Ilyushin Il-32

Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1948 · transport aircraft

The Ilyushin Il-32 was a Soviet four-engine heavy military transport and glider-tug aircraft developed in the late 1940s. It was designed to tow large military gliders and to carry troops and freight.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	24.84 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Soviet post-WWII four-engine high-wing military glider tug
Large high-wing transport with slab sides
Four radial engines on unswept high wing

A large four-piston-engine high-wing monoplane with a slab-sided fuselage and conventional tail; the high-aspect-ratio unswept wing and four radials give it a classic 1940s heavy transport appearance.

Specifications

The Ilyushin Il-32 has a length of 24.84 m (81 ft).
It has a wingspan of 35.8 m (117 ft).
Typical crew: 5.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1948, the Il-32 was developed to replace wartime transport types and provide a heavy towing capability for Soviet airborne operations. It entered limited service with the Soviet Air Forces but was produced in relatively small numbers as jet transports began to take priority in Soviet planning.

Variants

No widely documented production variants; the type served in its basic transport and glider-tug configuration.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Soviet Air Forces in the late 1940s and 1950s in transport and airborne support roles.

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