I apologize ahead of time to everyone. I am only up to page 6 of
this thread so I do not know what everyone has posted up to now.
From what I have read up to date it seems to me to that there is a
great amount of information to support several aircraft as being the
aircraft that brought the biggest new advantage at its time of introduction.
The Bf.109, Spitfire, P-51 (both versions), the Me.262 and even the
A6M.
I am going to answer this question from a different angle that Ramirezzz
brought up in Post #36 and Tomo pauk brought up in Post #95. They
were trying to tell everyone, or better yet ask everyone, what do all
these fighters have in common?
Cantiliver wing, auto starter, pilot armor, oxygen system, enclosed
canopy, retractable landing gear, the I-16 was the first production
monoplane fighter anywhere in the world to introduce this combination
in one package. As compared to its contemporaries in 1936 when it
was first introduced to combat, it was strongly built, capable of
withstanding considerable punishment, easily maintained and was
the fastest 1st line fighter. Keep in mind that the U.S.A.A.C's first line
fighter at the time was the P-26C. The Mosca could outclimb, out-
maneuver and outrun the Peashooter by as much as 42 mph.
What do you think guys, Jeff