Paint samples showed that it had been painted green with dark green camouflage spots. No 7027 was restored by a Siberian Aeronautical Research Bureau in 1997 and after test flights was shipped to New Zealand. The plane is painted according to it's original scheme of green with dark green spots, red stars with black outline and number '75' on the fuselage according to instructions from 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. T.S.O. 18.75 hours which includes 4.35 hours testing in Russia. This I-153 was found in a swamp around the Moormasji aerodrome, outside the city of Murmansk. During 1942 - 43 the aircraft was part of the 2nd Aviation Fighter Squadron of the Northern Navy.