Gudkov Gu-1 - The No-Airacobra

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Gudkov Gu-1

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TL;DR:
Fighter, Soviet Airacobra.

Overview:
After parting ways with Lavochkin and Gorbunov, Mikhail Gudkov began development on his own fighters, notably an improved LaGG-3 similar to the La-5. In 1940, Gudkov became convinced that the P-39 Airacobra and its mid-engine design would be the future of fighter aviation, and started development on his own version, the Gu-1. The Gu-1 essentially copied the basic design and shape of the P-39, though it was mostly made of wood veneer. Armament was similar, featuring a Soviet 37mm cannon with an 81-round magazine, and 6 machine guns. It was fitted with the very powerful prototype 1400 hp AM-41 engine, designed specifically for the Gu-1. It languished in development as priority was given to more traditional projects, and only in 1943 was it completed. Gudkov predicted excellent performance, and a high top speed.

Testing was carried out by A. I. Nikashin, who after taxi trials commented that the aircraft “seems glued to the ground.” After a successful lift off test, the first real flight test came on June 12, 1943. It made it 200m into the air before stalling and crashing into the ground, killing Nikashin. Investigations blamed the design and Gudkov, though the exact issue remains unclear, possibly too small wings or tail. Afterwards, the project was abandoned and Gudkov’s design bureau was dissolved. However Gudkov escaped a worse fate, and later became the head engineer of a design bureau for high-altitude balloons.

Specifications:

Weight:
3742 kg empty
4610 kg full

Dimensions:
Length: 10.68m
Wing Span: 10m
Wing Area: 20m²
Height: 4.6m

Engine:
1x Mikulin AM-41 inline V-12 piston engine
1400 hp
Max Fuel: unknown
Liquid cooled

Performance:
Max Speed:
520km/h at sea level projected
674km/h at altitude projected
Ceiling: 10 000m projected
Range: 1000km projected
Rate of Climb: 800m/min projected

Crew: 1

Armament:
1x1 37mm PTB/NS-37 (or Sh-37) (81 rounds)
6x1 7.62mm ShKAS

Images:

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The AM-41 engine recovered from the wreck
Drawings:
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Sources:
Gordon, Y. and Gunston B. (2000). Soviet X-Planes (pp. 64). Midland.
Gordon, Y., and Khazanov, D. (1998). Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War Vol. 1 (pp. 20, 177). Midland.
https://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/gu1.html
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/unknown-soviet-engines.32302/

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eeeeeeeeeeeeeee look like japans plane?!
+1 event