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Overview
The I-16 Type 29 variant represents a culmination of the Polikarpov I-16’s design evolution, focused on enhancing the aircraft’s ground-attack capability. Introduced in 1940, the Type 29 incorporated a series of modifications and design adaptations from previous variants, aimed at increasing its utility in combat while accommodating the powerful 12.7 mm Berezin UBS machine gun and other ground-attack features.
History
The Type 29 was developed as a ground-attack variant and introduced in 1940. By this stage, the I-16 was beginning to be eclipsed by newer Soviet designs, such as the Yak-1 and LaGG-3. However, the Type 29 was adapted to provide close air support and low-altitude attack capabilities due to its agility, compact design, and low-altitude performance.
The Type 29 is an evolution of the Type 24 design. Unlike its predecessor, which had two 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns in the wings and two in the fuselage, the Type 29 carried all its guns in the fuselage—a 12.7 mm UBS heavy machine gun and two 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns—and was also fitted with pylons for bombs or rockets. These changes enhanced its role in ground-attack missions, where strafing and bombing runs were common.
Like the Type 24, the Type 29 used the powerful Shvetsov M-63 radial engine, rated at 1,100 horsepower (takeoff). This engine provided the aircraft with a better power-to-weight ratio compared with earlier I-16 variants. This improved the aircraft’s low-altitude speed and climb rate, crucial for ground-attack roles. However, the heavier armament and payload capacity slightly reduced the aircraft’s overall speed and agility compared to earlier variants optimized for air combat.
Although the I-16 Type 29 was technologically outclassed by newer German fighters during WWII, it proved effective in close-support roles, particularly on the Eastern Front. Its rugged design allowed it to endure harsh operating conditions, and its ability to carry bombs and rockets made it versatile against German ground targets. Around 800 Type 29s were built from 1940 to 1941.
The I-16 Type 29, as the last significant production model of the I-16 series, marked the end of the aircraft’s evolution. Though it was soon overshadowed by more advanced Soviet fighters, its contributions to ground-attack missions and defense against the German invasion left a lasting legacy in Soviet air combat history.
Design
The Type 29 introduced the Berezin UBS 12.7 mm synchronized machine gun mounted centrally in the lower part of the fuselage. The wing-mounted ShKAS machine guns were removed and only the fuselage-mounted ShKAS machine guns remained, setting it apart visually and functionally from previous models like the Type 24. The UBS installation was optimized for ground attack, allowing heavier and more effective fire on ground targets.
The relocation of the oil cooler by 40 degrees to the right side (between cylinders 4 and 5) allowed for the UBS installation but necessitated modifications to the engine’s intake and exhaust system. The inlet and outlet for the oil cooler were moved to the right side, impacting the use of retractable ski gear and leading to the omission of the RI manual engine starter.
To accommodate the new UBS gun, the wheel bays were shifted 20 mm outward, which also required shortening the landing gear legs by 38 mm. This adjustment decreased ground clearance, so a shorter 2.7-meter AV-1 propeller was used. The propeller’s blades were also redesigned to be wider and rounder at the tips, maintaining thrust efficiency despite the smaller diameter.
The Type 29 had provisions for auxiliary fuel tanks, six RS-82 rocket rails or four RS-132 rocket rails, and some had protective metal plates on the wing leading edges to shield the aircraft from rocket blast effects. After 1941, the external fuel tank hardpoint was changed so that it became multipurpose: it could carry the new type of drop tank, PLBG-100, or 2 FAB-100 bombs. Additionally, a radio mast for the RSI-3 radio was optionally installed on the right side of the nose, visible as an oblique aerial wire mount.
The new layout with the UBS fairing changed the aircraft’s profile slightly, with the UBS protruding from the lower fuselage and the shorter landing gear legs giving the plane a more grounded look. The Type 29 also featured a small circular plug on the left side of the fuselage near the door, possibly related to the aircraft’s battery system, which was also present on some late Type 24 models.
Weighing 2,115 kg (including rockets, tanks, and radio), the Type 29 was the heaviest I-16 model, compared to the Type 24’s 1,882 kg. This increased weight impacted performance, with a maximum speed of 429 km/h at 4,150 meters and a slower climb rate to 5,000 meters (7.25 minutes vs. 5.2 minutes for the Type 24). In a “clean” configuration (without rockets, tanks, or radio), its speed could reach 470 km/h.
Specifications
Crew - 1
Length - 6.13 m
Width - 9.00 m
Height - 2.25 m
Wingspan - 7.3 m
Empty Weight - 1,384 kg
Maximum Combat Weight - 2,115 kg
Powerplant - 1 x Shvetsov M-63 air-cooled radial piston engine (821 kW (1,100 hp) at takeoff and 671 kW (900 hp) at 4,500 m (14,800 ft))
Max Speed - 470 km/h (empty) and 429 km/h (max weight) at 4150 m
Service Ceiling - 9800 m
Rate of Climb - 7 minutes 15 seconds to 5,000 m (max weight)
Armament
Guns:
2 х 7.62 mm ShKAS MG (left 475 rounds, right 500 rounds) + 1 х 12.7 mm Berezin UBS MG (130-230 rounds)
Ordinance:
6 x RS-82 rockets + 2 x FAB-100 bombs
4 x RS-132 rockets
