One of the first monoplane fighter aircraft with retractable landing gear was the I-16, developed in the N.N. Polikarpov Design Bureau.

The maiden flight was in December 30, 1934 Type 24 modification with M-63 engine and reinforced chassis was in production in 1939-1940. It were produced 934 I-16 type 24.

In the summer of 1941 I-16 fighters were the basis of Soviet Fighter Aviation. They participated in air battles in all sectors of the Soviet-German Front. I-16 fighters were used in combat until mid 1943.

Specification

• Markings
  
  • I-16 type 24, 67th Fighter Regiment, South Front, Summer 1941.
  • I-16 type 24, 72d Mixed Regiment of the Northern Fleet Aviation, Summer 1941.
  • I-16 type 24, 4th Guard Fighter Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Aviation, Winter - Spring 1942.
  • I-16 type 24, 254th Fighter Regiment, Leningrad Front, Summer 1943.
• Model size (length x width): 192 x 282 mm
• Box size: 410 x 260 x 55 mm
• Number of details: 115