreciation and pride to you, gentlemen

[@UkrainianPaulie]

Being American, I have no favorite Soviet fighter. But the La-7 with the 3 x20mm was fun to fly in IL-2 Sturmovik sim.

[@zenonelealainen3750]

Pretty good video. My favorite Soviet fighters of the WW2: I-16(the best fighter in the world in the mid 30's), Yak-1, La-5, La-7, Yak-9U.

[@terrynewsome6698]

Can you do a video on the ms.406

[@AllthingsWW2]

It will come, sooner than you may expect 😉

[@icewaterslim7260]

Welded steel fuselage of the Yaks probably did well in rougher airfields and no doubt assembled quickly under wartime requirements for aircraft, the more and the sooner the better. I wonder if there was any weight penalty or exactly what disadvantages might've been inherent in this type of fuselage construction.

[@ernest-ru]

The Yak fighters did not sustain long use either during the war or after it. But the free Bell P-63s made up the majority of the fighter fleet after the war. The quality of the Yak's manufacturing was monstrous.

[@GaryArmstrongmacgh]

Bell Air Cobra P-39...Lend Lease.

[@Miles26545]

Great video, super hard rn to not get political but I’m trying 👍

[@AllthingsWW2]

Thank you!

[@WildBillCox13]

La-5N and La-7. Need a quick burst of speed? How about the La-7R. Otherwise, Yak 9 had some very interesting interceptor variants.

[@PlasmaMountain]

Man whipped out the war thunder model. That is so cool though. The accuracy of war thunder is so good, they can use them as models.

[@cartersmith8560]

german pilots DREADED a treetop level dogfight w the Yak 3

[@garyhooper1820]

They were instructed not to do that very thing,

[@allgood6760]

Thank you👍✈️🇳🇿

[@mikepette4422]

I don't have a favorite Soviet fighter But I'd say the "best" fighters were the Yak- 3 and Lavochkin La-7 maybe the LA-7 has a bit if an advantage because it had 3 20 or 23 mm cannons while the Yak-3 was stuck with 2 x 12.7 mms and 1x 20 mm and was generally slower than the LA-7 though each had fast versions built later in the war.

[@nickdanger3802]

6.02 winter 41 started to be equipped with radios

[@JulienGardner]

Yes but very limited to only several hunderds of Meters so no contact with ground forces and command post !

[@nickdanger3802]

@@JulienGardner That is rough !

[@lordgarion514]

It was made of aluminum. That was very much a strategic material. And basically all that aluminum was made in America, and shipped to the USSR.

[@radoslavkalas246]

My favorite soviet fighter would be La-7, the three 20mm cannon version.

[@normansmith8184]

This was very informative but has raised a problem for me. What was the Yakovlev Yak that Lilya (Lydia?) Latvyev flew with such great success. In animations it has it as Yak-1 yellow 44. But in the last panel of your video it appeared more like the Yak-7. I intend to build a 1/48 (if there is one) scale model in tribute to her but it has to be the correct one. I think ICM might have a couple of versions.

[@_b_x_b_1063]

Yakovlev - Chief designer and head of the Yak Design Bureau; Lydia Litvyak - female pilot of the Yak-1B, died in battle in 1943 at the age of 22

[@normansmith8184]

@@_b_x_b_1063 Thank you so much and by the way it appears that Academy have a 1/48 with the decals for her aircraft so "tally ho". Thanks again.

[@ricardobeltranmonribot3182]

If we are just talking about soviet aircrafts, it would be the La-5FN, it was a good plane, but it still is in 6° place in WWII aircraft that I like in general

[@shawns0762]

The late Yaks were excellent aerodynamically, if you took the engine and propeller off a P-51D and put it on a Yak-3 it would have about the same top speed

[@cosmoray9750]

The West Scared of Russia || America Trying to ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4Ozi4SDYqaKg9U

[@guaporeturns9472]

4:52 looks like a LaGG with the little triangular window behind the cockpit

[@nyyotam4057]

The Yak-1 was a good fighter.. But the Yak-3 was the unequivocal best fighter of the war. Fun fact: The Nazis actually told their pilots to "avoid a dogfight with a Yak-3 at all costs!" :-).

