Polikarpov I-16

[Gilly]

Having had 'the pleasure' of seeing an i16 fly at Duxford this year a couple of things stand out:
- You'd have to be brave or mad to fly this thing
- I'm sorry to say it sounds terrible! Almost tractor-esque. It's a pity we don't get the true recreation of the sound in BoP. What I thought would be quite a torquey engine did seem to lose speed quite quickly when climbing. Admittedly this was only an airshow but it did not impress me particularly especially as there were aircraft there from the same era.

And just so you don't flame me, here's a couple of pics to calm you down!!!!





Drop me a pm if you so desire and I'll happily email you the originals

[winny]

I love the I-16 for the simple reason that it looks like it was designed by a cartoonist.

[bobbysocks]

Originally Posted by winny

I love the I-16 for the simple reason that it looks like it was designed by a cartoonist.

i think some of the racing ac of the time like the Gee Bee influenced military designs...

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by Cryptic Phant0m

I have yet to have a hard time landing the I-16 in sim, on my first try I landed and received my achievement for it. So far in Sim I have tried and successfully land her 23/30 tries.

I like to keep logs and stuff for different things that I try or did.

One question about sim or realistic.

When you run out of fuel can you refuel if you land at a runway or do you just crash and burn every time?

Nope, there's not way to refuel. Once you're tanks empty, you're done for the day (or night) depending. As for landing, you've just got to keep your speed up and not suddenly drop down either right on the wheels like a stone being dropped, or by coming in too slow and having a problem. When I played it on Sim, I didn't have a problem landing if I came in with enough speed and burned it off as I landed.

Originally Posted by bobbysocks

i think some of the racing ac of the time like the Gee Bee influenced military designs...

You know, it just so happens that most American, Japanese, Russian, and French planes of the 30s were highly influenced by racing designs. Most of them (like the Gee Bee) were meant for high speeds with stubby planes... though the flat nose on the I-16 kinda restricts the speed, it's a good TnB plane... but for it's time it was a fast plane with 1,000hp engine compared to the American 970hp Wright Cyclones that were the same thing.

[bobbysocks]

Originally Posted by Soviet Ace

it's a good TnB plane... but for it's time it was a fast plane with 1,000hp engine compared to the American 970hp Wright Cyclones that were the same thing.

that only stands to reason...most of the racing was pylons. so tight turns were essential.

[KAV]

http://s763.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=DSCF2586.mp4

Heres from Duxford.......

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by KAV

http://s763.photobucket.com/albums/x...t=DSCF2586.mp4

Heres from Duxford.......

Damn, hear that R-1820 rumble! Like beautiful music to my ears.

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by Gilly

Having had 'the pleasure' of seeing an i16 fly at Duxford this year a couple of things stand out:
- You'd have to be brave or mad to fly this thing

Yeah, the most dangerous part about the plane was landing it. The pilot couldn't see very well when landing, and most of them did a nose over and just plopped into the ground. Lots of pilots who trained in them died that way.

- I'm sorry to say it sounds terrible! Almost tractor-esque. It's a pity we don't get the true recreation of the sound in BoP. What I thought would be quite a torquey engine did seem to lose speed quite quickly when climbing. Admittedly this was only an airshow but it did not impress me particularly especially as there were aircraft there from the same era.

Well by looking at it, I think it's obvious why it's not such a great climber (check out the nose! And the compact body in general. Same can be said about the Wildcat and Buffalo.) As for the sound... B-17, Buffalo, F3F, Hudson, C-47, FM-2 Wildcat, and some others all had the same engine as the I-16, I-15bis, and I-153. They do sound the same, just a bit more amped here and there for the respected planes (like the B-17s R-1820-97s were turbocharged and the FM-2 Wildcat's were just supercharged.) Personally, I love the sound of them, and the reason they sound like that is because of the pistons in the engine not firing all in an even succession like you'd get in say a 109 or Spitfire with their inline engines. If you ever hear something like a Gloster Gladiator or another radial engined plane, you see that they sound like a tractor as well.

And just so you don't flame me, here's a couple of pics to calm you down!!!!

Drop me a pm if you so desire and I'll happily email you the originals

So, would you like the Red Air Force/Army to come get you now, or later when it's more convenient?

[Gilly]

Originally Posted by Soviet Ace

So, would you like the Red Air Force/Army to come get you now, or later when it's more convenient?

Lol! Is that the red air force that is still chucking Bears at our northern airspace or are you going to sail east over the pond yourself! (always thought mother Russia was west of here!!!)
If you can find me of course seeing as I live in the remotest part of England!!!

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by Gilly

Lol! Is that the red air force that is still chucking Bears at our northern airspace or are you going to sail east over the pond yourself! (always thought mother Russia was west of here!!!)
If you can find me of course seeing as I live in the remotest part of England!!!

I think a dozen or so nuclear warheads should find you? Or the radiation, with some witty sayings on the bombs that you can read before they hit. Some are: "HI GILLY!" "GREETINGS FROM MOTHER RUSSIA!" "HOPE YOUR DAY DOESN'T SUCK!" "THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" and finally "YEAH, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!"