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Aviation of World War II |
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I-16 type 12 (I-16P)FighterPolikarpov![]()
In August-September 1937, the pilot S.P. Suprun conducted state tests of the head copy (serial number 12219). ShVAK cannons appeared in the armament of the USSR aviation thanks to the efforts of Polikarpov. Two I-16Ps were built, both with the same weapon installation. One I-16P had retractable landing gear struts, while the other I-16P had non-retractable landing gear struts without shields. This was the first experience of installing a 20 mm cannon on a Soviet fighter. The tests showed that the flight characteristics remained practically the same as the usual serial I-16 type 5. Although the tests were successful, however, the cannons with high recoil were not installed on production aircraft (I-16 type 17) for another two years. The specific weight of the I-16 cannon modifications in relation to the total number of aircraft of this type was very small. For example, as of July 1, 1938, the Red Army Air Force had 1,858 I-16s of various modifications (in the military districts - 1,554), of which only six with guns. |
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