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The main plane was the I-16, the Rata. They had flown already in the Spanish Civil War. The Rata was slow but tremendous maneuvering aircraft. You never get in a dogfight on a Rata. You come in and he comes straight at on you. It doesn't make sense. The technique is to get in and get out, but not turn around with Rata, that is senseless. They lost a lot of airplanes in the first period of the war. But the Russians learned. They came out after one year with the Yaks, the MiG, the LaGG - modern types and in masses. Their production was beyond the Ural. Outside the reach of German bombers, they produced and produced and they came and formed special red banner guard regiments which were excellent. They painted their aircraft from the propeller to the cap in red. Red for velvet. They were very, very serious opponents, no doubt.