[@williamkoppos7039]

12:21 Hmmmm sounds just like a common description of the P-40. Turned out the Yak was more developable (is that a word?)

[@thhseeking]

At 7:42 those pilots look like French pilots serving in the Soviet Union, judging by their dark uniforms, shoulder flashes and what look like rank stripes on the standing pilot's cap. Normandie-Niemen?

[@ernest-ru]

The favorite fighter of Soviet pilots was, of course, the Bell P-39, which, by the way, flew before the Yak-1. It was the one the Soviet aces chose when suddenly there was a choice. The Yak-1 was Stalin's favorite, he personally chose the designer and features of the plane, talking to Yakovlev privately before the war when the ministers were leaving. Stalin explicitly told him that he believed him, but did not believe the former designers (they had just been jailed).

[@Cbabilon675]

I wouldn't say that my favorite aircraft in the Soviet Union was ever a fighter though some would say different. Mine was the ground attack. Unfortunately I can't spell it but you know the one I'm talking about it was the tank Buster.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

7:51 = Lucky not just CCCP-build-Magic!

[@manricobianchini5276]

The Yak-1 and 3 were the best looking of all the Yaks

[@edwardhanson3664]

This is about the Soviet air force, not the Russian air force. It's a good video and the Yak1 helped beat the Nazis.

[@fasold2164]

0:15 No, not Yak-1 fighters but Yak-7A. The Yak-1 and Yak-7 had different landing gears (besides other exterior distinguishing features).

[@theleninist4272]

The Polikarpov I-16 was not really inferior to the Bf-109 in Spain , the real problem was the lack of training that Republican and Soviet pilots had compared to the pilots of the Legion condor .

[@Stripedbottom]

True, the difference is not yet that great in 1936 as people think because they mentally use a comparison from 1941. Not all Bf-109's were created equal, the A's and B's deployed in Spain were a far cry from the E's and F's that the I-16, which could not be upgraded to nearly the same degree, faced in Barbarossa.

[@Philliben1991]

The later Yak-9 variants were all metal and some of the fastest prop planes of WW2.

[@tomekpawwaw]

all metal version of Yak 9 was produced after war. During the war all the russian aircrafts were partly wooden, because of costs of production and lack of aluminium

[@duanesarjec6887]

when the french pilots of the normandie squadrons happened in Russia the soviet officers asked to their , you can , choose your planes between the hurricane the Bell P 39 or the Yak 1 they answered we came to figth in the soviet army we flight on soviet planes , They came from Syria the Yak 1 was not no realy different that the MS 406 or the D 520 they never flight on hurricane the airacobra needed a lot of time , they was hungry , they was wright , later the had th Yak 33 they shot more planes than all the other french fighter squadron of the FFL

[@stevenrichards8880]

Yak-3 in fact I have one!

[@SerbanOprescu]

My heart is split between the Yak 3 and the La 5. I would go for the La 5 for its robustness and higher power, and for the Yak-3 for its agility and effectiveness. So it's a tie!

[@Imprudentman]

Of course , Yakovlev 's planes were successful machines . However, the best Soviet ace - Ivan Kozhedub flew the La-5fn. Another Soviet ace, Alexander Pokryshkin, revered the American P-39 aerocobra. 🙂

[@claytonpozzer]

My favourite is the yak 3

[@jayfelsberg1931]

The famous or () flew Yaks exclusively as their fighters, amassing a notable record on the Eastern Front. One of their best was Marcel Albert, who I got to know when I was editor of the Washing County News in Chipley, FL. I had the honor of covering his funeral, which was attended by high-ranking representatives from France and Russia.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Albert en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escadron_de_Chasse_2/30_Normandie-Niemen

[@jayfelsberg1931]

It meant to list the Normandie-Niemen unit but copying it from Wikpedia proved futile

[@steveyountz1757]

The music is distracting.

