Difference between revisions of "BI"

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{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=bi
 
|code=bi
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
|market=items_BI (USSR)
 
|market=items_BI (USSR)
 
}}
 
}}
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
On July 12, 1940, Viktor Fedorovich Bolkhovitinov attended a special commissar meeting calling for the development of a high-speed stratospheric aircraft with his top two engineers, Aleksander Bereznyak and Aleksei Isayev. Barely over a year later, on 1 September 1941, the Bereznyak-Isayev (BI) 1 was completed and ready for gliding tests, as the planned engine was still not ready. By the next year, the full aircraft was ready for its primary tests, and on 15 May 1942, test pilot Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi piloted the BI-1 during its first powered flight. Due to the highly toxic and corrosive fuel mixture used by the BI, utilizing a mix of tractor kerosene and red-fuming nitric acid, the BI-1 became too corroded by acid to fly safely shortly after, and was retired. The second prototype (BI-2) was built and Backchivadzhi made the second flight on 10 Jan 1943. The BI program would progress steadily over the next few years, showing great promise for a point defence/short range interceptor. However, the dangers of the program, mainly the lack of reusability and feasibility due to the short lifespan of the airframes and their very expensive and dangerous fuel mixture, resulted in a growing sentiment against the BI from the higher ups. Unfortunately, on 27 March, during a low-altitude test flight, the BI piloted by Bakhchivandzhi entered a 45-degree dive and crashed into the ground, killing Bakhchivandzhi. Whilst unknown at the time, the conventional wing design resulted in severe control "compression" when nearing transsonic speeds. By late 1944, it was very obvious at the BI program had reached a stalemate, and any further development was overshadowed by the advent of turbojet aircraft, performing the same role for a fraction of the price, preparation, and risk. However, it is not to say that the BI program was fruitless, as the knowledge obtained by Bolkhovitinov design bureau about rocket science became pivotal in future Soviet rocket and missile developments.
−
{{Break}}
+
 
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6878-event-wargame-strategist-en|2020 Wargame "Strategist" event]], and is currently available for sale on the Marketplace.  
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', introduced during [[Update "Raining Fire"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/6878-event-wargame-strategist-en|2020 Wargame "Strategist" event]], is a very rare and peculiar aircraft. The BI is very strong for its battle rating as a result of its peculiar characteristics: The aircraft has less than two minutes of fuel and a comically small ammunition pool. However, the aircraft still retains all the advantages of a rocket powered plane, being its instantaneous acceleration, absurd thrust, and insanely good fuel efficiency at high altitudes with proper throttle management. This results in the BI being a very high skill level plane, which when played right, can be almost unbeatable by all that it faces; be it the late superprops or the early jets of its battle rating. Due to its rarity, most players have never faced one, and fail understand its weaknesses to defeat it. The BI, due to utilizing a very lightweight airframe with conventional wing and tail designs, suffers from horrific control surface compression and lift degradation above 600 km/h, and enters an almost complete loss of control nearing 700 km/h or higher. This, in turn, means that the BI's greatest weakness is ''diving''.
 +
 
 +
As such, the ultimate tactic to use against a BI is to build up speed, especially by diving away if necessary. Less experienced BI pilots will either meet their doom by following you, or completely throw their altitude advantage away trying to recover the aircraft from the dive. More experienced BI pilots will simply disengage, letting you live rather than risk the dive. One must always keep in mind that the BI has a thrust-to-weight ratio of up to 0.99 at optimal conditions, the highest by far in its entire BR range, meaning the BI in the hands of competent pilots will ''always'' win engagements which are based on energy or thrust.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight performance ===
 
=== Flight performance ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
 
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
−
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 4,500 m)
+
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,000 m)
 
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
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|-
 
|-
 
! Stock
 
! Stock
−
| 793 || 787 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.2 || 21.2 || 84.9 || 79.4 || rowspan="2" | 400
+
| 791 || 786 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.2 || 23.2 || 84.7 || 79.1 || rowspan="2" | 300
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Upgraded
 
! Upgraded
−
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
+
|807||799||22.8||23.0||116.6||100.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
[[File:BI Wiki Image 3.jpg|thumb|The BI taking off.]]
  
