Ilyushin DB-4
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1940 · bomber
The Ilyushin DB-4 (TsKB-56) was a Soviet twin-engined long-range bomber of the early 1940s, a development of the DB-3 intended to replace it.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-mounted wing to accommodate a deep bomb bay
- Retractable tailwheel undercarriage
- Two Mikulin AM-37 V12 engines in the flight-test aircraft
A twin-engined high-wing bomber with a crew of four and defensive guns in the nose, a dorsal turret and a ventral hatch.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin DB-4 has a length of 17.85 m (59 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 25 m (82 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was larger and heavier than the DB-3 to give greater performance and bombload. The Klimov M-120 engines originally planned proved troublesome and were replaced by 1,400 hp Mikulin AM-37 V12 engines. It first flew on 15 October 1940.
Variants
Only two prototypes were built.
Where you'll see it
Engine problems and the need to concentrate production on existing types after the German invasion in June 1941 meant that no more were built.
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