Polikarpov I-16 "Ishak" | The Revolutionary Russian Fighter
The I-16 was a short, stubby Soviet Russian fighter that saw a lot of action, prominently in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, Winter War and WW2 following Operation Barbarossa. Though it may look primitive, it was actually revolutionary for its time - featuring retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed canopy and advanced control surfaces.
It earned the nickname "Ishak" or "Donkey" from its Russian pilots, republican pilots in the Spanish Civil War affectionately named it "fly" and others named it the "rat".
