Chaos and Innovation: Russian Aircraft in the Civil War and Early Soviet Era The early Soviet era was defined by technical chaos and radical innovation. Starting in 1923 with the Polikarpov I-1, the USSR’s first indigenous monoplane fighter, Russia began moving away from surplus WWI designs like the R-1. By 1930, the rugged I-5 biplane reached top speeds of 173 mph, becoming the backbone of the Red Air Force. Despite using makeshift fuels like kerosene during the Civil War, these pioneers establ

The Untold Stories of Soviet Fighters and Attack Planes Before WWII Before World War II, Soviet aviation underwent a radical transformation led by the Polikarpov design bureau. The I-16 "Ishak," introduced in 1934, was a revolutionary low-wing monoplane reaching speeds of 280 mph. It dominated early conflicts like the Spanish Civil War. Alongside it, the maneuverable I-153 Chaika biplane hit 273 mph. These rugged machines prioritized agility and firepower, testing innovative retractable landing

Welcome to Warbird Wednesday! Today, we’re visiting the world’s first low-wing monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear that entered operational service, the Polikarpov I-16. This Soviet aircraft was a revolutionary design that saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, in China, and WWII. To purchase the Coloring Book - WWII Planes, please visit https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/product/coloring-book-wwii-planes/?utm-source=facebook-warbird-wednesday | Palm Springs Air Museum

8.6K views · 121 reactions | Here's a very quick clip of a Polikarpov I-15 at Flying Legends 2010 Stream 14 years of Flying Legends Airshow Films and much more at WingsTV.co.uk | Wings TV Channel | Facebook

Here's a video from my library... We're happy to say the Polikarpov I-16 Fighter has finally arrived at Fantasy of Flight. Watch here as the FoF crew accepts her into their care, and makes her comfortable in her new home. She'll be gently pampered as we work towards bringing her back to flying glory! Stay tuned. | Kermit Weeks

The Polikarpov I-16 was a revolutionary aircraft for its time. When it first appeared in the mid-1930s, it was the world's first low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear, making almost everything else instantly obsolete. It earned its famous "Rata" (Rat) nickname from the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War, while the Republicans affectionately called it the "Mosca" (Fly). Whatever you call it, its place in aviation history is undeniable, serving as the backbone