WOW243 - Polikarpov Chaika Winter
Figures and accessories shown are for scale reference purposes only.
One of Nikolai Polikarpov’s finest Biplane designs the I-153 Chaika was built in large numbers and was an Improvement on his earlier I-15 design and was the predecessor to the successful I16 series of monoplane fighters. The name Chaika is Russian for Seagull and is derived from its gull wing upper wing design. It was developed from the I-15 fighter and was improved with the fitting of retracting landing gear. Over 3000 examples of the Chaika were built and served with the Soviet and Nationalist Chinese air forces. They did Sterling service in this theatre with the Chinese using them extensively in their war against the Japanese. The Russians also used them against the Japanese in the short lived Japanese offensive at Khalkhin Gol, where they performed well.