 
==== Details ====
 
==== Details ====
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=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
  
−
* 5.5 mm steel behind pilot
+
* 5.5 mm steel behind the pilot.
 +
* 5.5 mm steel plate installed in the nose.
 
* 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
 
* 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
 
* Self-sealing fuel tanks* (7 under the cannon barrels, 8 behind pilot, 3 in rear fuselage)
 
* Self-sealing fuel tanks* (7 under the cannon barrels, 8 behind pilot, 3 in rear fuselage)
  
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>The fuel tanks are cylinder-shaped, not rectangular, like most planes' fuel tanks, allowing for more fuel tanks.
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>The fuel tanks are cylinder-shaped, not rectangular, like most planes' fuel tanks, allowing for more fuel tanks.
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
 +
[[File:BI Wiki Image 1.jpg|thumb|BI after using its two cannons to down a Ar 234.]]
 +
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)}}
 
{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)}}
Line 123: Line 138:
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
The BI is similar to the [[Me 163 B|Me 163]] - small amounts of fuel and ammo (low flight endurance) but very good performance, being able to climb almost vertically. As such it excels in the interceptor role, climbing very high very fast to shoot down bombers before exhausting its fuel supply and landing again. Don't be fooled by its acceleration into thinking it has a high top speed - the wings will fall off before it matches speed with many planes at its battle rating. As such, don't try to outrun enemies but use your maneuverability and acceleration to fight them.
+
====Fuel management ====
 +
Managing your fuel will allow your endurance to increase from 1 minute 57 seconds to over 13 minutes, only use the fuel you need to use.
  
−
=== Modules ===
+
To get the longest endurance out of its limited fuel amount, climb from the airfield at an angle of 70-80 degrees, at full throttle and as you hit 3,000 m, change the angle of the attack and throttle back to 30%. Adjust your climb angle to make sure that both speed and altitude continue increasing. This will allow you to travel to 5,000+ m without burning too much of your precious rocket fuel, you will need this for later in the battle. Once you have hit 5,000 m, throttle back to 14% and continue to climb and adjust your climb angle again to roughly 16 degrees. You can continue to climb at this angle until you see it fit not to do so.
−
{| class="wikitable"
+
 
−
! Tier
+
When you hit the altitude you like, you can throttle back to 0% and just glide, with only minor adjustments to the throttle to stay in level flight.
−
! Flight performance
+
 
−
! Survivability
+
Also you can stay low at 30% throttle until you are at 750-800 kph and from there on you fly at 10-17% throttle while looking for enemys above you. Once you have spotted one you pull upwards holding your speed with 30% throttle and an aproach from below is so unexpected the enemy will not even know where you came from. This will be more fuel efficient than climbing as stated above.
−
! Weaponry
+
 
−
|-
+
==== Descending ====
−
| I
+
The key to descending without locking up and crashing is to not point your nose straight down. Unlike other aircraft, the BI is able to gain a lot of speed even in a little descent. When the BI starts going over 700 km/h, pull up slowly and slow back down. When you push the nose back down, push the rudder all the way to the left or right. If you aren't losing speed fast enough, shift the plane 45 degrees to the left and right, with full rudder movements. This will slow you down.
−
| Fuselage repair
+
 
−
|
+
Due to the BI being able to go over 900 km/h with ease and locking up at Mach 0.76, descending from height from 5,000 m needs to be carefully calculated based on the battle conditions in the match. If you descend to fast, due to a high angle of attack, you will lock up and crash into the ground, because you will be unable to pull out in time.
−
| Offensive 20 mm
+
 
−
|-
+
A high angle of attack for a descent is around -70 degrees, even using the ruder and shifting the BI to the left and right will not be enough.
−
| II
+
 
−
|
+
A good angle of attack to descend is around -30 to -60, the steeper the angle faster you will go.  When you descend keep your throttle at 0%, only when you are pulling out of the dive at the very end, after losing speed, they should be opened carefully.
−
| Airframe
+
 
