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From: Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com>
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Subject: Polikarpov I-16
Date: 28 Dec 2016 16:32:13 -0800
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_I-16
The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it
was the world's first low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable
landing gear to attain operational status and as such "introduced a new vogue in
fighter design." The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930s and formed the
backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II. The
diminutive fighter, nicknamed "Ishak" or "Ishachok" ("Donkey" or "Burro") by
Soviet pilots, figured prominently in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battle
by the Nationalists or Mosca ("Fly") by the Republicans. The Finnish nickname
was Siipiorava ("Flying Squirrel").
The M-25 fitted I-16, the I-16 Type 5, featured a new engine cowling which was
slightly smaller in diameter and featured nine forward-facing shuttered openings
to control cooling airflow, a redesigned exhaust with eight individual outlet
stubs, and other changes. The M-25 was rated at 474 kW (635 hp) at sea level and
522 kW (700 hp) at 2,300 m (7,546 ft). Due to the poor quality of the canopy
glazing, the I-16 Type 5 pilots typically left the canopy open or removed the
rear portion completely. By the time the Type 5 arrived, it was the world's
lightest production fighter (1,460 kg/3,219 lb), as well as the world's fastest,
able to reach speeds of 454 km/h (282 mph) at altitude and 395 km/h (245 mph) at
sea level. While the Type 5 could not perform the high-G maneuvers of other
fighters, it possessed superior speed and climb rates, and had extremely
responsive aileron control, which gave it a very good roll rate, which led to
precision maneuvers in loops and split-Ss.
A total of 7,005 single-seat and 1,639 two-seat trainer variants were produced.
Role
Fighter
Manufacturer
Polikarpov
First flight
30 December 1933 (TsKB-12)
Introduction
May 1934
Retired
1950s (Spanish Air Force)
Primary users
Soviet Air Force
Spanish Republican Air Force
Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Produced
1934-1942
Number built
8,644
The pilots nicknamed the aircraft Ishak (Russian: ????, Donkey/Hinny) because it
was similar to the Russian pronunciation of "I-16". When Operation Barbarossa
erupted on 22 June 1941, 1,635 of 4,226 VVS aircraft were I-16s of all variants,
fielded by 57 fighter regiments in frontier areas. The main assault delivered by
the Luftwaffe's Luftflotte 2 (in support of Wehrmacht Army Group Centre) was
directed against the Soviet Western Special Military District, that deployed 361
(424 according to other sources) I-16s. During the early phase of the campaign
the I-16 bases were the main targets for the German aircraft and after 48 hours
of combat, of the 1,635 Polikarpov monoplanes in service on 21 June 1941, only
937 were left. By 30 June the number of I-16s in western front line units had
dropped to 873, including 99 that required repairs. To stem the Luftwaffe aerial
assault several I-16 pilots adopted the taran tactic and sacrificed their lives,
ramming German aircraft.
Its main opponent in the sky in 1941 was the German Messerschmitt Bf 109. The
I-16 was slightly more maneuverable than the early Bf 109s and could fight the
Messerschmitt Bf 109E, or Emil, on equal terms in turns. Skilled Soviet pilots
took advantage of the Polikarpov's superior horizontal maneuverability and liked
it enough to resist the switch to more modern fighters. The German aircraft,
however, outclassed its Soviet opponent in service ceiling, rate of climb,
acceleration and, crucially, in horizontal and diving speed, due to better
aerodynamics and a more powerful engine. The main versions of the I-16 had a
dogfight, so German pilots held the initiative and could decide if they wanted
to chase their opponents, could attack them from above and behind and then gain
altitude for a new attack. Meanwhile, Polikarpovs could only defend each other
by forming a defensive circle or via horizontal maneuverability.
Specifications (I-16 Type 24)
General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 6.13 m (20 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Empty weight: 1,490 kg (3,285 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,941 kg (4,279 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,095 kg (4,619 lb)
(1,100 hp) driving a two-blade propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 525 km/h (283 kn, 326 mph) at 3,000 m (9,845 ft)
Range: 700 km (378 nmi, 435 mi (with drop tanks))
Service ceiling: 9,700 m (31,825 ft)
Rate of climb: 14.7 m/s (2,900 ft/min)
Power/mass: 346 W/kg (0.21 hp/lb)
Time to altitude: 5.8 minutes to 5,000 m (16,405 ft)
Armament
*
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