Nationalist painting on the right side of this aircraft.

Finland's examples were captured Soviet machines from the Winter War period. Later VH-21. Photo by: Museum Centre Vapriikki (Tampere)

White 45 on display at Fantasy of Flight museum. This I-16 Type 24 originally fitted with a 1,000 hp M-62R engine was one of six rebuilt in Russia in 1997 for the Alpine Fighter Collection from remains discovered in the Leningrad region. It was sold to CAF in 2001 and to Kermit Weeks in 2019. First flown on 31 Dec 1933, the I-16 was then on par with other fighter aircraft. Later outclassed, the 'Ishak' bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe's attack during the opening days of Op Barbarossa. A few I-16s from 123rd and 124th Fighter Aviation Regiment deliberately rammed Luftwaffe fighters in combat.

Sold in the US as N30425 in March 2002. Bob Kerr photo

Recovered from crash site near Leningrad in 1991. Restored in Russia for the Alpine Fighter Collection in New Zealand, and registered ZK-JIP. Sold to the Commemorative Air Force in 2001 and registered as N30425. Sold to Kermit Weeks in 2019, and has current registration N30425.

Painted in Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War 1936-39

Ex ZK-JIR. Built in 1939, and recovered from a crash site near the Finnish border.

Over 10,000 Polikarpov I-16s were built in fighter and, like this Finnish survivor, in fighter-trainer configurations from 1934. Some remained in operation in Spain till as late as 1953. Finland's examples were captured Soviet machines from the Winter War period. This rare two-seater, the only surviving example of this variant in the world, was captured in autumn 1941 and served Le.Lv.48 and T-Le.Lv.35 before being placed in store in late 1942.

One side is painted in Spanish Civil War republican colours whilst on the other side its painted in nationalists colours.

Ex 15 (Soviet AF). 28th March 1942 made a forced landing on the ice near Suursaari and was recovered by Finns. Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Kartto - Peronkoski.

Ex 15 (Soviet AF). 28th March 1942 made a forced landing on the ice near Suursaari and was recovered by Finns. Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Kartto - Peronkoski.

Made a forced landing on the ice of River Vuoksi near Village Riiska (Sakkola) and was recovered by Finns. The aircraft became IR-102 in Finnish service, but never completed airworthy. Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Viljo Pietinen.

Made a forced landing on the ice of River Vuoksi near Village Riiska (Sakkola) and was recovered by Finns. The aircraft became IR-102 in Finnish service, but never completed airworthy. Photo: SA-kuva (Finnish Armed Forces photograph, Wartime Photograph Archive). Photographer Viljo Pietinen.

[Nikon D300 + Tokina 12-24mm/4]