Monday, November 4

Tag: Soviet

13Oct By Gareth SeagullNo Comments
Aircraft Digest

How The Ilyushin Il-14 Became Russia’s Longest Serving Airliner!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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 Though the primary aircraft used by Aeroflot during the 1940's, the Li-2 had become outdated by the mid-to-late 1940's, prompting Soviet aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin to design a brand new airliner to replace it.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...
Read More
Why The Mil Mi-4 Was The Most Popular Helicopter of Its Day!
6Oct By Alya KulikovaNo Comments
Helicopters

Why The Mil Mi-4 Was The Most Popular Helicopter of Its Day!

When it comes to Cold War-era Soviet helicopters, very few stand out among the rest. One, however, stands taller than the rest: the Mil Mi-4, which remains the sixth most produced military helicopter ever built - despite having been out of production for over 40 years! Produced between 1952 and 1979, Mil built over 4,000 Mi-4s which went on to become the workhorse of most of the Eastern Bloc's militaries. In many cases, the Mi-4 continued to serve long after the Cold War ended, whilst in others, it was retired long before. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background In 1947, the Soviet Government established a helicopter research laboratory under the direction of Mikhail Mil, one of the Soviet Union’s foremost experts on autogyros (the precursor...
Read More
How The Ilyushin Il-18 Became The Best Soviet Airliner Ever Built!
29Sep By Salomón MarcoNo Comments
Aircraft Digest

How The Ilyushin Il-18 Became The Best Soviet Airliner Ever Built!

A contemporary of airliners like the Bristol Britannia, Douglas DC-6 and Vickers Viscount, the Ilyushin Il-18 was one of the Eastern Bloc's most popular airliners, remaining in service throughout the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and well into the 21st century! Given the reporting name of "Coot" by NATO, at least 678 Il-18s were built between 1957 and 1985, many of which remain in service today, primarily in military service, but also in airline service too (though in a vastly reduced capacity). During its heyday, many on both sides of the Iron Curtain hailed it as the best Soviet airliner of the time... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Ilyushin Il-18 Development Operational History Airline Air Koryo Cargo Military Museum As...
Read More
Why The Tupolev Tu-114 Was The Most Significant Airliner of The 1960’s!
22Sep By Gareth SeagullNo Comments
Aircraft Digest

Why The Tupolev Tu-114 Was The Most Significant Airliner of The 1960’s!

A turboprop airliner released into a world where jets reigned supreme in the long-haul market, many scoffed at the idea that the Tupolev Tu-114 could actually compete with jet aircraft, that were supposedly more reliable, faster and cheaper than their turboprop cousins. Yet the Tu-114 surprised the entire world, not only competing with other Soviet-made jet airliners, but often outshining them on the world stage. Despite airliners like the Tu-104 and Tu-124 being more advanced (at least on paper) as they were jets, the sheer size of the Tu-114 and its incredible speed set the aviation world ablaze - and for good reason. After all, it was arguably the most significant airliner of the 1960's... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Tupolev Tu...
Read More
How The Tupolev Tu-104 Became The Jet That Nearly Defeated The West
18Sep By Salomón Marco1 Comment
Aircraft Digest

How The Tupolev Tu-104 Became The Jet That Nearly Defeated The West

Designed to bring the Soviet Union into the jet era, the story of the Tupolev Tu-104 is a story of what could've been. A story of how the Soviet Union could've proven the virtues of communism over capitalism, all whilst embarrassing the West on the international stage! Although it was the only operational jet airliner between 1956 and 1958, it was only the second jet airliner to enter service, after Britain's de Havilland Comet, which entered service in 1952 (and was later grounded between 1956 and 1958 due to structural defects). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background During WWII, the Soviet Union (as with every other major power in the war) had been trying to create a working jet engine, and with it, a working fighter jet. Though they...
Read More
Yakovlev Yak-3: The WWII Fighter Everyone Forgets…
27Jul By Christopher HarrowNo Comments
Aircraft Digest

Yakovlev Yak-3: The WWII Fighter Everyone Forgets…

In recent years, the Yakovlev Yak-3 has been eclipsed by its Soviet, British, German, American and Japanese counterparts. However, during WWII, surviving a Yak-3 was a miracle! Both during and after the war, the Yakovlev Yak-3 was revered all around the world as one of the best fighter aircraft of its time. Today, few have heard of it, so why is that? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre Yak-3 Prior to the Yak-3, Yakovlev Design Bureau, the aviation manufacturer headed by Alexander Yakovlev had just introduced the Yakovlev Yak-1. This aircraft was one of the most advanced monoplanes in the Soviet Union. At the time, the Soviets and Nazi Germany had just signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, ensuring peace between the two nations. However, Stali...
Read More