Abstract
The history of aviation before and during the First World War seldom includes Russia. When the Russian experience is examined, historians typically resort to the `backward' generalization and minimize Russian contributions to aviation history. Often, Russia is portrayed as a nation of non-flyers, hopelessly unable to master flight or raise a modern air force. The story of the Sikorsky S-16 fighter, in conjunction with the evolution of the Squadron of Flying Ships and the Imperial Russian Air Force, reveals a sophistication that is not readily apparent. It demonstrates that Russia did possess the technical know-how to design state-of-the-art aircraft and the doctrinal savvy to employ them to great effect. But, it also illustrates the weakness of Russian aviation that has been evident to historians. Russia chose not to develop her technical-industrial infrastructure and, therefore, was unable to translate her engineering capability into a strong fleet of aircraft.
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