In the early 1990s six Polikarpov I-16 Ishaks and three I-153 Chaikas were recovered from crash sites in Northern Russia. The aircraft were restored by Aviarestavratsiya at Novosibirsk for the Alpine Fighter Collection. Here ZK-JIN leads I-153 ZK-JKM.
Ash-621R engined ZK-JIN made her first post-restoration flight on 9 September 1995 at Novosibirk. Two years later, on 10 October 1997, the Ishak made her first flight in New Zealand skies.
This 'Red 10' was one of three Chaikas recovered in Russia and restored in Novosibirsk for the Alpine Fighter Collection. The aircraft came to Wanaka in March 1998, but was damaged during her first flight there on the 23rd of that month.