I-16 fighter

Polikarpov in 1933 developed a monoplane as an alternative to the experimental Tupolev ATN-31 fighter. The result was the I-16, which had a wooden fuselage and a metal wing. The first prototypes used the Soviet M-22 engine, but by 1934 the aircraft was equipped with a Wright Cyclone built under license, which significantly improved its performance and made the I-16 one of the fastest aircraft of its time.

Despite the fact that the plane proved difficult to fly, the Soviet troops ordered thousands of such machines. I-16 participated on the side of government forces in the battles against the Nazis in Spain. I-16 was built under license from Hispano-Suiza.

In China, Soviet I-16s demonstrated their superiority in air battles with Japanese pilots, repeating their success in 1939 in battles on the border with Manchuria. A huge number of I-16s were destroyed during the invasion of the USSR , but the aircraft remained in service until 1943.

The best feature of these I-16s was their armament with two ShVAK cannons in the wing. Two ShKAS machine guns were located in the upper part of the fuselage. Foreign pilots often complained about the cramped cockpit with an opening side door. The lack of trimmers required the pilot to constantly hold the control stick. After type 4, an armored back with a thickness of more than 6 mm was installed.

The first I-16s were equipped with an imported Wright Cyclone radial-cylinder engine, later built under license, which rotated a Hamilton propeller, which had two installation angles. After type 6, the I-16 had the M-25A engine, later types were equipped with supercharged M-62 and M-63 engines. Landing gear retraction was another shortcoming of early I-16s.

It took at least 44 turns with high winch force to retract the undercarriage, often seizing halfway through. The pilots were even given a special cutter to cut a stuck cable. Soviet pilots liked to put slogans on the plane.

D6 alloy tail construction with fabric covering for weight reduction. There was no weight or aerodynamic balancing, which made the aircraft quite difficult to control.