1/72 03 Unknown Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 - Soviet Rocket Fighter
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
Limited run Russian injection molded kit with gray injection molded main parts and a very clear injection molded clear canopy. Features very fine recessed surface detail, a very good cockpit with rudder pedals, stick, instrument panel & seat, full landing gear with wheels or optional skis, optional parts for different variants and even the large wing tip jet engine variant. Includes full color decals for aircraft '7' and '2'. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes decals and instructions. The instructions are a super, extra-large affair in both Russian and English & includes multi-view paint guides for both aircraft and the optional variants, excellent aircraft history, parts diagram and excellent, illustrated assembly instructions. 'BI' stood for Blizhnii Istrebitel, which was 'close-range fighter' in Russian. Obviously, it also stood for the last names of the designers. The program was the Soviet Union's effort to produce a low cost rocket interceptor. The airplane flew and flew well, but it was plagued by engine issues, corrosion from nitric acid, and eventually tail flutter at high speeds that caused the loss of the most experienced test pilot, Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi. The early development started in 1938, with the first flights in 1940. The aircraft underwent a series of engine improvements and was still testing through 1945. The aircraft never entered series production. Bi-1 through BI-9 were built.
$20.00