Ilyushin

Established in 1934, the Ilyushin design bureau is one of the best-known Soviet/Russian aircraft design companies. Over the years the Ilyushin OKB has developed aircraft for widely varying roles. Its first aircraft to achieve production status, the DB-3 bomber, entered service in 1936. The IL-2 (Shturmovik) armoured attack aircraft brought Ilyushin well-earned fame; this aircraft was used with considerable success during World War 2. Ilyushin's involvement with combat aircraft continued with the experimental IL-22 four-jet bomber of 1946 and the extremely successful IL-28 tactical bomber of 1947 - the Soviet counterpart of the English Electric Canberra.

Developed as a high-capacity long-range airliner for use on Aeroflot's busiest routes, the Ilyushin IL-18 four-turboprop airliner first flew on July 4th, 1957. Despite some initial difficulties, this Soviet equivalent of the Lockheed Electra eventually proved to be extremely successful, offering high comfort and good operating economics for its day. The IL-18 was supplied to many "friendly nations" in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Its uses included passenger and cargo carriage, VIP transportation, support of Soviet research stations in Antarctica, electronic espionage and various research and development programs, both civil and military.
This book charts the development history of the IL-18. It also provides information on an earlier piston-engined airliner of the same name which turned out to be ahead of its time and was destined never to enter production. It also describes all the principal commercial versions as well as test and development aircraft.
Separate chapters are dedicated to aircraft in the IL18 family which bore separate designations, such as the IL-20M ELINT, the IL-20RT space tracker, the IL-22 airborne command post, the IL-24N ice reconnaissance aircraft used to support commercial shipping operations in the Arctic regions and the IL-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.