I-16
From OnAirpower.org
I-16
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[edit] Variants
Unless otherwise noted, the information here is from an interview with Soviet fighter ace Nikolai Golodnikov.
- Type-4: equipped with the M-22 engine; two or four ShKAS 7.62mm machine guns in the wings
- Type-5: M-25 engine; two or four ShKAS 7.62mm machine guns in the wings
- Type-10 M-25 engine; 2x Berezin heavy machine gun, firing through the propeller
- Type-17: M-25 engine; first variant to have retractable flaps, operated by hand; first variant to be equipped with radios
- Type-21: M-25 engine
- Type-28: M-63 engine w/variable pitch propeller
- Type-29: M-63 engine w/variable pitch propeller
[edit] Comparison with German Fighters
"All the basic types of I-16, the type-10, -17, and –21, were less capable in their technical and tactical characteristics than the Bf-109E, but not by much. Of course, the older types, the -4 and -5, were not comparable. The I-16 types -28 and -29 were superior to the Bf-109E. They were capable of the same speed and in maneuverability, in the vertical plane, the Ishak surpassed the E model. In principle, the I-16 could easily and quickly attain a speed of 500 kmh. The E model was quicker, but not by much. In combat there was no practical difference in their speed. The dynamic of achieving top speed of the I-16 was explosive, especially with the M-63 engine. This was its second unique quality, after horizontal maneuverability. It could out-accelerate all other then-existing Soviet-produced fighters, even the new types. The Yak-1 was the closest to it in this capability, but even it fell somewhat behind. The “Messer” could dive well and get away. The I-16, with its rather large nose, could not develop 530 kmh in a dive. But it must be said that in combat, if we had to disengage, them from us or we from them, we always managed to do so[1]."
[edit] Sources
- VVS Art Deco: Oddities of Camouflage 1934-41: The Polikarpov I-16 Fighter, Part I at Modeling the VVS 1917-1950 discusses some of the history of the I-16 and unusual camouflage schemes that were applied to it
- Conversations with N. G. Golodnikov an interview with Soviet fighter ace Nikolai Golodnikov that has a detailed discussion of the I-16 and its flying and fighting characteristics
- The I-16 Fighter an entire website dedicated to the I-16 fighter, mostly in Russian but with several sections available in English (in Russian)
