Polikarpov I-153 "Chaika"

The Polikarpov I-153 evolved from the I-15. In 1933, the Polikarpov design bureau developed one of the most outstanding biplanes ever used in combat. The Polikarpov I-15 had amazing combat performance due to its initial gull-shaped top wing that allowed the plane to do a complete turn in eight seconds. In October of 1936, the Soviet Union sent a squadron of I-15's to the support of the Spanish Republic, where these maneuverable biplanes became extremely popular with the Republic.

Inexperienced pilots could quickly learn to fly the I-15 and it was easy to take off and land. The Soviet Air Force eventually changed the top wing from its gull shape, installed the larger M-25 750 hp engine, and added a new exhaust system, to make up the new I-15bis. The term "bis" means second version or variant. In 1938, over a thousand I-15bis airplanes were manufactured, which made it the most mass produced Soviet fighter of that period.

The following year, an additional 1,304 I-15bis aircraft were produced, just before the contract expired, and production of the Polikarpov I-153 began. These aircraft saw combat use in the Russian-Japanese Conflict of 1938. It was sold to the Chinese in their defense of their homeland and was still in use as a fighter when the Germans invaded Russia with their Messerschmitts. Even the American Volunteer Group, The Flying Tigers of Burma, used an I-15bis as a trainer as they prepared to transition to their Curtiss P-40 fighters. During the many years of service the I-15bis was used in Spain, Mongolia, Finland, Russia, and even during the final Japanese campaign at the end of the war in 1945.

The Polikarpov I-153 was the third version of the I-15 aircraft. The Soviet Command initiated the design and development of this version, believing that biplanes would still play a major role in future wars. The Polikarpov I-153 reverted back to the "gull" wing and was given the nickname Chaika. The other two main changes to this version were a larger 1,000 hp engine to carry more armament and a fully retractable landing gear. ThePolikarpov I-153 was produced through the end of 1940 and was in service during the early part of World War Two against Germany.

The Fighter Factory's 1938 Polikarpov I-153 was found in a swamp outside of Murmansk. This aircraft, serial number 6316, once flew with the 2nd Aviation Fighter Squadron of the Northern Navy. After being restored in Russia in 1998, this plane performed at airshows in New Zealand. The aircraft became part of the Fighter Factory collection in December 2002.

Photos of our Polikarpov I-153