−
|
+
==== Engaging in combat ====
−
|-
+
[[File:BI Wiki Image 4.jpg|thumb|Cockpit of the BI.]]
−
| III
+
The BI is similar to the [[Me 163 B]] - small amounts of fuel and ammo (low flight endurance) but with astonishing performance, being able to climb 80 degrees vertically. As such it excels in the interceptor role, climbing at a extremely high rate of up to 116.4 m/s in AB and 100 m/s in RB. Able to shoot down bombers and fighter bombers before exhausting the fuel supply and landing again. Don't be fooled by its acceleration into thinking it has a high top speed - the wings and elevators will lock up at Mach 0.76, making any manoeuvres impossible. Flying full throttle at 8,000 m will see you rip your wings off in level flight.
−
| Wings repair
+
 
−
|
+
If engaged by an opponent, do not try to outrun them, instead use your manoeuvrability and acceleration to turn fight, your speed and small size are your greatest strengths. The BI only has 90 rounds of ammo, 45 rounds per gun. This is not a lot of ammo, so take care to make every shot count.
−
| New 20 mm cannons
+
 
−
|-
+
=====Engaging fighters=====
−
| IV
+
Fighting fighters in combat, aim for the wings and tail, aiming for wings with the limited ammo which the BI has will cause the wing fuel tanks to catch on fire. Aiming for the tail, will see that the tail gets cut clean from the fuselage, unlike a bomber a fighter is smaller and has less space for fired ammo to miss critical elements.
−
| Engine
+
 
−
| Cover
+
If the enemy fighter notices you attempting to sneak up on them, they will bank left or right, do not follow them in the turn, the BI cannot turn fight without losing its advantageous speed. Instead, disengage, throttle up, climb and come back around for another pass.
−
|
+
 
−
|-
+
=====Engaging Bombers=====
−
|}
+
Fighting bombers, aim for the wings and engines, aiming for the fuselage is unlikely to cause any critical hits unless you can hit the flight deck. Aiming for the wings increases the odds of hitting a wing spar and seeing the wing get ripped off with a short salvo. Aiming for engines will knock them out and possibly set fires inside of the wing-installed fuel tanks. The larger area with more critical elements increase the odds of doing critical damage with the limited rounds which you have.
 +
 
 +
Do not stay behind the enemy bomber, their gunners will hit your rocket fuel tanks and will see the BI set on fire. If this occurs, break off the attack and dive as fast as you can, this will put the fire out. Then head back to the airfield and repair, and refuel.
 +
 
 +
==== Landing ====
 +
To land the BI, you should keep about 5 to 10 seconds of fuel in case you need to go around due to a missed approach. When on approach, you will need to lose speed fast, which it can do. This is due to the BI not using the sleek low profile aerodynamic wings, as you find on other jets. However, to do this, you must reduce the speed down to under 420 km/h or your gear will be ripped off making the odds of crashing on landing very high.
 +
 
 +
To land the BI, flip the plane on its side, use the rudder during the turns to help cause more fiction with the air, which will start reducing its speed. Due to the shape of the BI which features great glider aerodynamics, it is able to fly at high speeds and keep the momentum even without any throttle being active. As soon as the BI touches the ground, apply the breaks and turn the rudder hard left and right to help slow it down.
 +
 
 +
Landing on short runways should be avoided or risk crashing at the end, the reason for this if you come into fast or high the BI will bounce, it will bounce to 150 m or more. Ideally you should head back to the main airfield which has the long landing strip to land on.
 +
 
 +
[[File:BI Wiki Image 2.jpg|thumb|BI attacking an enemy jet bomber.]]
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Amazing acceleration
 
* Amazing acceleration
 
* Great roll rate
 
* Great roll rate
−
* Excellent manoeuvrability
+
* Excellent manoeuvrability
−
* Takes off is very fast
+
* Incredible climb rate; can climb at a whopping 70° when spaded
−
* Incredible climb rate
+
* Very small size makes successfully hitting it troublesome
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Not very well armoured or crew protection
+
* Not very well armoured
 