[@davidthompson3697]

yak 9 is the best

[@diegoplanell2780]

When I clicked on the video the views were at 999 so I'm you're 1k view 😎

[@stedyon]

Favorite is La5FN

[@metalmadsen]

I like the MIG 3

[@dennisforbes2532]

Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik

[@tomarmstrong935]

Yak 3 followed by LA9

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Great episode . Very informative too . There were no shortage of female pilots in their squadrons . Gutsy fighters .

[@BlueMoonday19]

I love how it took the Spanish Civil War to prove the 109 was superior to the I-15's and 16's. Who would have guessed!

[@lasvegasplease]

Looks a little bit like the spitfire.

[@REPOMAN24722]

9K FTW, also 9T

[@twolak1972]

The Yak 3 was the best of the breed, Fast, light, incredibly maneuverable and packing great firepower. It would turn inside anything ,even the LEGENDARY A6M ZERO.

[@arniewilliamson1767]

It would have been interesting if the Soviets obtained a license to produce the Rolls Royce Merlin engine and fit it into the Yak fighters.

[@P1x3lMagic]

You can sell the license but you cannot sell thousands of skilled workers and engineers to build RRs in USSR in 1940s... It took Britain at least 200 years to create dynasties of skilled workers and equipment able to build Rolls Royses. This luxury wasn't accessible in agricultural country torn by WWI, 2 revolutions and civil war. In 1920-30 - imagine that you have only 1 engineer instead of 10 and most of your workers are from countryside with 3 classes of school at best. In 1940s - 80% of these workers went to fight on the frontline replaced with women and teenagers in relocated factories... Actually, it's a miracle on its own that USSR with this set of cards was able to produce something potent at all...

[@BloodyCrow__]

250kg bomb would be nice. Warthunder says 100lg or 50kg only :(

[@Newbonic]

TBH iIt seems like the Soviet equivalent of the Hawker Hurricane.

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

MiG-3; 'cause it's fast. And it was there.

[@alsodeep]

Russian pilots favorites was P-39 and La-5FN. Just check memoirs of best Russian aces.

[@mrc4912]

The 'Night Witches', the female Russian pilots in the war flew this plane and Lillia Latovik, (the White Lily) downed 12 German planes with it, including an ace with 59 kills to his name.

[@Abhishek_I99]

The ace tried to gift her his watch but she refused

[@seventhson27]

Soviets had the Yak-1. Americans had the P-38, P39, P40, and F4F. Britain had the Hurricane and Spitfire.

[@juanasanelli6831]

Y es asombroso el parecido de los aviones rusos a los nombrados

[@garyraines7511]

Da, Kharasha Tabarishe, Yaks were well designed, practical aircraft--like Deutsches A/C , Heavy Guns were Centrally located---- unlike most U.S. Fighters. dozhdii

[@grahamlowe7388]

The soviets were caught out with poor aircraft in 41 and appalling tactics hence the slaughter at the hands of the Luftwaffe. By 43 they could hold their own with much better fighters ground attack and tactical bombers. Being a soviet pilot in 41-43 was a demoralising experience.

[@lawrencefox563]

Fave Soviet fighter was lag5 read design history of yak9 said flyable me 109 crashed and was whisked away and reverse engineered much as Zero was.

[@kidmohair8151]

the Russia of Tsar Vlad the Intriguer and the Soviet Union of Stalin, resemble each other mostly in the pathological sociopathic paranoia of the two leaders share

[@stamfordmeetup]

the Russians were very lucky that the British had destroyed 10000 luftwaffe aircraft in the Battle of Britain and in Africa. That made all the difference that stopped Russia from being overrun and destroyed. Interesting fact, from 1926 to 1933 the Russians formed an Alliance with the nazis and trained their nazis colleagues at Lipetsk, Russia.

[@user-ob9jg2ue3h]

Bro it takes 1 second to check the wiki and realise that Nazis came to power in 1933, and when that happend, tank schools were closed asap

[@kimjanek646]

7:27 Pretty sure that's 20mm ammunition and not 12.7mm 🤔

[@jonredcorn862]

No, it had a single 12.7mm machine gun.. Along with the 20mm shvak.

[@MisterOcclusion]

The lack of radios would seem to be a huge tactical disadvantage, at least to modern western eyes.

