[Pilot]

Wheter you like or not this topic goes into the technical question too. As I have noted on the manufacturer diagram of the I-16 fighter it is made of the diagonal strip of veener. Main reason for the Soviet use of wood is the avaiable work force. Main interest is that any of the airplane project could be manufactured by non skill personel and this was find of using of wood.

Also price of the wood is not small. Wood taken for the aircaraft manufacture is of aeronautical grade and from the tree just small amont can be used for building process. Some experience state that from the total of the used wood material only 25% became part of the aircraft construction and the rest is waste material. Also this can not be recicled as the metal and if we take in mind how many woods have to be cut for this type of manufacture wood is cheap material as it is look like. Specialy note thatonly the best wood tree are selected for the further use!!!

Manufacturer process is much longer then of the metal in a reason of the drying time but this can be progressed with used of pressure and heat but this additionaly get more price of the final product. Also wood need more care then the metal in a reason of much sensitivity to the moisture, weather as well microorganisam. Wood construction are basicaly box type or stresed skin type.

You will also note that Soviet bombers which were in the mass service use was of complete metal construction while the most used materials for fighters are wood. This situation had been changed at the end of the WW2. But due to the social situation in the country Soviets could engage that number of types in manufacture. Just to note that one airplane from the USA Republic Seabee had conventional wooden wing and this wing is discarded in a reason the 95% of its cost was hand assembly labour.