Veru, ako vravis, ci skor pises.
V decembri 1938 V. Ckalov, Stalinov oblubenec, havaroval na prototype I-180 a zabil sa (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_I-180), Polikarpov sa dostal do Stalinovej nemilosti. Projekt I-180 bol nakoniec koncom roka 1940 zruseny v prospech LaGG-3.
Projekt I-185 vychadzal z I-180. Podla
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_I-185 ...Během operačních zkoušek (3 prototypov) u 728. IAP piloti lépe hodnotily první dva prototypy I-185 s motory M-71, I-185 M-82A i tak překonával všechny operačně používané stíhací stroje. (!). Dle názorů sovětských pilotů se jednalo o nejlepší stíhací stroj let 1942 - 1944, který se však nedostal do sériové výroby.
Podla
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_I-185:
All three aircraft were assigned to the 728th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 3rd Air Army of the Kalinin Front and were tightly controlled to prevent the loss of the prototypes. For example, all sorties had to be flown over Soviet-controlled territory and required the express permission of the 3rd Air Army staff to fly. Pilots' reports were quite enthusiastic; the 728th's commander, Captain Vasilyaka wrote: "The I-185 outclasses both Soviet and foreign aircraft in level speed. It performs aerobatic maneuvers easily, rapidly and vigorously. The I-185 is the best current fighter from the point of control simplicity, speed, maneuverability (especially in climb), armament and survivability.
Nakoniec, po havarii 5. aprila 1943 bol projekt I-185 zruseny a prednost dostal Lavockinov La-5.