Il-2 Sturmovik

Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1939 · bomber

The Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik was a heavily armoured Soviet ground-attack aircraft, one of the most-produced military aircraft in history.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Heavily armoured forward fuselage, the load-bearing 'flying tank' shell
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Heavily armoured forward fuselage, the load-bearing 'flying tank' shell
Two-seat glazed canopy with a rearward-facing gunner on later marks
Swept-back outer wing panels with a chunky inline-engine cowl

The armoured forward fuselage, chunky inline-engine nose and swept outer wings, with a glazed two-seat canopy, set it apart from contemporary fighters.

Specifications

The Il-2 Sturmovik has a length of 11.65 m (38 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.6 m (48 ft).
Its maximum speed is 410 km/h (255 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

First flown in 1939, the Il-2 wrapped its engine, cockpit and fuel in a load-bearing armoured shell, letting it absorb punishment over the battlefield. Early single-seaters proved vulnerable from behind, prompting the two-seat variant with a rear gunner.

Variants

The definitive two-seat Il-2M3 added swept outer wing panels and heavier cannon. The later Il-10 refined the concept with all-metal construction.

Where you'll see it

The Il-2 was a Soviet Eastern Front weapon, nicknamed the 'flying tank' by its crews and 'Black Death' by German troops. It did not serve with the RAF, and no example flies in Britain.

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