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Il-10 [NATO : Beast]

The construction of a completely successful attack aircraft was deliberately inhibited, in view of the fact that in the existing configuration it was impossible and it was considered as an experienced machine. But the main reason for this was the unfinished engine, which was launched into mass production only at the beginning of 1944. Thus, the second stage of work on the IL-AI-42 lasted until 1944 and was in general a formality, since at that time Ilyusha "Quite deliberately postponed work on the prototype IL-8 ad acta (probably not having Stalin's consent) and completely switched to work on the new" Stormtrooper "created from scratch.

This new "Flying Tank" was the IL-10. In August 1943, after the IL-2I state tests. which showed the complete impossibility of using this aircraft for air battles, Stalin expressed a desire to still get a fighter with similar characteristics, but suitable for operational use. The main difference between the IL-1 and IL-10 (i.e., the IL-1 two-seater) was converted from a single to a two-seater cabin and the gunner housing armor extended into place.

Armament of the aircraft remained virtually unchanged. It consisted of two 23-caliber VYa-23 cannons with a reserve of 300 shells per barrel, two ShKAS machine guns in caliber 7.62 mm with 750 rounds each and for defense a UBT machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber with 150 cartridges. Offensive weapons consisted of a maximum of 500 kg of bombs (standard 400 kg) and four RS-82 or PC-132 missiles. On the IL-10 prototype, the holders for aviation grenades AG-2 (Aviation Grenade) were also installed at the same time as they were put into service with the IL-2, dropped to protect against enemy fighter attacks. that could damage an attacking enemy. The novelty was also the gun of the BT-20 caliber 20 mm on the turret VU-8.

The IL-10 prototype - also known as a double high-speed assault aircraft of highly maneuverable IL-1 - was built at plant number 18 in early February 1944, but due to the lack of a new AM-42 engine, it had to wait for final assembly before the end of April. During this time, two more prototypes were built, which remained at the plant and were tested there. Meanwhile, IL-10 No. 1 was subjected to all possible corrections and modifications, after which it was flown on April 18, 1944. Immediately after the first departure and familiarization with the state commission, the aircraft received the designation IL-10. During the first test flight some flaws were identified and the vehicle remained in the hangar until the first decade of May. Only on May 13, she was transferred to state tests, which lasted two weeks.

It is difficult to unequivocally answer what happened during state tests, or even at that time, but probably the plane did not seem to be the best design, because after the end of the test it was not decided to launch it into mass production. This permission came only in August 1944, which may indicate significant aircraft flaws that required significant rework. Perhaps the same. that the delay in launching into mass production arose because of the desire to maintain high IL-2 production in the conditions of the summer increase in its losses, or ultimately because of the fall of Stalin’s faith or the military in the Ilyushi attack aircraft after their comparative tests with significantly more best Su-6.

The only advantage that the IL-10 had compared with the Su-6 was a large maximum speed of about 30 km / h. To this day, the question is not clear what exactly outweighed the balance in favor of Ilyushin, but somehow or another his bureau won in the competition and the first production IL-10 began to leave the factory’s workshops in October 1944.

After the war, all the Soviet air force assault units were transferred from the IL-2 to the IL-10, whose production was stopped only in 1947 (in 1953-1954 the aircraft was also produced in limited quantities). The attack aircraft themselves were in service with the USSR until the 60s of the 20th century (modified IL-10M). A total of 4966 copies were built in various versions.

In 1949, deliveries of IL-10 aircraft to the Warsaw Pact countries began. Since 1951, under the designation B-33, the licensed production of attack aircraft began the Czechoslovak enterprise Avia. Until 1955, 1200 copies were produced, about 600 of them in 1953-54 were transferred to Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.