The many colors of the Po-16 'Mosca'

[Ivan]

Spanish Civil War, all are of the Tip 5 variant


Japanese invasion of China, early models with closed (Tip 5) and open (Tip 6) cockpit


Japanese invasion and Spanish Civil War, later models (Tip 10 and  Tip 17) and a Tip 18 from the USSR pilot school with yellow tail stripe


Late models which were in service around 1943, as engine power increased, the wheel doors were sometimes removed.

[ATI_7500]

pretty dangerous,if you don't pay attention to them,otherwise ,they are quite easy targets.

fear my 109,commies!

[Rifleman]

Wow its the RAT .........I have a friend who built one for flying indoors........it worked fine too, as close coupled as it is ............

[Sock]

Nice pics of a great plane.  Got a question through, why would the Russians remove the wheel doors, with an increase in power?  Wouldn't that cause some resistance to the air flow and make drag?

Sock

[Felix/FFDS]

Re: removal of wheel doors....   Think mud, slush and crud.  The I-16s doors including a folding "tab" that would cover the wheel - added mechanism for field repairs, etc.

A Note on the Rata - After the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish continued using a small number of "captures" in flying schools,etc., so seeing a Rata in Falangist colors and later roundels is not inaccurate.

The Rata was actually marginally faster and more maneouverable than the early (B) 109  models.  However, the Rata was at the end of the type development (I include it with the I-15 as a "model"), whereas the 109 was "just beginning".

[ATI_7500]

The Rata was actually marginally faster and more maneouverable than the early (B) 109  models.  However, the Rata was at the end of the type development (I include it with the I-15 as a "model"), whereas the 109 was "just beginning".

i was talking 'bout the eastern front models. at the beginning of the russian war ,the 109 was already far superior to the I-16.