The I-8 was the first Soviet aircraft to exceed 300 km/h (190 mph; 160 kn) in level flight.[1] The aircraft was an exercise in developing thePolikarpov I-5 design by a group of engineers led by V. M. Rodionov, each of whom volunteered 70 hours of personal time to the project.[1]
The I-8 first flew on 28 October 1930 withM. M. Gromov at the controls. Despite promising performance, the aircraft did not advance beyond prototype phase because there were no plans to acquire theCurtiss V-1570 engine, and no domestic equivalent was available.[1]
Data fromIstoriia konstruktskii samoletov v SSSR do 1938 g. (3 izd.),[1] The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1975–1995,[2] The Complete Book of Fighters[3]
