Not until the last minute before combat was engaged, did the Soviet pilots retract the undercarriage, give full throttle and surprise the Japanese with their speed and fire efficiency. The wreckage of this aircraft was found in Northern Karelia on the boundary with the Murmansk region in 1988, and was recovered in 1992. Restored by a Siberian Aeronautical Research Bureau, this aircraft was test flown in Russia, late 1997. It is painted silver, has red stars with black outline and a tail number of '10' following a scheme developed at the No 1 aviation factory in 1938. This aircraft has a New Zealand Airworthiness Certificate in the 'Experimental' category.
Fuselage is welded tubular-steel, fabric covered and metal engine cowlings.
Wings are of fabric covered wooden construction. Pneumatically operated retractable undercarriage. IImorrow Apollo SL40 radio, Artex ELT 200. Annuals being carried out for NZ summer displays. T.S.O. 19.2 hours which includes 6.8 hours testing in Russia.