What is a Polikarpov I-16?
The Polikarpov I-16 (Russian: Поликарпов И-16) was a Soviet single-engine single-seat 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.”.
What is the Soviet I-16?
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.
Who invented the Polikarpov?
Created by designer Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov, this classic airplane was a brilliant leap forward, particularly for a Soviet aviation industry that was still in its infancy.
How many Polikarpov Po-2s were made?
Among Polikarpov’s many designs was the U-2 (later the Po-2), a remarkably simple but efficient two-place biplane that was built in greater quantity than any other aircraft in history, with some sources citing as many as 41,000 examples being delivered.