* Only has landing flaps
 
* Only has landing flaps
 
* Can reach rip speed (Mach 0.81) while travelling in a straight line
 
* Can reach rip speed (Mach 0.81) while travelling in a straight line
−
* Maximum load of fuel is only ~2 minutes (1:57)
+
* Very hard to pull out of a dive due to its great speed
−
* Limited armament, only two ShVAK cannons with 45 rounds each
+
* Maximum fuel load is only 1 minute and 57 seconds
 +
* Very limited armament, only two ShVAK cannons with 45 rounds each
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
Test Flight Log:
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
!Date
 +
!Place
 +
!Pilot
 +
!Issues
 +
|-
 +
|October, 1941
 +
| Lake Bilimbay
 +
|Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi
 +
|None
 +
|-
 +
|April, 1942
 +
|Koltsove Airfield
 +
|Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi
 +
|None
 +
|-
 +
|May 15th, 1942 19:02 (UTC)
 +
|Koltsove Airfield
 +
|Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi
 +
|Aircraft was damaged because of a hard landing and the pilot was injured.
 +
|-
 +
|March 27th, 1943
 +
|Koltsove Airfield
 +
|Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi
 +
|Aircraft crashed and was severely damaged so the test flights were discontinued.
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== [[wt:en/news/6873-development-crafting-event-strategist-bereznyak-isayev-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
In the early 1940's, the OKB-293 aircraft design bureau began working on a new rocket-propelled aircraft design. The aircraft promised excellent performance figures, although at the expense of range due to the limitations of rocket engines at the time. After the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the design was seen as a potential short-range interceptor design to protect vital Soviet land installations from air raids. Thus, the project was approved for further development work and testing.
 +
 
 +
Development of the aircraft continued, with several prototypes being made and test flown. However, rapid advancements in aviation technology, especially the appearance of the jet engine, during the war outpaced the development of the BI. Therefore, the aircraft never left the prototype stage and didn't take part in active combat. Instead the aircraft's development served more as a testbed for Soviet rocket propulsion research, with the insights gained being later used for other projects during the Cold War.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 +
;Skins
 +
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=bi Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed" caption="BI Devblog Images" heights="200">
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
 +
File:BI WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
 +
</gallery>
  
 
;Videos
 
;Videos
−
{{Youtube-gallery|llVOukVt1A4|'''The Shooting Range #218''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
+
{{Youtube-gallery|2NgpHefq0hc|'''Rocket Planes''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 00:40 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|INb9VjLxKf0|'''Most unusual aircraft''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:44 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|WP9ouDTV81Q|'''A {{PAGENAME}}... to fly''' - ''Napalmratte''|llVOukVt1A4|'''The Shooting Range #218''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|Xbo38TOUWy4|'''🅱️i video''' - ''Rulo6000''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 195: Line 269:
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [[wt:en/news/6873-development-crafting-event-strategist-bereznyak-isayev-en|[Devblog] Crafting Event "Strategist": Bereznyak-Isayev]]
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
+
* [[wikipedia:Bereznyak-Isayev_BI-1|[Wikipedia] Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1]]
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 +
{{AirManufacturer OKB-293}}
 
{{USSR jet aircraft}}
 
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

Latest revision as of 08:18, 10 September 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
BI
bi.png
GarageImage BI.jpg
BI
USSR flag.png USSR
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.7 6.7 6.3
Class:
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
MARKET

Description

On July 12, 1940, Viktor Fedorovich Bolkhovitinov attended a special commissar meeting calling for the development of a high-speed stratospheric aircraft with his top two engineers, Aleksander Bereznyak and Aleksei Isayev. Barely over a year later, on 1 September 1941, the Bereznyak-Isayev (BI) 1 was completed and ready for gliding tests, as the planned engine was still not ready. By the next year, the full aircraft was ready for its primary tests, and on 15 May 1942, test pilot Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi piloted the BI-1 during its first powered flight. Due to the highly toxic and corrosive fuel mixture used by the BI, utilizing a mix of tractor kerosene and red-fuming nitric acid, the BI-1 became too corroded by acid to fly safely shortly after, and was retired. The second prototype (BI-2) was built and Backchivadzhi made the second flight on 10 Jan 1943. The BI program would progress steadily over the next few years, showing great promise for a point defence/short range interceptor. However, the dangers of the program, mainly the lack of reusability and feasibility due to the short lifespan of the airframes and their very expensive and dangerous fuel mixture, resulted in a growing sentiment against the BI from the higher ups. Unfortunately, on 27 March, during a low-altitude test flight, the BI piloted by Bakhchivandzhi entered a 45-degree dive and crashed into the ground, killing Bakhchivandzhi. Whilst unknown at the time, the conventional wing design resulted in severe control "compression" when nearing transsonic speeds. By late 1944, it was very obvious at the BI program had reached a stalemate, and any further development was overshadowed by the advent of turbojet aircraft, performing the same role for a fraction of the price, preparation, and risk. However, it is not to say that the BI program was fruitless, as the knowledge obtained by Bolkhovitinov design bureau about rocket science became pivotal in future Soviet rocket and missile developments.

