First flight of the Il-2

[LukeFF]

On October 2, 1939, test pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki first flew the TsKB-55—the prototype for the future Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

This two-seat aircraft differed significantly from the machines that would later see combat on the front lines. Designers still had to replace the engine, modify the layout, and continue testing. Yet the core concept had already been realized: protecting the crew and critical components with an armored hull integrated into the aircraft's structure.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Il-2 became one of the most recognizable Soviet aircraft and the most mass-produced combat aircraft in aviation history. Decades later, it would lend its name to our game series.

Today marks the 87th anniversary of its prototype's maiden flight.