Vakhmistrov I-Ze

The Vakhmistrov I-Ze was a parasite fighter designed in the USSR in 1934-5.

Development
To take the best advantage of the parasite bomber/fighter combinations, like the Vakhmistrov Zveno project,  Vakhmistrov designed a special fighter to be carried by Kalinin VS-2 bombers. This aircraft was to have been a small low-wing monoplane powered by an 850 hp Gnome-Rhone GRKs engine. With a weight of only 1910 kg it was expected a top speed of 518 km/h (321 mph) would be attainable. Weight was to be kept to a minimum by use of a centre-line skid undercarriage and small dimensions:- a Span of 7.75m (25ft 5in) and wing area of only 10 m2. Construction of the prototype was started but discontinued in 1936 when support faded for the Zvyeno ("link") concept, as the supporters were eliminated in the Stalinist purges.