The BI, introduced during Update "Raining Fire" as a reward for the 2020 Wargame "Strategist" event, is a very rare and peculiar aircraft. The BI is very strong for its battle rating as a result of its peculiar characteristics: The aircraft has less than two minutes of fuel and a comically small ammunition pool. However, the aircraft still retains all the advantages of a rocket powered plane, being its instantaneous acceleration, absurd thrust, and insanely good fuel efficiency at high altitudes with proper throttle management. This results in the BI being a very high skill level plane, which when played right, can be almost unbeatable by all that it faces; be it the late superprops or the early jets of its battle rating. Due to its rarity, most players have never faced one, and fail understand its weaknesses to defeat it. The BI, due to utilizing a very lightweight airframe with conventional wing and tail designs, suffers from horrific control surface compression and lift degradation above 600 km/h, and enters an almost complete loss of control nearing 700 km/h or higher. This, in turn, means that the BI's greatest weakness is diving.

As such, the ultimate tactic to use against a BI is to build up speed, especially by diving away if necessary. Less experienced BI pilots will either meet their doom by following you, or completely throw their altitude advantage away trying to recover the aircraft from the dive. More experienced BI pilots will simply disengage, letting you live rather than risk the dive. One must always keep in mind that the BI has a thrust-to-weight ratio of up to 0.99 at optimal conditions, the highest by far in its entire BR range, meaning the BI in the hands of competent pilots will always win engagements which are based on energy or thrust.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 2 000 m799 km/h
Turn time23 s
Max altitude12 000 m
EngineIsaev D-1a
TypeRocket
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight2 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 2,000 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 791 786 12000 23.2 23.2 84.7 79.1 300
Upgraded 807 799 22.8 23.0 116.6 100.0
The BI taking off.

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X X ✓ X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
920 420 N/A N/A 320 ~9 ~3
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 400 < 410 < 550 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic Mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Isaev D-1a 1 924 kg 233 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 0m fuel 1m fuel
300 kg Liquid-fuel rocket 1,134 kg 1,629 kg 1,650 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 0m fuel 1m fuel MTOW
Stationary 1,121 kgf N/A 0.99 0.69 0.68
Optimal 1,121 kgf
(any speed) 		N/A 0.99 0.69 0.68

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural920 km/h
Gear420 km/h
  • 5.5 mm steel behind the pilot.
  • 5.5 mm steel plate installed in the nose.
  • 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks* (7 under the cannon barrels, 8 behind pilot, 3 in rear fuselage)

*The fuel tanks are cylinder-shaped, not rectangular, like most planes' fuel tanks, allowing for more fuel tanks.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 012 → 4 890 Sl icon.png
RB9 654 → 11 768 Sl icon.png
SB14 235 → 17 352 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications80 000 Rp icon.png
129 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training78 000 Sl icon.png
Experts270 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 500 Ge icon.png
Research Aces670 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 280 / 560 % Sl icon.png
190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
8 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
18 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
13 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
shvak_belt_pack
Research:
8 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
220 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
shvak_new_gun
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
270 Ge icon.png

Armaments

BI after using its two cannons to down a Ar 234.

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon
Ammunition90 rounds
Fire rate800 shots/min
Main article: ShVAK (20 mm)

The BI is armed with:

  • 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, nose-mounted (45 rpg = 90 total)

Usage in battles

Fuel management

Managing your fuel will allow your endurance to increase from 1 minute 57 seconds to over 13 minutes, only use the fuel you need to use.

