Warbird Information Exchange

The Russian-based Wings of Victory Foundation, which supports the restoration and flying operations of WWII warbirds in Russia, announced this morning that a recovery is being made later this week (August 8-10) of an IL-2 Sturmovik in the Murmansk region, where it had made a forced landing on a lake in August 1943. Believed to be in great condition, once the aircraft is recovered it will be sent to Boris Osetinsky's Aviarestoration company in Novosibirsk to be restored to fly - the same company which restored the two currently flying IL-2's. This particular IL-2 will appear somewhat different than the two already flying, as it is one of the single-seat/short canopy variants. From what I gather, the aircraft originally operated with the 3rd Squadron of the 46th ShAP, piloted by Kaličev Alexander Ivanovich, who was able to return to base following the forced landing. Announcement and photos posted here: https://www.facebook.com/wingsofvictory ... Io&fref=nf

Fantastic! Twenty years ago would anyone have dared to predict we would see even a single Sturmovik flying much less three?

It's absolutely fantastic to hear that a single-seat variant is going to be restored... I assume with an Allison rather than the Mikulin?

Wonder if Jerry Yagen might make a play for this one?

Lynn

Forgive my ignorance but how many of his russian aircrafts are currently flying? No, not a good idea Lynn!

The aircraft was retrieved from the lake today (photos posted on the Facebook page I linked to in my original post). As the organization states, this aircraft will be flying in a few years time.

Here is just a selection of the photos posted on Facebook by the Wings of Victory Foundation.

https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5C10B690
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5C0ACBCC
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BF9083F
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BC7EDF8
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5C0EB286
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BF74122

As those familiar with these aircraft know, the empenage and vertical tail section of these aircraft were made of wood, and like previous recoveries/projects that section of the aircraft is long gone, but of course the company that will be restoring this aircraft has a lot of experience building those sections brand new (as they did with the other two IL-2's now flying). As the last two photos I linked to show, the horizontal tail section and the rudder were recovered.

Just amazing. Thanks for sharing these links, John.

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

Very exciting to see a recovery in such good condition. Wow!

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Almost seems like there is an endless supply of hidden gems, even time capsules out there. Breathtaking.

and the deep-ocean awaits...

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Kevin McCartney

For those not on Facebook, here are more photos by the Russian Wings of Victory Foundation - the aircraft is being disassembled for shipping to Aviarestoration.

https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BFFDD6C
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BF651B1
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5C02AC7B
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5BCC6EB8
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5C01954D

As I believe was the case with the previous two flying IL-2 restorations, they're thinking that a good portion of the metal parts and fittings will be able to be reused in the restoration to get it flying.

Those patterns on the front-facing windows are really neat!

Are these windows made of a mosaic of glass plates? If so, did the separations between prevent cracks from propagating? Was this generally used? Anyone have photos of other examples?

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Kevin McCartney

Bit of a news report. How's your Russian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmiRLJeRMsM

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

Loose translation:

The airplane is in GREAT shape! A real testament to the motherlands workers 70+ years ago... Nothing that a good wash job wont fix... We have mechanics from a local farm lined up to put things right... When the winter comes and the lake freezes, we will fly her back to Moscow where President Putin will personally accompany the aircraft to the Ukrainian front...



C2j

Nice. Nothing that a good coating of WD40 won't fix. The windscreen glass keepers are a great idea...