Ilyushin Il-54

Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1955 · bomber

The Ilyushin Il-54 was a Soviet twin-engine swept-wing jet tactical bomber prototype of the mid-1950s. It demonstrated transonic performance but was not selected for production, losing out to the Yak-26 and Tu-16 for different roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Two turbojets in fuselage-side cheek intakes
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Soviet 1950s swept-wing jet tactical bomber prototype
Two turbojets in fuselage-side cheek intakes
Bicycle undercarriage, sharply swept wings

Slender swept-wing jet with distinctive side-fuselage cheek intakes, sharply swept wings, a bicycle undercarriage with outrigger wheels, and a pointed nose — a clean Cold War Soviet jet bomber silhouette.

Specifications

The Ilyushin Il-54 has a length of 28.96 m (95 ft).
It has a wingspan of 17.65 m (58 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1150 km/h (715 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

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

History

The Il-54 first flew in 1955 and was one of several Soviet jet bomber designs evaluated in the mid-1950s as the USSR modernised its air forces with jets. The aircraft featured sharply swept wings and cheek-mounted engine intakes, giving it a streamlined appearance. It was evaluated against competing designs but was not ordered into production, as the Soviet Air Force selected other types for front-line service.

Variants

Only two prototypes were built; there were no production variants.

Where you'll see it

The Il-54 was a pure prototype and never entered operational service with the Soviet Air Forces.

Related aircraft

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