81 years ago, the first flight of the legendary Soviet attack aircraft Il-2 took place

 On December 29, 1940, the first flight of the legendary Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft took place under the control of test pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki. This aircraft became the most massive aircraft of the Second World War, and, as historians believe, made a huge contribution to the victory over the Wehrmacht. For its time, the Il-2 had very solid weaponry, which made it possible to destroy almost all types of targets. For its high fighting qualities, the Germans called the brainchild of Ilyushin "the black death". According to experts, although the aircraft had a number of shortcomings, they were leveled out by its high reliability, as well as the high skill of the pilots.

Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft over Berlin, spring 1945

80 years ago, the famous test pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki first flew the famous armored Il-2 attack aircraft, which later became the most massive aircraft of the Second World War. In total, the Soviet industry produced more than 36 thousand of these aircraft.

Aircraft designer Sergei Ilyushin and test pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki in front of the Il-2