Polikarpov I-16 Type 18 Russian fighter. Ace Vasiliy Golubev
Ark Models 48034

Dimensions: 127 (length) * 188 (wingspan)
No. of parts: 76

The Polikarpov I-16 fighter was among the world’s best high-speed fighters in the second half of the 1930s. The I-16 was the mainstay of the aircraft fleet of the Red Army’s Air Force in the run-up to the Great Patriotic War. In early 1939, the Shvetsov M-25 engine was replaced by the more powerful Shvetsov M-62. 590 kW (800 hp) M-62 engine identified a new modification of the I-16 - Type 18, which was created on the basis of the I-16 Type 10. Tests of the first fighter with the new engine showed that the aircraft performance has increased significantly.

Early in the Great Patriotic War, Vasiliy Fyodorovich Golubev served with the Air Arm of the Soviet Navy's Baltic Fleet, flying various versions of the I-16 fighter. He took part in the defensive battle for Leningrad and fought in the vicinity of the Hanko Peninsula. V. F. Golubev was appointed squadron leader of the 3rd Squadron, the 4th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in March, 1942. Furious fighting began in the skies over Leningrad in May. Golubev's squadron distinguished itself when defending the Road of Life from air raids of enemy bombers. V. F. Golubev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on 23 October 1942. He saw the end of the Great Patriotic War as officer commanding the 4th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. In all, V. F. Golubev flew 546 sorties, fought 133 air battles and shot down 19 enemy planes personally and 20 as part of a package.