How The Ilyushin Il-14 Became Russia’s Longest Serving Airliner!
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Background
In April 1936, the Soviet Government placed an order with Douglas for 18 DC-3s on behalf of Aeroflot. By the end of the year, a further 21 had been ordered, prompting the Soviet government to acquire a license to produce the DC-3 in the Soviet Union.
Built by a team under the direction of Soviet engineer Boris Lisunov, this Soviet DC-3 was known as the Lisunov Li-2. A workhorse just like the DC-3, the Soviets built over 6,000 Li-2s between 1939 and 1952.
Though the primary aircraft used by Aeroflot during the 1940's, the Li-2 had become outdated by the mid-to-late 1940's, prompting Soviet aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin to design a brand new airliner to replace it.
Known as the Ilyushin Il-1...