Engineering:Ilyushin Il-26
| Il-26 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Strategic bomber project |
| National origin | USSR |
| Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
The Ilyushin Il-26 was a late 1940s project for a strategic heavy bomber by the Ilyushin Design Bureau.[1][2] There were a variety of alternative engines proposed for the Il-26, including the 3,400 kW (4,500 hp) Shvetsov ASh-2TK piston engine and 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) Yakovlev M-501 diesel engine. The specifications varied according to the number and type of engines proposed.
Clandestine use in the Soviet Afghan war
During the Soviet–Afghan War, Soviet & Afghan warplanes would occasionally cross into Pakistan territory while pursuing Afghan Mujahideen forces. Though in early March 1980, Pakistan Air Force Shenyang F-6s of the No. 15 Squadron on Air Defence Alert reported to have intercepted an Il-26 bomber that had intruded into Pakistani airspace however they weren't given clearance to shoot it down and instead escorted it across the Durand Line back into Afghanistan.[3]
Specifications (Il-26 estimated)
Data from [1] Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010.[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 12
- Length: 39 m (127 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 61 m (200 ft 2 in)
- Height: 13.7 m (44 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 475 m2 (5,110 sq ft)
- Max takeoff weight: 190,000 kg (418,878 lb)
- Powerplant: 6 × Klimov VK-2 turboprop engines, 3,700 kW (5,000 shp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 545 km/h (339 mph, 294 kn) at sea level
- 560 km/h (350 mph) at 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
- Range: 11,560 km (7,180 mi, 6,240 nmi) with 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) load
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 5 x paired 23 mm (0.906 in) cannon in twodorsal, 2 ventral and one tail remote controlled turrets
- Bombs: 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) of bombs (maximum)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry; Komissarov, Sergey (2004). OKB Ilyushin. Hinkley: Midland. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-85780-187-3.
- ↑ Buttler, Tony; Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet secret projects : bombers since 1945. Hinkley: Midland. pp. 14-15. ISBN 1-85780-194-6. https://archive.org/details/sovietsecretproj01butt.
- ↑ Air Commodore A HAMEED QADRI. "PAKISTAN’S AFGHAN WAR AIR STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS". Defence Journal. http://www.defencejournal.com/aug98/pakafghanwar1.htm. "While thousands of hours were spent by the pilots on ADA, 2142 hours were flown on the western border. Twice its pilots intercepted the enemy aircraft: first a Russian IL-26 on 1st March 1980, and second two Mig-21s in February 1986. The Squadron was not authorised to shoot, much to the frustration of its pilots.".
- ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergei (2013). Unflown wings : Soviet and Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925-2010. Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. p. 420-421. ISBN 978-1906537340.
Further reading
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
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