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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2482.PDF
426 FLIGHT OCTOBER 14TH, 1943 RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DESICNERS According to Russian reports, the Heinkel 118, which was then the German answer to the problem, first appeared on June 22nd, 1941, but with its mediocre speed and perform- ance failed to impress the Russians. The Soviet Air Force has conducted extensive researches in the development of "tank-busters." Ilyushin, who is also keenly interested in problems of military technique, was instrumental in this development. Several models of anti-tank aircraft designed by him were built before the war, and were enthusiastically received by Soviet airmen. When war broke out this experimental period was almost concluded, and in July, 1941, the Russians finally came out with Ilyushin's new type, the 11.2. This heavily armoured and armed fast aircraft, described in Flight of May 20th, 1943, is capable of effective opera- tion at heights less than 500ft., and has since become the most effective Russian weapon fdr attacking panzers. A generic term "Stormovik," applied to this type and its developments, gives the correct conception of its use, which has been thus described by a military writer in Pravda: "The most important task of our Stormovik fighters and bombers is skilfully to seek out concentrations of enemy tanks and mechanised troops ; to destroy panzers, guns, machine guns and transport; and to disperse enemy formations concentrated in strong points." By develop- ing special tactics—low-flying attacks at the most vul- nerable points of a tank, the sides, rear and top—units of the Soviet Air Force equipped with Stormoviks were primarily responsible for stemming Gen. Guderia's panzers in the approaches to Moscow in 1941, and have ever since played an important role in Russian operations. The havoc wrought by the Stormovik among German panzers gained it the nickname " Der Schwarze Tod," with which the Germans dubbed it. Ilyushin has to his credit a number of designs adopted by the Russian Air Force, among them the twin-engined bombers, CKB-26 and the DB-3A. For his services to the aircraft industry the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet awarded him the title of Hero of Socialist Labour in November, 1941. In 1942 he received ^e Stalin Prize, and again in March this year his name figured among the recipients of this year's Stalin Prize for modifications and improvements in constructing military aircraft. Another aircraft designer whose name has been promi- nently associated with the development of Russian bombers is A. N. Tupolev. It will be remembered that as far back as 1932 he designed the Ant.3, a four-engined 20-ton aircraft, the first Russian "heavy." Best known among the many types of civil and military aircraft de- signed by Tupolev was the Ant.35, produced in 1935 and resembling the Martin 139, with which Tchkalov and Gromov broke the world's long-distance record. A number of Tupolev's designs have achieved international reputa- tion : the Ant.22, a twin-hulled commercial flying boat, for instance, powered with six M.34 800 h.p. engines, the prototype of which was designed in 1931. On December 8th, 1936, this machine, piloted by Rabienko, created an international record by reaching an altitude of 6,370ft. with a useful load of 22,000 lb. For fifteen years Tupolev was in charge of experimental aircraft construction of the Central Aero-Dynamic Insti- tute Z.A.G.I. In this capacity he not only contributed to the Soviet exploration of the Arctic, but was also instru- mental in laying the foundations of the Russian bomber force. Already in 1935 French sources reported the .exist- ence of Russian bombers with a bomb load of 7 to 8 tons. Tupolev's personal contribution to the growing Russian ai strength is best illustrated by the fact that in 1939 there wene about 2,000 bombers of the T.B.6 (Ant.6) in service, which had a range of 2,700 miles, a maximum speed of 200 m.p.h., a bomb load of 3 tons, carried a crew of five, and tad defensive armament in the nose, tail and amid- ships. With the gradual change of policy from heavy bombers to lighter and faster ones, Tupolev's designs receded some- what from the limelight. A growing generation of young designers came steadily into prominence, while little has been heard of Tupolev's activities since 1938. This gave rise to all sorts of malicious rumours, but in fact Tupolev's work continued. On March 23rd this year he was again awarded the Stalin Prize for creating a new variety of military aircraft. N.Z. Governor-General at Aircraft Factory Y'OUNGEST of the De Havillandoverseas " family " is the NewZealand branch at Rongotai, near Wellington. This factory was started in 1939, shortly before the out- break of war. It. has since then built hundreds of Tiger Moths for the Em- pire Air Training Scheme, and in addi- tion undertakes overhaul and repair of De Havilland aircraft and engines in New Zealand, as well as Airspeed Oxfords, and many types of British and American engines. The works are situated on the air- field, which adjoins a bay of the sea. A short time ago the De Havilland works at Rongotai had the honour of being paid a visit by the Governor- General, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall, and Lady Newall. Sir Cyril, it may be recalled, was Chief of the Air Staff until October, 1940, when he was succeeded by the present Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Charles Portal. Several R.A.F. officers have been Governors, but Sir Cyril is the first Governor-General. His Excellency, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall, Governor-Generalof New Zealand, and Lady Newall on a visit to the De Havilland factory at Rongotai.
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