The Polikarpov I-153 Chaika is a late 1930s Soviet sesquiplane fighter. Developed from the I-15 with a retractable undercarriage, the I-153 fought in the Soviet-Japanese combats in Mongolia and was one of the Soviets' major fighter types in the early years of the Second World War. Three I-153s are in flying condition. The I-153 is fitted with the Shevstov M-62 radial engine. Other variants such as the I-153P carry dual 20mm ShVAK cannons.
Polikarpov I-153
I-153 captured by Finnish forces after a forced landing. Photo taken in June, 1941
A Finnish Air Force Polikarpov I-153.
A Polikarpov I-153 with the cowling removed.
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage over a monoplane, it produces more drag than a monoplane wing. Improved structural techniques, better materials and higher speeds made the biplane configuration obsolete for most purposes by the late 1930s.
First World War Sopwith Camel biplane
1920s biplane hang glider
The Gloster Gladiator, a World War II fighter biplane
Soviet Antonov An-2 biplane from the 1940s