Polikarpov I-16 Type 5 UTI / UTI-4 in the colours of the 15th Mixed Training Aviation Regiment / Technical Aviation School. The Polish Air Force had two I-16 Type 5 UTI / UTI-4 aircraft, one of which was transferred to the 15th Independent Reserve Aviation Regiment in November 1944.

The other was used as a liaison aircraft in January 1945. In October 1945, it was transferred to the Engineering and Aviation School of the Polish Air Force in Zamosc in eastern Poland, where it was kept in flying condition until 1947. After the school moved to Boernerowo, the aircraft was used to decorate the entrance gate but was still kept in good condition. In 1949, when the school returned to Zamość, the plane was scrapped. It is this machine that my model reproduces (as far as is possible). I put forward the thesis that our school, Ishak, was not created as a two-sitter in a Soviet factory. I have not seen a photo of another like it on the web or in the monographs available to me. Of note is the use of the single-seat version windscreen, the lack of a rear cabin windscreen, apart from a workshop-made cover, and the cutting of one long hole in the fuselage for both cabins instead of two separate ones. I lack specific information, but it may be the same I-16 Type 5 (early) №521560 that flew in the 1st PLM Warsaw as a disposition of the regiment’s commander, field converted to a two-master – as nothing is known about its further fate after the regiment’s move from Grigorievskoye in the Ryazan region to Hostomel in June 1944, except that the aircraft was written off from the regiment’s inventory after leaving Grigorievskoye. Hence, there is some uncertainty in the thread title. Let everyone form an opinion for themselves. According to the photos and description on page 573 of Polish Fighter Colours 1939-1947 Vol. 2, published by Stratus / MMP Books 2021, the machine – at least in its final period of service – was painted in a uniform light colour (with the exception of the black engine covers), quite glossy, probably grey, possibly a captured German RLM-02. I went down this route.