TsKB-55/BSh-2, S.V.Ilyushin

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sKB-55 - 2 seat prototype of the Il-2, precursor of TsKB-57. Built following S.V.Ilyushin original concept of 2-seater with rear gunner position. Had four armored bomb bays in the wing. Supercharged AM-35 gave its best performance at 4,500m (see MiG-3), but at the low altitude supercharger absorbed a lot of power - and ground level speed was only 362km/h.
Despite this and other shortcomings (short range, poor forward view and weak firepower) general impression of army representatives was favorable, and ten pre-series aircraft were ordered under military designation BSh-2 with two 23mm PTB cannons.
But not only those ten, just the second TsKB-55 with new engine and increased firepower was not flown as two-seaters... (see TsKB-57 tale).
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  • BSh-2, Ilyushin
  • TsKB-55, Ilyushin
    		• Technical data
    Function prototype of ground-attack aircraft
    Year October 2, 1939
    Crew 2
    Engine 1,360hp AM-35 12cyl liquid-cooled
    Speed Ground 362km/h
    Armament
    Guns 4(wings)+1(rear) mg7.62mm ShKAS
    2*g23mm PTB (wings) for BSh-2
    Bombs 4(wing bays)+2(external)b*100kg or
    2b(external)*250kg
    Modified March 28, 1996
    by Alexandre Savine;    		 Back to
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