When Russia Used Rocket Powered Planes in WWII

During the Second World War, Germany gained notoriety for pioneering jet and rocket-powered aircraft, leaving an indelible mark on aviation history. Other nations experimented with similar technology, but one country rarely associated with this field is the Soviet Union.

Yet, in 1940, behind closed doors, Soviet engineers began developing a secret rocket-powered fighter: the BI-1. This raises an intriguing question- did Russia truly field rocket-powered planes in World War II?

The Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 was a Soviet experimental short-range rocket interceptor developed during World War II. This design would have an interesting feature with the aircraft fitted with skis.

In 1940, the Soviet Union’s aviation industry was looking for radical solutions to counter the increasing speed and performance of German aircraft. Thus, Soviet designers took on a bold task to develop a rocket fighter, and the result was the BI-1. However, this wasn’t like the conventional fighters. It was powered by a rocket engine and, rather than fuel tanks for aviation gasoline, it carried two components- kerosene and nitric acid. These are mixed inside the engine to produce thrust. The aircraft was also compact, built largely of wood with a wingspan of over 6 meters and a length of about 6.4 meters. It was armed with two 20mm cannons.

The first prototype was ready by September 1941. However, war conditions delayed flight testing. Initial gliding tests went well. On May 15, 1942, it took on its first powered flight. It was considered a success as the plane reached speeds of over 400 km/hr. in level flight. Later tests pushed it even further, reaching speeds up to 800km/hr.

However, on March 27th, 1943, tragedy struck when a test pilot lost control and crashed into the ground. Despite this, the  BI-1 program continued, but issues with stability and range limited its potential.

Moving testing to the mountains, the aircraft was fitted with a unique landing gear design, particularly, skis. This would allow the plane to glide on the frozen surface during takeoff and landing. Once in the air, these skis would fold up like traditional landing gear and draw back when coming in for a landing.

Although continued testing on the BI-1 prototypes went on, obvious engine issues continued. The rocket engine could only provide thrust for a short amount of time due to fuel limitations, which restricted both range and operational usefulness. The plane’s handling at high speeds also resulted in stability issues. The engine’s propellant combination was a major issue, using a mix of kerosene and nitric acid. Nitric acid was extremely corrosive and dangerous to handle, leading to significant risks to both the ground crew and the pilot.

Unlike other rocket-powered aircraft of its time, it wasn’t developed into operational combat, with only nine prototypes of varying designs being built. By the end of the war, focus on other technologies became a priority. Still, this aircraft was another interesting example of aviation development during WWII.