[@2566Conan]

Any of the LAGG aircraft.

[@DIREWOLFx75]

For USSR, it's very hard to pick any other fighter than the Yak-3 as a favorite. It is just that good.

[@dallesamllhals9161]

CCCP?

[@DIREWOLFx75]

@@dallesamllhals9161 That is what USSR translates to yes? Or are you seriously saying you've never seen it used???

[@dallesamllhals9161]

@@DIREWOLFx75 Erh no? US = United States!(of 'murica) When! Were the Eastern Blocs united in ♥...? GoT-Wolf: Write something...

[@DIREWOLFx75]

@@dallesamllhals9161 USSR=Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. CCCP is the same in Russian but is in cyrillic letters. "Союз Советских Социалистических Республик" "Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik"

[@dallesamllhals9161]

@@DIREWOLFx75 ..and in latin letters - what does 'Job twaje madjt' mean? (can Google-tran' help?)

[@AztecusZZZ]

I'm Russian. It's shame.

[@jonaspete]

Some russian tank just flew the soviet flag few days ago. Mad and blood thirsty.

[@franktreppiedi2208]

Gotta love Russia. It's too heavy, so take out the radio!

[@gusgone4527]

Like all Russian, he stole the design of the Spitfire and made an inferior copy. That was the Yak 1.

[@supergreg72]

I don’t understand how you came up with this conclusion… they have very little in common… different shapes, construction methods, materials…

[@kenneth9874]

I guess that he came up with it because they did steal as much as possible, or maybe I should say "borrowed " ,the b-29 comes to mind as one example

[@gusgone4527]

@@kenneth9874 It's understandable. Engineers cannot avoid being influenced by more advanced designs they've seen via lend lease. Particularly when the alternative to producing an improved product is the Gulag. The B29 is a n example of pure theft. They even stole the US imperial units and measures. Copying everything perfectly down to nuts, bolts and screws! Communism by design is a parasitical ideology. That breeds corruption; stifles independent thought, individual initiative and competition. Historically, even vile, unspeakable fascism is more productive. Something that beggars belief. OOPS! Let my politics influence a KZbin comment. HORRORS!

[@jonredcorn862]

lol they aren't even remotely similar.

[@gusgone4527]

@@jonredcorn862 It's called, "taking the piss."

[@worldtraveler930]

Free Ukraine!!!! 🤠👍

[@kneedeepinbluebells5538]

God BLESS And Keep The Good Russian People. They Deserve Safety And Security. The Russian People Have SO Much To Be Proud Of.

[@johnkirk7796]

So do the Ukrainian people.

[@randyjennings3075]

Hey there, As I guess you are from Russia, as of the Russian INVASION of Ukraine, I'll of course have to unsubscribe from your channel. Bye Bye

[@AllthingsWW2]

I´m Portuguese

[@diegoplanell2780]

Dude wtf. First he's Portuguese and two even if he was he already declared this wasn't a politics video.

[@jimgoff1170]

I hope you’re joking, the invasion has more to do with “strongman “ in power than being from Russia. It’s an example of why we can’t keep supporting “strongmen” for positions of power. They will kill thousands without a thought just to feed their own ego.

[@MrRugbylane]

Sad Virtue Signalling

[@jimgoff1170]

@@MrRugbylane I’ll take “virtue signaling” any day over lack of virtue.

[@robertguttman1487]

"Polikarpov I-15 and I-16 fighters proved inferior to the Me109 during the Spanish Civil War..." In fact, during 1936 Polikarpov already created a replacement for the I-16, called the I-17. Like the Yak-1, the I-17 was a low-wing monoplane with retractible landing gear and an enclosed cockpit, powered by a liquid-cooled V-12 engine. It would have been competitive with the contemporary German Me109 and British Hawker Hurricane fighters. However, for reasons that remain obscure, the Soviet Air Force did not adopt it, preferring to continue producing improved versions the aging I-16 and I-15. The early days of the war in the air over Russia may not have gone so badly for the Soviets if the VVS had had been equipped with I-17s instead of I-16s and I-15s. aviastar.org/air/russia/pol_i-17.php