WD74W2

A very significant proportion of the structural frame and armor
was found to be serviceable and was reused, resulting in an
aircraft with incredible historical provenance.
Within the rather spacious cockpit, the main instrument
panel originally consisted of six basic instruments, which was
extremely sparse compared to contemporary Allied and Axis
aircraft. This clearly demonstrates the Soviets during World
War Two strove for simplicity during the manufacture of their
aircraft, relying on the vast quantities produced rather than the
latest technology. This doctrine was to serve them well, as the
streamlining of the production methods for all types of Soviet
weapons meant the resources and time saved could then be used
to greatly increase production numbers of aircraft, tanks, rifles,
etc. The average life of each Il-2 was estimated to be around ten
combat hours and it was believed there was simply no need for
the complexities of extra “bourgeois” items in the cockpit. The
instruments on Red 19’s main panel consisted of the fuel gauge,
a magnetic compass, rate of climb gauge, an altimeter, turn and
slip indicator and an artificial horizon.
While a significant number of AM-38F engines have been
recovered from various sources, and a single example was
successfully test run, in the end it was decided to use an Allison
V-1710 engine, as had been done with the FHCAM example, for
ease of operation and maintenance. The entire restoration was
a collaborative venture between the Aviarestoration Company
and the Siberian Research Institue of Aviation in Nvosibirsk
(SibNA). This cooperative venture was also partially financed by
the Ilyushin Aviation Complex. The Il-2 is jointly owned by the
Wings of Victory Foundation and Vadim Zadorozhny, who runs
the Technical Museum of Vadim Zadorozhny in Moscow.
The first post-restoration flight of the aircraft, now registered
RA-2783G took place on June 15, 2017, from Novosibirsk with
Vladimir Bursuk, Director of the SibNA, at the controls. While
the warbird movement in the Western World is by comparison
quite active and dynamic, this restoration of a combat veteran
aircraft of the Great Patriotic War is a significant milestone for
the Russian people. For a society that is essentially void of a
warbird movement, Red 19 gives evidence the warbird niche is
alive and well within a country that has limited sources of capital
for widespread restoration projects. This Great Patriotic Warrior
now serves as a flying monument connecting the Russian people
to their heritage of sacrifice, perseverance, and ultimate victory.
There is no doubt that
the Il-2 is a very purposeful and
imposing looking aircraft in flight.
74 • warbird digest • sept/oct 2017