The Engels MI was a Russian floatplane/fighter developed in 1916. It was a
parasol
An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally u ...
cantilever
flying boat with a V-Section hull, and downswept wingtips incorporating flotation chambers.
Production history
In 1916 the Russian government expressed a need for a flying counter-float-plane against the German
Albatros W.4
The Albatros W.4 was a German floatplane derivative of the Albatros D.I fighter with new wing and tail surfaces of greater span than the D.I. One hundred eighteen examples (including three prototypes) were built between June 1916 and December ...
. Y.E. Engels came up with the Engels MI, and after initial testing an order for 50 was placed on 27 April 1917. Only three were produced by October 1917, and as a result production quietly stopped.
Operational history
One aircraft survived the
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and adopt a socialist form of government ...
, and was delivered to the Naval Aviation School at
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod ( ; rus, links=no, Нижний Новгород, a=Ru-Nizhny Novgorod.ogg, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj ˈnovɡərət ), colloquially shortened to Nizhny, from the 13th to the 17th century Novgorod of the Lower Land, formerly known as Gork ...
in 1920.
List of operators
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Imperial Russian Air Service
The Imperial Russian Air Service (russian: Императорскій военно-воздушный флотъ, , Emperor's Military Air Fleet) was an air force founded in 1912 for Imperial Russia."''12 августа 1912 года прик� ...
;
*
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
Specifications
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Engels Mi
1910s Russian fighter aircraft
Flying boats
MI
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Parasol-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1920
Rotary-engined aircraft