After four years on the ground, the Polikarpov I-16 “Rata” of the Spanish Air Force program operated by the Infant Orléans Foundation (FIO) was once again unveiled to the public on Sunday, February 4, 2024, during the exhibition 2024. After a successful test flight on Dec. 30, the rare aircraft was highlighted last Sunday alongside the museum’s collection of vintage and warbird airplanes.
FIO is the Spanish Museum of Historical Aviation and Flight, a non-profit organization founded in 1989 by a group of aviation enthusiasts and pilots at Cuatro Vientos Airport near Madrid, with the sole purpose of preserving and sharing Spain’s aviation history. . They named the ship in honor of Don Alfonso de Orléans y Borbón (1886-1975), a famous Spanish pilot and aviation pioneer. FIO has undertaken the recovery and restoration of aircraft that occupy an important place in Spain’s aviation heritage, and the collection currently includes approximately 38 flight-worthy planes, spanning more than 70 years of Spanish aviation culture. It contains. They maintain them in their own workshops, and display their collections to the public once a month through aerial displays from their home base. One of their most important relics is the flyable Polikarpov I-16 “Rata”, which is the focus of this article.
The Polikarpov I-16 is one of the least known aircraft in history, akin to the Rodney Dangerfield of fighters and respected by no one except his opponents. Created by Russian designer Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov, this classic airplane was a brilliant breakthrough, especially for the Soviet aviation industry, which was still in its infancy. Production of the I-16 ended in his 1940 year, but was quickly resumed after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. It was not only the first cantilevered monoplane fighter with a retractable landing gear to operate as a squadron in any country in the world, it was also one of the longest-lived warriors of the era, dating back to 1950. He was active in Spain until the second half of the year. It was given many nicknames, including “Ishak” (“little donkey”) in Russian, “Rata” (“mouse”) and “Mosca” (“fly”) in Spanish.
In the early 1990s, the late New Zealander Tim Wallis (later Sir Tim) reconstructed six I-16s from wreckage found around Russia for his Wanaka-based Alpine fighter collection. A contract was signed with the Novosibirsk Aeronautical Research Institute to manufacture it. As soon as FIO heard about this, they started a campaign to bring one to Spain. Many people supported this project, but it was only with the help of Getafe City Council that we were able to achieve our goals. Getafe has signed an agreement with FIO to build a new museum and partially finance the acquisition of Lata. As a result of negotiations, FIO acquired his I-16 for his 262,000 euros and it arrived in Spain in early 2005. The FIO example is based on the remains of an example discovered in 1992 near Lake Kokkojärvi in Karelia, a region in northern Russia bordering Finland. Manufactured in 1937, it served with the 122nd Squadron of the Soviet Union’s Northern Fleet.
FIO’s I-16 made its first flight after restoration in 1997, and its official debut in Spain took place on May 4, 2008. This plane, marked his CM-249, is a “Super Mosca” flown by Captain Jose Maria Bravo. Commander of the 3rd Escuadrilla. This was Captain Bravo’s plane, but as the white squadron leader’s code number indicates, the sergeant was Captain Bravo’s plane. JL Tarazonite was also flown occasionally. The third Escuadrilla “Mosca” was formed in his 1937 year and was directed by the Russian Boris Smirnov. Escadrilla fought at the Battle of Guadalajara and the subsequent Battle of Segovia, and was commanded by two additional Russian commanders, Ukhov and Evseviev, at the Battle of Brunete. After joining up with the 2nd Escuadrilla, both aircraft fought at the Battles of Belchite and Teruel.After this final battle, the threerd The Escuadrilla took on a Spanish commander, José María Bravo, in Salou in March 1938. He led his unit in various air battles until his unit was disbanded in February 1939 after the Battle of Ebro.
The Polikarpov I-16 had made its last flight in December 2020 during a closed-door training exercise amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Currently, FIO’s intention is to continue operations while participating in the Foundation’s monthly expeditions. The test pilot and official pilot of the aircraft at the exhibition will be Mr. Carlos Valle Torralbo, who is also the President of FIO.
FIO’s one-day event on February 4th features Dornier Do-27, T-45 Swallow, British Eagle II, de Havilland Canadian DHC-1 Chipmunk, Stinson 108, Jodel D119S, SIAI-Marchetti SF-205, Buecker Bü- 133L, Miles Falcon Six, Focke-Wulf Fw-44 Stieglitz, Boeing Stearman, Fleet 2, de Havilland DH.60 Moss, Polikarpov Po-2, Buecker Bü 133, Buecker Bü 131, Polikarpov I-16, North American T-6 Texan , Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, and Beechcraft C-45.
Despite its strange appearance and features, the “Rata” is special not only for its performance but also for its important history in Spain, and FIO is proud that this important aircraft pays homage to Spain’s aviation heritage. I’m very proud to continue flying.
For more information about Foundation Infante de Orleans, please visit www.fio.es.
