The Ilyushin Il-6 (Russian: Ильюшин Ил-6) was a Soviet long-range bomber developed from the Ilyushin Il-4 during 1942. Originally intended as a high-speed replacement for the Il-4, it was recast as a very long-range bomber with fuel-conserving diesel engines before production of the single prototype began in December 1942. Flight testing showed controllability issues when landing at high weights and the engines proved to be hard to start at low temperatures and were slow to respond to throttle movements. Further development was canceled in 1944.
Outwardly similar to the Il-4, the Il-6 was faster and had a longer and slimmer fuselage fitted with a completely new, highly tapered wing with an aspect ratio of 8. The engine nacelles were streamlined to reduce drag and increase speed as the engine radiators were mounted in the wing center section, fed by slits in the leading edge of the wing. Defensive armament was greatly improved with five 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon fitted on flexible mountings in the nose, dorsal turret, two waist positions and a ventral blister forward of the tailplane.[2]
The Il-6 was originally intended as a high-speed replacement for the Il-4. But after the initial design was completed in August 1942, the VVS requested that the bomber have extended range instead of high speed. The original M-71 radial engines were therefore replaced by Charomskiy ACh-30 diesel engines with low fuel consumption which promised to give the Il-6 the required range, especially when operated at moderate weights. The revised design was completed in December 1942 and production of the prototype was initiated. The first flight of the Il-6 was made in Irkutsk on 7 August 1943 with lower-powered ACh-30B engines substituted for the unavailable ACh-30BF engines.[3]
Flight tests revealed difficult handling, and a lack of power due to the non-availability of the intended ACh-30BF engines. Flight tests continued without the waist guns and their gunner until the ACh-30BF's were fitted between May and July 1944. Despite modifications, the aircraft still suffered from poor controllability at low speeds and high weights as well as very poor gliding performance. Throughout the flight tests the engines performed satisfactorily in the air, but were found to be very difficult to start in low ambient temperatures and had slow response to throttle movements. Further development was canceled.[4]
Variants
Il-6 – intended production version with Charomskiy ACh-30BF engines (also known as M-30).
Il-6 – bomber with M-90 engines - projected variant with M-90 engines, production drawings were issued but nothing further was heard of it, presumably as all effort was focused on the diesel-powered version.[4]
Specifications (Il-6 1944)
Data from OKB Ilyushin: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft[5]
^Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry; Komissarov, Sergey (2004). OKB Ilyushin: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley: Midland. pp. 102–104. ISBN978-1-85780-187-3.
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilyushin Il-6.
Nemecek, Vaclav (1986). The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918. London: Willow Books. ISBN0-00-218033-2.
January 06, 2023
ilyushin, russian, Ильюшин, Ил, soviet, long, range, bomber, developed, from, ilyushin, during, 1942, originally, intended, high, speed, replacement, recast, very, long, range, bomber, with, fuel, conserving, diesel, engines, before, production, single, protot. The Ilyushin Il 6 Russian Ilyushin Il 6 was a Soviet long range bomber developed from the Ilyushin Il 4 during 1942 Originally intended as a high speed replacement for the Il 4 it was recast as a very long range bomber with fuel conserving diesel engines before production of the single prototype began in December 1942 Flight testing showed controllability issues when landing at high weights and the engines proved to be hard to start at low temperatures and were slow to respond to throttle movements Further development was canceled in 1944 Il 6Il 6 with Charomsky ACh 30 B diesel engines Role Long range bomberNational origin Soviet UnionManufacturer IlyushinFirst flight 7 August 1943Number built 4 1 Developed from Ilyushin Il 4 Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Specifications Il 6 