Historical I-16 Reversal Maneuver

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

https://youtu.be/X-VYhchlN0U

My pretty much sucesfull attempt at replicating this historical maneuver in BoS as it had been described to me by a russian comunity pilot some time ago (unfortunately I forgot it's name). It was used by I-16 pilots during the early days of Operation Barbarossa when facing far superiour machines like the Bf-109 F-2. They'd drag their foe behing them, execute the reversal and try to catch their enemy by suprise in a desperate headon attack. Due to it's rugged construction and big radial engine I-16 pilots were better protected against incoming fire than the Messerschmitts meaning they had good chances in suceeding. Some Aces scored multiple kills with it.

 

To execute the manuver you must not have a full fuel tank (I used 50% in my video).

 

Steps:

 

1. Transition to a steep angle climb with at least 300km/h (climb angle not less than 65°)

2. Apply right rudder and counter it with left stick so you're basicly sideslipping vertically. This will put "tention" on the airframe.

3. When speed reaches 140km/h IAS chop your throttle (not too apruptly!) and reverse rudder rapidly. The plane will "snap" to the direction you apply rudder quickly. Apply reverse aileroun carefully to keep the plane  

    straight.

4. Right before the nose points downward increase throttle (not too apruptly!). The resulting engine torque will help to prevent a tailspin.

5. Pull out carefully.

 

I'm not really a big fan of the I-16 but I really enjoy when history and flight sims come together like this. This is also a testament to the great Flight Model work on the I-16.

Edited February 18, 2016 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[Jizzo]

nice!

[Lusekofte]

I find the I 16 very much fun plane to fly. However I tend to choose a more effective ground pounder if I feel I got a job to do. Very nice demonstration and I will practice it

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

It is fun to fly indeed but it's not one of my favourites. It's well suited for ground attack though as you say.

 

A prefect german cunterpart would be the Hs-123B, a plane I've been looking forward to for a long time. Like the I-16 it was outdated by outbrake of WW2, slow, but very manouvreble, a good ground attacker and had quite capeable armarment (2 MG17 or 2 20mm MGFF).

 

Back on topic, thx for the comments!

Edited February 18, 2016 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Fantastic piloting skills, Stuka

 

Just out of curiosity, did you manage to employ it against fighters?

 

If you're interested there is a MiG-3 manoeuvre used by 402 IAP that served a similar purpose. I can't remember the specifics but it involved a sharp spiral climb and when the 109s approached it thinking they had an easy shot at an enemy that cannot react, the pilot performed a stall turn and opened fire at the unsuspecting attacker. I can find the description of it if you're interested in trying it out as well

[unreasonable]

Is that not much the same as a WW1 Immelmann turn?  Not that I am knocking it, I do it all the time in RoF.

 

If you are going to be slow anyway you might as well use gravity to help you get the nose around, and a head to head is better than always having the hun on your tail.

Edited February 18, 2016 by unreasonable

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Fantastic piloting skills, Stuka

 

Just out of curiosity, did you manage to employ it against fighters?

 

If you're interested there is a MiG-3 manoeuvre used by 402 IAP that served a similar purpose. I can't remember the specifics but it involved a sharp spiral climb and when the 109s approached it thinking they had an easy shot at an enemy that cannot react, the pilot performed a stall turn and opened fire at the unsuspecting attacker. I can find the description of it if you're interested in trying it out as well

Thx! No, I just tried it today as it poped into my mind again for some reason. Tried it years ago in WT (when it was more of a sim than today) but you can possibly imagine how that went.

 

Is that not much the same as a WW1 Immelmann turn?  Not that I am knocking it, I do it all the time in RoF.

 

If you are going to be slow anyway you might as well use gravity to help you get the nose around, and a head to head is better than always having the hun on your tail.

In principle yes, theres only one big difference. While an Immelman turn is performed with low vertical speed and a wider radius via rudder input the I-16 reversal is induced at unusual high airspeed with help of a rudder reversal (by reversing the rudder the plane is unlaoding a great ammount of energy to induce a rotation movement, it's like tentioning a spring and letting it go). Due to it's itstable design, high wing loading and large controll surfaces the I-16 is ideally suited for this type of maneuver, more so than a design trimmed for stability like the Bf-109 for example.

 

Its difficult to judge from the video as I was performing it slow and carefully and frames went slightly below flurent, however it's actually a very quick and rapid maneuver. In reality it would have been completed a lot faster and at a way shorter distance. Some russian pilots described the maneuver to be so sudden that some german pilots didn't even open fire in the following egagement because they were too suprised.

[unreasonable]

OK - I see what you mean about the rudder reversal spring effect, thanks for a very clear explanation.

 

I wonder if I can do that in an N.28.....

[Monostripezebra]

Funny, "pretensioning" or "vorspannen" in german is still used in aerobatic language when doing hammerhead turns today.

[unreasonable]

The main "pretensioning" I get when attempting these kinds of turns is the sinking of the stomach while I think of all the ways I could make a mess of it.....

[-TBC-AeroAce]

Hi nice looking move. You have just insured I die many times trying this!!! Salute