IL-2 Sturmovik: Lisunov Li-2 Collector Plane

Lisunov Li-2 was a license-built Soviet version of the DC-3. Despite looking similar, it was quite different to the original because it was adapted for Soviet production - all the measurements were converted to metric system, it had different instruments, cargo doors, landing gear, even the engines.

This Soviet C-47 sibling was like a gunship wannabe - it had turrets AND a forward-firing machine gun. An armed transport aircraft with paratroopers and cargo inside - how much more versatile can you get? Well, add the bomb-carrying capability to this mix and you get a machine that ticks nearly all the boxes you ever wanted.

Usually going the 'jack of all trades' route means sacrificing something in every trade, but the USSR needed versatile aircraft. While the Western Allies during the war had plenty of long-range fighters to cover their bombers and unarmed transport aircraft and enjoyed air superiority most of the time, Soviet VVS usually did not have this luxury.

In addition to Quick Mission Builder, Advanced Quick Mission Generator and Multiplayer modes, you can fly it in Career mode during all Eastern front timeframes: Moscow, Stalingrad and Kuban.

• Default armament: nose-mounted 7.62 mm "ShKAS" machine gun (450 rounds), 12.7 mm machine gun "UBT" in UTK-1 top turret, (230 rounds), two 7.62 mm "ShKAS" machine guns on the sides (500 rounds per each).
  
• Length: 19.65 m
  
• Wingspan: 28,81 m
  
• Wing surface: 91,7 m²

Loadouts

• 16 paratroopers with ammunition (1600 kg weight increase, 7 km/h speed loss before drop).
  
• Six PD-MM transport containers with parachutes on external racks (814 kg weight increase with racks, 20 km/h speed loss before drop, 2 km/h after drop).
  
• Fourteen PD-MM transport containers with parachutes in the cargo compartment (1760 kg weight increase, 5 km/h speed loss before drop).
  
• 2200 kg of cargo (6 km/h speed loss).
  
• Four 254 kg General Purpose Bombs FAB-250sv (1076 kg weight increase with racks, 13 km/h speed loss before drop, 2 km/h after drop).
  
• Two 512 kg General Purpose Bombs FAB-500M (1084 kg weight increase with racks, 17 km/h speed loss before drop, 2 km/h after drop).

Skins (tactical numbers are customizable)

• Temporary winter camo painted over standard paint scheme.
  
• Temporary winter camo painted over light green parts of a standard paint scheme.
  
• Standard camo with late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Tricolor camo with late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Tricolor camo with black bottom surfaces and late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Late grey camo with late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Late grey camo with black bottom surfaces and late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Light green paint scheme with late type red stars that have white and red outlines.
  
• Light green paint scheme with black bottom surfaces and late type red stars that have white and red outlines.

Technical details

Indicated stall speed in flight configuration: 115...135 km/h

Indicated stall speed in takeoff/landing configuration: 105...120 km/h
Dive speed limit: 410 km/h
Maximum load factor: 5.0 G
Stall angle of attack in flight configuration: 13 °
Stall angle of attack in landing configuration: 12.5 °

Maximum true air speed at sea level, engine mode - take-off: 322 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 900 m, engine mode - take-off: 333 km/h

Maximum true air speed at sea level, engine mode - economical maximum: 303 km/h
Maximum true air speed at 1700 m, engine mode - economical maximum: 320 km/h

Service ceiling: 5500 m
Climb rate at sea level: 4,0 m/s
Climb rate at 3000 m: 2,5 m/s

Maximum performance turn at sea level: 25.5 s, at 220 km/h IAS.

Flight endurance at 4000 m: 9h, at 2000 rpm / 640 mm Hg MAP

Takeoff speed: 120..130 km/h
Glideslope speed: 150..165 km/h
Landing speed: 105..115 km/h
Landing angle: 11.5 °

Note 1: the data provided is for international standard atmosphere (ISA).
Note 2: flight performance ranges are given for possible aircraft mass ranges.
Note 3: maximum speeds, climb rates and turn times are given for standard aircraft mass.
Note 4: climb rates are given for maximum continuous power, turn times are given for nominal power.

Engine:
Model: M-62IR
Maximum power in take-off mode at sea level: 1000 HP
Maximum power in maximum continuous (nominal) mode at sea level: 820 HP

Maximum power in maximum continuous (nominal) mode at 1700 m: 840 HP

Engine modes:
Take-off (up to 5 minutes): 2200 RPM, 1050 mm Hg
Nominal (up to 60 minutes): 2100 RPM, 900 mm Hg

Oil rated temperature in engine output: 115 °C
Oil maximum temperature in engine output: 125 °C
Cylinder head rated temperature: 205 °C
Cylinder head maximum temperature: 235 °C

Empty weight: 7526 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 11600 kg
Fuel load: 2240 kg / 3110 l
Useful load: 4074 kg
Combat debut: Autumn 1942

Operation features

• IMPORTANT: take up to 50% fuel in cargo loadout to not exceed the maximum takeoff weight.
  
• Engine has no manifold pressure automatic governor. For this reason, manifold pressure not only depends on throttle position, but also from RPM and altitude. This requires additional checking of manifold pressure to not cause engine damage.
  
• Engine mixture control is automatic when the mixture lever is set to maximum. It is possible to manually lean the mixture by moving the mixture control to less than maximum. This also reduces fuel consumption during flight.
  
• Engine RPM has an automatic governor and it is maintained at the required RPM corresponding to the governor control lever position. The governor automatically controls the propeller pitch to maintain the required RPM.
  
• Oil radiators and engine cowl outlet shutters are manually operated.
  
• Airplane has trimmers for all flight-controls: pitch, roll and yaw.
  
• Landing flaps have a hydraulic actuator and they can be extended to any angle up to 50°.
  
• Airplane has independent left and right hydraulic wheel brake controls. To apply either brake push the upper part of the rudder pedal.
  
• Airplane is equipped with a parking brake system.
  
• Airplane is equipped with landing and navigation lights.
  
• Engine has a one-stage mechanical supercharger.
  
• Airplane has a fuel gauge which shows remaining fuel in fuel tanks depending on switch position. In the game the fuel indicator switch changes by pressing (RShift+I).
  
• Airplane has a manual control for the tailwheel lock. The unlocked tailwheel has no turn limit. The tailwheel should be locked when taxiing straight for a long distance and before takeoff and landing.
  
• The aircraft is equipped with three-channel autopilot system (main switch RAlt + A). Pilot has the ability to trim course (RAlt + Left/Right), pitch (RAlt + Up/Down) and roll (RShift + Left/Right) stabilizing angles.
  
• Cargo unload doors can be opened on the ground only.
  
• The side door must be opened for dropping paratroopers or cargo containers stored inside. Open it using the bomb bay doors toggle command ("N" by default) and then use the bomb drop button ("B" by default) to drop them.

Aircraft 3D model developed by Ugra Media studio.