Polikarpov I-16 No. 28 at Wanaka New Zealand.

[@glengauldie7741]

cheers mike, it made me smile when I seen this, I was at the airshow there in wamaka a few years back and seen one of these flying in person and as much as I enjoyed seeing the other warbirds flying is: the spity and stuff the poli was my favourite.

[@val.m77100]

плюс вам,летуны.молодцы,что сберегли память.

[@novotnyingersol9200]

What a rare beauty !

[@AirflowNZ]

Nototny, I think some appear at US Air Shows, thanks for your comment, Mike - AirflowNZ

[@glengauldie7741]

it looks like a half smoked cigar with wings that sounds like a harly Davidson on steroids

[@AirflowNZ]

Glen, a fair comment! Mike - AirflowNZ

[@roysmith-everest8109]

Why were they opened cockpits? Great little fighter.

[@AirflowNZ]

Roy, yes, they got engine heat via ducks in the firewall! Mike

[@roysmith-everest8109]

Thanks for explaining. 👍

[@res1492]

Worlds first cantilever, low wing, monoplane fighter, with retractable landing gear...truly groundbreaking or should I say "airbreaking" (dad joke). The I-16 No. 28 first flew in 1933, that's 2 years before the 109's and 3 years before the Spitfire's, she really was before her time ...love love love this little plane

[@AirflowNZ]

Res1492, yes a ground breaker, only needed flaps to make it perfect! Mike - AirflowNZ

[@Wabaanimkii]

Awesome! How's the visibility inside the cockpit? It looks like that giant engine might get in the way a bit when looking forward.

[@AirflowNZ]

Wabaanimkii - you will see that the pilot hangs out to one side whilst zig-zagging to get a view of whats in front! Mike - AirflowNZ

[@humbertomonteiro6742]

beautifull,history!!!!!!

[@AirflowNZ]

Thank you for your comment, Mike - AirflowNZ

[@14598175]

It looks like half the thrust just gets rammed into the flat surface of the engine.

[@AirflowNZ]

Hi, there is a rotating shutter to block the airflow whist it is warming up to op temps. In flight they are usually open and some of the prop wash and I presume thrust passes thru the cylinders. Mike - AirflowNZ

[@SMGJohn]

Menacing engine sound to say the least, Soviets knew how to make good planes.

[@mikemillett1940]

John, thanks for your comment, Mike - AirflowNZ

[@MrJonathan2211]

que lindo juguete!!!

[@AirflowNZ]

Thank You!, Mike - AirflowNZ

[@craigpennington1251]

They have a smooth runway and they use the grass which looks to be very bad on the aircraft & pilot as well. Makes no sense. Love the I-16 though. That's definitely seat of the pants flying. Amazing sounding aircraft.

[@AirflowNZ]

Craig, the I-16 has no flaps and landing speed tricky to get exactly right. For this reason the grass has more give as they drop down on their landing gear. Also less wear on the tyres as the wheels hit a less abrasive surface. Thanks for your comment, Mike