The VEF I-16 was a prototype Latvian fighter aircraft designed by Kārlis Irbītis and produced by VEF in 1939. Development was halted by the Soviet occupation of Latvia and subsequent purges of VEF personnel. The only example built was later captured by German forces and tested by the Luftwaffe.
The I-16 was of conventional monoplane layout with a supercharged and air-cooled V-12 engine of Czech origin, a two-bladed propeller, a blown canopy, and a low set wing with rounded wingtips. The prototype had fixed undercarriage with aerodynamic fairings, but production models were to have retractable landing gear. While unarmed, there were provisions for two Browning machine guns in the fuselage, along with the ability to carry one additional gun under each wing.
Data from Latvia's Little Hawk [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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