To get the longest endurance out of its limited fuel amount, climb from the airfield at an angle of 70-80 degrees, at full throttle and as you hit 3,000 m, change the angle of the attack and throttle back to 30%. Adjust your climb angle to make sure that both speed and altitude continue increasing. This will allow you to travel to 5,000+ m without burning too much of your precious rocket fuel, you will need this for later in the battle. Once you have hit 5,000 m, throttle back to 14% and continue to climb and adjust your climb angle again to roughly 16 degrees. You can continue to climb at this angle until you see it fit not to do so.

When you hit the altitude you like, you can throttle back to 0% and just glide, with only minor adjustments to the throttle to stay in level flight.

Also you can stay low at 30% throttle until you are at 750-800 kph and from there on you fly at 10-17% throttle while looking for enemys above you. Once you have spotted one you pull upwards holding your speed with 30% throttle and an aproach from below is so unexpected the enemy will not even know where you came from. This will be more fuel efficient than climbing as stated above.

Descending

The key to descending without locking up and crashing is to not point your nose straight down. Unlike other aircraft, the BI is able to gain a lot of speed even in a little descent. When the BI starts going over 700 km/h, pull up slowly and slow back down. When you push the nose back down, push the rudder all the way to the left or right. If you aren't losing speed fast enough, shift the plane 45 degrees to the left and right, with full rudder movements. This will slow you down.

Due to the BI being able to go over 900 km/h with ease and locking up at Mach 0.76, descending from height from 5,000 m needs to be carefully calculated based on the battle conditions in the match. If you descend to fast, due to a high angle of attack, you will lock up and crash into the ground, because you will be unable to pull out in time.

A high angle of attack for a descent is around -70 degrees, even using the ruder and shifting the BI to the left and right will not be enough.

A good angle of attack to descend is around -30 to -60, the steeper the angle faster you will go. When you descend keep your throttle at 0%, only when you are pulling out of the dive at the very end, after losing speed, they should be opened carefully.

Engaging in combat

Cockpit of the BI.

The BI is similar to the Me 163 B - small amounts of fuel and ammo (low flight endurance) but with astonishing performance, being able to climb 80 degrees vertically. As such it excels in the interceptor role, climbing at a extremely high rate of up to 116.4 m/s in AB and 100 m/s in RB. Able to shoot down bombers and fighter bombers before exhausting the fuel supply and landing again. Don't be fooled by its acceleration into thinking it has a high top speed - the wings and elevators will lock up at Mach 0.76, making any manoeuvres impossible. Flying full throttle at 8,000 m will see you rip your wings off in level flight.

If engaged by an opponent, do not try to outrun them, instead use your manoeuvrability and acceleration to turn fight, your speed and small size are your greatest strengths. The BI only has 90 rounds of ammo, 45 rounds per gun. This is not a lot of ammo, so take care to make every shot count.

Engaging fighters

Fighting fighters in combat, aim for the wings and tail, aiming for wings with the limited ammo which the BI has will cause the wing fuel tanks to catch on fire. Aiming for the tail, will see that the tail gets cut clean from the fuselage, unlike a bomber a fighter is smaller and has less space for fired ammo to miss critical elements.

If the enemy fighter notices you attempting to sneak up on them, they will bank left or right, do not follow them in the turn, the BI cannot turn fight without losing its advantageous speed. Instead, disengage, throttle up, climb and come back around for another pass.

Engaging Bombers

Fighting bombers, aim for the wings and engines, aiming for the fuselage is unlikely to cause any critical hits unless you can hit the flight deck. Aiming for the wings increases the odds of hitting a wing spar and seeing the wing get ripped off with a short salvo. Aiming for engines will knock them out and possibly set fires inside of the wing-installed fuel tanks. The larger area with more critical elements increase the odds of doing critical damage with the limited rounds which you have.

Do not stay behind the enemy bomber, their gunners will hit your rocket fuel tanks and will see the BI set on fire. If this occurs, break off the attack and dive as fast as you can, this will put the fire out. Then head back to the airfield and repair, and refuel.