1944 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingDevelopment EditOutwardly similar to the Il 4 the Il 6 was faster and had a longer and slimmer fuselage fitted with a completely new highly tapered wing with an aspect ratio of 8 The engine nacelles were streamlined to reduce drag and increase speed as the engine radiators were mounted in the wing center section fed by slits in the leading edge of the wing Defensive armament was greatly improved with five 20 mm 0 79 in cannon fitted on flexible mountings in the nose dorsal turret two waist positions and a ventral blister forward of the tailplane 2 The Il 6 was originally intended as a high speed replacement for the Il 4 But after the initial design was completed in August 1942 the VVS requested that the bomber have extended range instead of high speed The original M 71 radial engines were therefore replaced by Charomskiy ACh 30 diesel engines with low fuel consumption which promised to give the Il 6 the required range especially when operated at moderate weights The revised design was completed in December 1942 and production of the prototype was initiated The first flight of the Il 6 was made in Irkutsk on 7 August 1943 with lower powered ACh 30B engines substituted for the unavailable ACh 30BF engines 3 Flight tests revealed difficult handling and a lack of power due to the non availability of the intended ACh 30BF engines Flight tests continued without the waist guns and their gunner until the ACh 30BF s were fitted between May and July 1944 Despite modifications the aircraft still suffered from poor controllability at low speeds and high weights as well as very poor gliding performance Throughout the flight tests the engines performed satisfactorily in the air but were found to be very difficult to start in low ambient temperatures and had slow response to throttle movements Further development was canceled 4 Variants EditIl 6 intended production version with Charomskiy ACh 30BF engines also known as M 30 Il 6 bomber with M 90 engines projected variant with M 90 engines production drawings were issued but nothing further was heard of it presumably as all effort was focused on the diesel powered version 4 Specifications Il 6 1944 EditData from OKB Ilyushin A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft 5 General characteristicsCrew 5 Length 17 38 m 57 ft 0 in Wingspan 26 07 m 85 ft 6 in Wing area 84 8 m2 913 sq ft Aspect ratio 8 Empty weight 11 930 kg 26 301 lb citation needed Gross weight 16 100 kg 35 494 lb Max takeoff weight 19 600 kg 43 211 lb Powerplant 2 Charomskiy ACh 30BF M 30 V 12 liquid cooled diesel piston engines 1 400 kW 1 900 hp each Propellers 3 bladed constant speed propellersPerformance Maximum speed 400 km h 250 mph 220 kn at sea level464 km h 288 mph 251 kn at rated altitude 6 200 m 20 341 ft dd dd dd Landing speed 139 km h 86 mph 75 kn Cruise speed 340 km h 210 mph 180 kn Range 5 450 km 3 390 mi 2 940 nmi at 340 km h 210 mph 180 kn with 1 000 kg 2 205 lb bomb load at 18 150 kg 40 014 lb AUW Service ceiling 7 000 m 23 000 ft Rate of climb 2 9 m s 570 ft min citation needed Time to altitude 5 000 m 16 404 ft in 28 minutes 42 seconds Take off run 730 m 2 395 ft Armament Guns 5 20 mm 0 79 in ShVAK Sh 20 cannon in a dorsal turret and flexible mountings at the nose beam and ventral positions Bombs normal 1 000 kg 2 205 lb maximum 4 500 kg 9 921 lb 2 500 kg 5 512 lb of bombs maximum internallyplus2 1 000 kg 2 205 lb bombs on external racksor2 1 000 kg 2 205 lb torpedoes on external racks dd See also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Junkers Ju 86 North American XB 28 Vickers WarwickRelated lists List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS List of bomber aircraftReferences Edit Nemecek 1986 p 142 Gordon p 103 Gordon pp 103 04 a b Gordon p 104 Gordon Yefim Komissarov Dmitry Komissarov Sergey 2004 OKB Ilyushin A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft Hinkley Midland pp 102 104 ISBN 978 1 85780 187 3 Further reading Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilyushin Il 6 Nemecek Vaclav 1986 The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918 London Willow Books ISBN 0 00 218033 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ilyushin Il 6 amp oldid 1037505911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
