Polikarpov I-16
by: RLindsey
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Word Count: 266
The Polikarpov I-16 was the first of the modern low-wing monoplanes. It included manually retractable landing gear and a radial engine. The one unusual aspect about the plane is the open cockpit. For such a cold climate, one would expect Russia to be an early adopter of the closed cockpit.
The first one was flown in 1933, but it was introduced as a mass production plane in 1935. By 1936, the I-16 and Soviet pilots were being sent to Spain where the Germans and the Soviets were getting involved in the Spanish Civil War. The I-16 picked up the name “Rata,” or Rat, in Spain. Other nicknames include “Fly” and “Mule” or “Little Donkey.”
Of the 7,005 produced through1943, the Soviets used them against the Germans, Japanese, Fins, and Spanish Nationalists. One service that the I-16s did was called the Zveno 6, a combination of a Tupolev TB-3 bomber with two I-16 suspended under the wings. The I-16s are dropped at some point in the mission and this allows for extended range for the I-16 fighters sometimes outfitted as dive-bombers. Several significant missions were carried out this way, especially the destruction of the Zaporozhje bridge on the Battle of Stalingrad. Spain had I-16s in service until 1953.
Type: Fighter
County: Soviet Union U.S.S.R.
Length: 20 feet 1 inch (6.13 m)
Wingspan: 29 feet 5 inches (9 meters)
Speed: 326 mph (535 km/h)
Ceiling: 29,500 feet (9,000 m)
Range: 435 miles (700 km)
Engines: one 1,000 hp Shvetsov M - 63 air-cooled nine-cylinder radial
Crew: one
Armament: Two 20mm cannons and two 7.62 mm (0.30 caliber) machine guns plus 6 rockets
About the Author
Robert M. Lindsey
http://lindseyfreelancing.com/
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