The Il-8 is a heavy bomber attack aircraft developed by the experimental design bureau of S. V. Ilyushin in 1943. This aircraft was supposed to be an improved modification of the Il-2 attack aircraft. So, it was assumed that the aircraft will have an increased bomb load, improved aerodynamic properties and weapons. However, the heavy attack aircraft Il-8 was never launched into serial production.
The history of the development of IL-8
After the development of the Il-2 attack aircraft (which later became the most mass-produced aircraft in history), as well as the correction of deficiencies revealed during its tests, the design bureau S.V. Ilyushin began work on the creation of a new, heavy attack aircraft-bomber. In the first place, this was due to the alleged nature of the future war. The experience of the war with Finland, as well as the course of the Wehrmacht's campaigns in Europe, clearly showed that for more successful actions the army requires more reliable air support. It was assumed that the action at the tactical depth would require an aircraft capable of carrying more than 500 kg of bomb load and having, nevertheless, good maneuverability for carrying out aerial attack.
The design phase of the new aircraft under the code name TsKB-60 began in the autumn of 1940. Already in the spring of the next, in 1941, a mock-up of a heavy attack bomber called the IL-6 was created. The new attack aircraft had to have a fairly dense artillery and machine-gun armament, moreover, it was presented in several versions. For example, one of the options for weapons included equipping the aircraft 37-mm cannon, two 23-mm cannons and four machine guns 12.7 or 7.62 mm. Additionally, it should be noted that the aircraft’s armament was mounted on convenient quick-release mounts and was positioned in such a way as to ensure good accuracy when firing and to facilitate the attack aircraft. As offensive weapons on the plane also installed 132-mm rocket projectiles RS-132 and up to 1000 kg of bomb load.
By the summer of 1941, the IL-6 had successfully passed a series of tests at TsAGI, and it was decided to include the aircraft in the pilot construction plan. However, all plans for the mass production of attack aircraft were crossed out by the Great Patriotic War that began on June 22, 1941. The main efforts of the team of the experimental design bureau S. V. Ilyushin were urgently aimed at improving the Il-2 and DB-3f aircraft already in development. Work on the IL-6 was stopped.
By 1943, based on an analysis of the nature of the hostilities of the Red Army and the combat use of the Il-2 attack aircraft, a number of conclusions were made. The main conclusion was that the use of attack aircraft in hostilities is carried out in two versions. The first option involved the use of IL-2 for aerial attack and raids on military equipment and the enemy's manpower, that is, for its intended purpose. However, in the second version, the IL-2 was used to carry out bombardments of targets in the near rear of the enemy, which had low efficiency, primarily due to the small bomb load that the aircraft was able to carry.
Work on the creation of a heavy attack aircraft, which was actually a continuation of the development of the IL-6 and was named the IL-8, began in early 1943, when the Ilyushin Design Bureau received a task to develop this type of aircraft. In fact, this confirmed the judgments and requirements that were taken into account even in the pre-war period when designing the Il-6 attack aircraft.
The development of the IL-8 was carried out in two parallel ways, each of which involved the creation of a machine for the fulfillment of certain goals at the front. So, if the first option was aimed at developing a heavy attack aircraft-bomber, the second involved the creation of a reconnaissance spotter. Nevertheless, the development of the aircraft went at a rapid pace, and already on May 10, 1943, a prototype machine made its first flight.
And even though on the whole, the aircraft showed quite good flying qualities, but the unreliable operation of the AM-42 engine significantly delayed the start of aircraft testing. Only after five engine replacements was it possible to ensure its proper operation and reliability. In the winter of 1944, the first prototype of the Il-8 attack aircraft was submitted for state tests.
At the same time, the significant success of the OKB S. Ilyushin reached the development of another attack aircraft, which, in turn, was a major refinement of the IL-8 - the IL-10 aircraft. It was from his design that various improvements in the design for the IL-8 were borrowed, with the aim of correcting his "childhood diseases", such as making significant changes to the engine cooling system.
In view of the many minor design flaws, the second prototype of the IL-8 was ready only after World War II. His state trials began at the end of June 1945. As a result, it was considered inexpedient to launch the aircraft into mass production for several reasons. The first reason that led the management to such a decision was the fact that the Il-10 attack aircraft, superior in all characteristics, was already in serial production. The second reason - the Great Patriotic War was victoriously completed.
Characteristics IL-8
- Wingspan, m - 14.6
- Length, m - 12.9
- Height, m - 4,2
- Wing area, m2 - 39
- Weight, kg:
- empty aircraft - 5245
- normal takeoff - 7250
- Engine type - 1 PD Mikulin AM-42
- Power, hp:
- nominal - 1 x 1750
- take-off - 1 x 2000
- Maximum speed, km / h:
- on the ground - 435
- at a height of 470
- Practical range, km - 1180
- Rate of climb, m / min - 508
- Practical ceiling, m - 6800
- Crew - 2 people
- Armament:
- Two 23-mm cannons VYa-23, two 7.62-mm ShKAS machine guns (750 rounds for a machine gun), one 12.7-mm UBT for firing back (150 rounds) and 8-12 PC-132 and up to 1000 kg bombs
The advantages and disadvantages of IL-8
Heavy attack aircraft Il-8 has a lot of advantages. Before listing the main ones, it should be noted that the aircraft is in fact a serious refinement of the excellent Il-2 attack aircraft, which took all the strong qualities from it and received new ones. The attack aircraft was created during the Great Patriotic War by an experienced team of the Design Bureau S.V. Il'yushin, and all unnecessary details and improvements were completely swept away.
One of the most important advantages of the IL-8 is its truly outstanding flight performance, which, undoubtedly, is very important for a combat aircraft. Another feature of the aircraft is that it can carry a bomb load that is large for a single-engined aircraft - 1100 kg.
The drawbacks of the aircraft were practically eliminated during the development of the aircraft and concerned, first of all, its engine. Only after rather long work on replacing the engine and adjusting it, was the aircraft submitted for state testing.
Conclusion
The IL-8 is a very interesting model, which is a major refinement of the Il-2 attack aircraft. This plane, which absorbed such seemingly incompatible features as a large bomb load and excellent flight characteristics, enhanced armor protection and good maneuverability, had every chance of becoming another "Victory weapon" in the Red Army. However, fate decreed otherwise: the heavy Il-8 attack aircraft simply had no luck. The aircraft was replaced by a heavy Il-10 attack aircraft, which was an improved modification of the IL-8 and had even better characteristics. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the IL-8 contributed to significant progress in the development of the attack aircraft IL-10, which has managed to make war, and, consequently, it also owns a modest "brick" in the pedestal of the Great Victory.
