By the time WWII started in 1941, the Chaika was already technically outdated. A biplane in an era of sleek monoplanes, it featured an open cockpit and a manually operated retractable landing gear – yes, you had to crank it up by hand after takeoff! I can only imagine what that felt like in real life. Fortunately, in the sim, I don’t have to crank anything – lucky me.
The I-153’s stubby fuselage makes it feel twitchy and a little unstable in flight, but also nimble and responsive – especially at low altitudes. In reality, it was highly vulnerable to flak and enemy fighters. But despite its flaws, it has a lot of personality. This is no polished warbird – it’s a survivor of a transitional era in aviation, and it shows.
What makes the Chaika particularly interesting is its role not just as a fighter, but also as a light attack aircraft. It could carry small bombs and fire the RS-82 unguided rockets from under its wings.
What Were RS-82 Rockets?
The RS-82 (Reaktivny Snaryad, 82mm) was one of the earliest unguided air-to-ground rockets, introduced by the Soviet Air Force in 1937. Roughly 60cm long, powered by a solid-fuel motor, and tipped with about 600g of high explosive, it was far from precise – but in massed volleys, it could be deadly.
Pilots would often fire these rockets during steep dive attacks, visually aiming at enemy ground targets. Accuracy was poor, but the psychological and physical effects could be devastating, especially against soft-skinned vehicles, artillery, or infantry concentrations.
Aircraft like the I-153, Yak-1, MiG-3, and later the famous Il-2 "Shturmovik" often carried up to six RS-82 rockets. These were the grandfathers of modern battlefield rockets, and a key step in the evolution of air support.
The I-153 may not be the most practical bird to fly every day, but it's one I’ll return to often – especially over the landscapes of Odessa and the Black Sea coast, which feel strangely familiar after all these years.
It’s not just a plane – it’s a piece of aviation history with its sleeves rolled up.
