Ilyushin Il-28
Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1948 · bomber
The 'Beagle' — the Soviet bloc's standard light jet bomber of the 1950s, built in thousands and exported everywhere.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two podded turbojets under a straight high wing
- Glazed bombardier nose and tail gun turret
- Swept fin over an unswept wing
A straight high wing carrying two podded jets, glazed nose, tail turret — yet a swept fin: that odd straight-wing/swept-tail mix is the giveaway.
Specifications
- The Ilyushin Il-28 has a length of 17.65 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.45 m (70 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 902 km/h (560 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Flown in 1948 using British-derived Nene engine technology, the Il-28 became the Warsaw Pact's ubiquitous tactical bomber. Simple, rugged and mass-produced, it served dozens of air forces and was licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5.
Variants
Bomber, torpedo, reconnaissance and trainer versions were standard; China's H-5 extended production and service by decades.
Where you'll see it
Never British, but a defining Cold War adversary type studied in every RAF recognition manual of the era. Survivors populate museums from Poland to Vietnam.
Related aircraft
- Ilyushin Il-32
- Ilyushin Il-22
- Ilyushin Il-30
- Ilyushin Il-12
- North American AJ Savage
- Avro Shackleton
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet
- Boeing B-50 Superfortress
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