Built in the 1930s under the steel rule of Joseph Stalin, the small Polikarpov I-16 was a revolutionary monoplane with one of the most influential designs in history. But despite playing a crucial role in several conflicts of the 20th century, its story has been largely forgotten.

The humble Little Donkey was a tough warplane that saw combat for the first time in the Spanish Civil War. And by the time the Nazis struck in the summer of 1941, the Soviet aircraft was ready to meet the legendary Messerchmidts face to face.

When the Luftwaffe invaded Soviet territory, the I-16s bravely took to the skies to defend the Motherland. But as they ran out of ammunition, the pilots had to pull off a potentially lethal feat that would become an emblem of Soviet bravery.

Trusting their stout and seemingly unassuming warplanes, the pilots took a deep breath and boldly sprinted towards the enemy, prepared for an all-out collision which most of them survived thanks to the aircraft’s sturdy airframe.

The I-16’s innovative traits would not only immortalize the aircraft itself but also Soviet aeronautical developments as a whole. As the first palpable demonstration of Soviet competence and talent, the I-16 succeeded in bringing Soviet aerial design to the foreground: a true aviation revolution.


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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.