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FS2004 Polikarpov I-16 Rata Type 29, v1.0. When the tiny I-16 flew for the first time in December 1933, it was far ahead of any other fighter design in the world, featuring retractable landing gear, a cantilever wing and variable pitch propeller. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, almost 500 were put into service with the Republicans, surprising the enemy with outstanding maneuverability, firepower and rate of climb, leading to the opposition nickname Rata (Rat) and friendly name Mosca (Fly). By Tom Wood / CR-1 Software Ltd.