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Il-20 Attack airplane

From the end of the 1930s to the beginning of the 1940s, the main and practically the only tactical tactic for attack aircraft was an attack from horizontal flight at extremely low altitudes (from a strafing flight). And at that time, and later - in the 1950-x, when designing single-engine attack aircraft using the traditional layout of their layout, the designers had to provide a fairly good forward-down view. For airplanes with air-cooled engines, this problem turned out to be particularly difficult. It was necessary so that the pilot can quickly and correctly assess the situation on the battlefield, identify targets, determine the opposition of enemy ground weapons, select a target and maneuver for its attack, make aim, and have time to use the offensive weapons as efficiently as possible. Since attack aircraft were often used as light bombers, a good downward view, directly under the aircraft, was also important to ensure accurate bombing. In accordance with the Decree of the USSR Council of Ministers on 11 in March 1947, the Ilyushin Design Bureau was given the task of creating a new attack aircraft with slightly higher (compared to IL-10) flight data, more powerful cannon and missile weapons, and improved visibility and booking. At the end of 1947, the designers completed the development of a single-engine armored two-seater attack aircraft with a liquid cooling engine MF-45?. The original layout was used, which provided an excellent forward-down view. Unusual and gun armament. The draft design of the IL-20 MF-45 aircraft was sent in February to 1948 at the Air Force Research Institute. The USSR Council of Ministers resolution on the construction of prototypes of the Il-20 was adopted on 12 on June 1948. The conclusion on the draft design was approved on 19 on June of the same year by the Chief Air Force engineer I.V. Markov. Major engineer SGFrolov was appointed responsible for the aircraft. The purpose of the attack aircraft was formulated as follows: "To suppress and destroy manpower and technical equipment on the battlefield and in the tactical depth of the enemy's position." It was proposed to make two projects with different variants of offensive and defensive weapons. The IL-20 was a heavily armored ground attack aircraft designed to strike enemy targets while in horizontal flight. The plane's revolutionary configuration placed the pilot directly above the engine in the extreme nose position, providing a virtually unrestricted forward view. Offensive weapons consisted of four wing-mounted 23mm NS-23 cannons, two 1190k bombs (that could be attached to external hardpoints) and unguided RS-series rockets. Defensive weapons consisted of a single remote-controlled NS-23 cannon (the gunner sat in a separate cockpit) and 10 anti-aircraft grenades.

This armored ground attack aircraft was presented at State Trials in 1948, as a heavier 'supplement' type to the Il-10 (already in service) and Il-10M (ready for production). Il-20 differed from any other aircraft built before by its pilot's cockpit, located above the engine at extreme nose and provided unrestricted forward view. Engine and pilot's cockpit had common armour 'shell'. Landing gear (including the tail wheel) - retractable.

Four vertically movable 23mm NS-23 cannons were installed in the wing out of propeller arc. Il-20 could carry 1190kg of bombs on external hardpoints (up to 500kg each) and unguided RS family rockets. Gunner-operator occupied separate cockpit. He operated a remotely-controlled turret with single NS-23 cannon. Defensive weapons included DAG-10 dispenser for 10 aircraft grenades AG-2.

Factory tests began on November 20 1948 g. The first flight at the beginning of December 1948 was made by the pilot V.K. Kokkinaki. During the test, the aircraft showed the maximum flight speed of all 515 km / h at an altitude of 2800 meters Flight tests proved good performance of the aircraft (similar to those of lighter Il-10M, thanks to more powerful engine). The main positive factor was considered only an excellent forward-down view (although only in a very narrow sector). The overview to the side and forward was the same as that of the IL-10. But age of piston engine aircraft was fading, and Il-20 was not accepted for series production. Although initial test flights were promising, Soviet defense thinking was by this time moving away from piston-driven aircraft to jets. As a result, no "Super Shturmoviks" were ordered for series production.

Despite a number of original ideas, the draft design of the IL-20 was rejected as inconsistent with the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers and the tactical and technical requirements. This concerned the basic flight data and weapons. The main drawback was the low flight speed of the aircraft, which turned out to be even lower than that of the serial IL-10. Offensive weapons also did not satisfy the customer. It was noted that the fire power of the IL-20 is less than that of the IL-10. At the same time, it was possible to fire only from two cannons - either wing or fuselage. The expediency of applying the latter was not in doubt, but there was a desire to have mobile units. Along the way, we say that quite successful developments in this field that were already available at that time were G.M. Mozharovsky and I.V. Venevidov were not used. When loading PTAB, the bomb load was only 300 kg. The designation Il-20 was reused for the civil version of the Il-28 bomber and for the Il-20 'Coot' ELINT aircraft.