I-16 Type 18 by N.N.Polikarpov

24k b/w Type 18 with spinner removed, "History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.1 p.493

New more advanced and powerful M-62 engine was designed by Arkadij D. Shvetsov team at Perm aero-engine factory (GAZ-19). Retaining the cubic capacity of M-25V, new engine was equipped with two-stage supercharger, gaining 225hp of power on expense of 46kg extra weight.

20k Type 18 on skis, force landed on Finnish soil during The Infamous War. In April 1941 aircraft was transferred to Luftwaffe for evaluations, see Aircraft of the Finnish Air Force in the World War II

M-62 was rushed to production, and in early 1939 it was fitted to the I-16 Type 10 airframe. AV-1 automatic propeller (differed by larger blunt spinner and wide chord blades) was fitted. Other new external features included additional air intake on top of the engine cowling and paired exhaust stacks in the lower cooling/exhaust ports.

Thanks to the more powerful engine engine and advanced propeller, Type 18 had a considerable increase in performance, specially speed and ceiling. Handling also became better, aircraft was more stable on sharp loops and turns than all predecessors. Landing also was easier. The only parameter to suffer was range (due to more consuming engine), but problem was solved by provision of external underwing fuel tanks (developed on the I-16 Type 20 testbed).

Despite series production, the I-16 Type 18 remained and interim variant to keep production busy until arrival of more advanced M-63 engine.

Predecessors	Modifications
I-16 Type 10	I-16 Type 24	I-16 Type 27

---

References	Links
"History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.1 p.496; 'Polikarpov Fighters in action, Part 2' by Hans-Herri Stapfer.	See the I-16 Links Page