Greetings All,

Blimey, some of that text sounds familiar! lol I just thought I might clarify a bit about the machine’s identity. The Production Number description above is correct, and the data plate upon which this re-build was based was a Type 24 indeed. There was no difference in armament between the Types 18 and 24: both featured a quartet of 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns. The main difference between the two models was the engine: the Type 18 had am M-62, while the Type 24 had an M-63. The propellers and spinners were correspondingly different.

All of the Aviarestoration I-16s used a combination of parts where required, so it not impossible that some items might have come from a Type 18. Mind you, that was a fairly rare model… it would have been nice to see an actual Type 18 turned out by them.

I mention all this minutia, as well, in that there are several Aviarestoration I-16s “Type 24s” doing the rounds with simulated ShVAK cannon in the wings (one in Europe, in fact). This nomenclature is incorrect. With the ShVAK guns the correct model would be the Type 28 (or even the Type 27, which was a cannon-armed development of the Type 18). Hopefully, the various owners of said machines might be so informed and henceforth refer to their aircraft in this way (or put replica ShKAS in the wings so as to fit the name).

Just my own little nit-pick there, any road….