Landing

To land the BI, you should keep about 5 to 10 seconds of fuel in case you need to go around due to a missed approach. When on approach, you will need to lose speed fast, which it can do. This is due to the BI not using the sleek low profile aerodynamic wings, as you find on other jets. However, to do this, you must reduce the speed down to under 420 km/h or your gear will be ripped off making the odds of crashing on landing very high.

To land the BI, flip the plane on its side, use the rudder during the turns to help cause more fiction with the air, which will start reducing its speed. Due to the shape of the BI which features great glider aerodynamics, it is able to fly at high speeds and keep the momentum even without any throttle being active. As soon as the BI touches the ground, apply the breaks and turn the rudder hard left and right to help slow it down.

Landing on short runways should be avoided or risk crashing at the end, the reason for this if you come into fast or high the BI will bounce, it will bounce to 150 m or more. Ideally you should head back to the main airfield which has the long landing strip to land on.

BI attacking an enemy jet bomber.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Amazing acceleration
  • Great roll rate
  • Excellent manoeuvrability
  • Incredible climb rate; can climb at a whopping 70° when spaded
  • Very small size makes successfully hitting it troublesome

Cons:

  • Not very well armoured
  • Only has landing flaps
  • Can reach rip speed (Mach 0.81) while travelling in a straight line
  • Very hard to pull out of a dive due to its great speed
  • Maximum fuel load is only 1 minute and 57 seconds
  • Very limited armament, only two ShVAK cannons with 45 rounds each

History

Test Flight Log:

Date Place Pilot Issues
October, 1941 Lake Bilimbay Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi None
April, 1942 Koltsove Airfield Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi None
May 15th, 1942 19:02 (UTC) Koltsove Airfield Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi Aircraft was damaged because of a hard landing and the pilot was injured.
March 27th, 1943 Koltsove Airfield Grigory Yakovlevich Bakhchivandzhi Aircraft crashed and was severely damaged so the test flights were discontinued.

Devblog

In the early 1940's, the OKB-293 aircraft design bureau began working on a new rocket-propelled aircraft design. The aircraft promised excellent performance figures, although at the expense of range due to the limitations of rocket engines at the time. After the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the design was seen as a potential short-range interceptor design to protect vital Soviet land installations from air raids. Thus, the project was approved for further development work and testing.

Development of the aircraft continued, with several prototypes being made and test flown. However, rapid advancements in aviation technology, especially the appearance of the jet engine, during the war outpaced the development of the BI. Therefore, the aircraft never left the prototype stage and didn't take part in active combat. Instead the aircraft's development served more as a testbed for Soviet rocket propulsion research, with the insights gained being later used for other projects during the Cold War.

Media

Skins
Images
  • BI Devblog Images
  • BI WTWallpaper 001.jpg
  • BI WTWallpaper 002.jpg
  • BI WTWallpaper 003.jpg
  • BI WTWallpaper 004.jpg
  • BI WTWallpaper 005.jpg
  • BI WTWallpaper 006.jpg
Videos
Rocket Planes discusses the BI at 00:40 - War Thunder Official Channel
Most unusual aircraft discusses the BI at 3:44 - War Thunder Official Channel
A BI... to fly - Napalmratte
The Shooting Range #218 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the BI.
🅱️i video - Rulo6000

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Experimental Design Bureau No. 293 (OKB-293)
Fighters  BI

USSR jet aircraft
Bereznyak-Isayev  BI
Yakovlev  Yak-15 · Yak-15P · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-28B · Yak-30D · Yak-38 · Yak-38M · Yak-141
Mikoyan-Gurevich  MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l) · MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh · MiG-17 · MiG-17AS · MiG-19PT
  MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis
  MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD · MiG-27M · MiG-27K
  MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT
Lavochkin  La-174 · La-15 · La-200
Sukhoi  Su-9 · Su-11
  Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK · Su-17M2 · Su-17M4 · Su-22M3
  Su-24M
  Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39
  Su-27 · Su-27SM
  Su-34
Ilyushin  IL-28 · IL-28Sh
Tupolev  Tu-14T

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