1/72 Ilyushin IL-22

Anigrand Craftswork - 1/72 Ilyushin IL-22 In early 1946, the first Soviet designed jet engine, TR-1 was completed. The Ussr Council of Ministers issued requirement for a new bomber that would use four of TR-1 jet engines. Ilyushin and Sokhoi were called to begin work on the jet bomber design that resulted in the Il-22 and Sukhoi Su-10. After the Myasishchev Okb was closed in 1945 several key design staff were transferred to Ilyushin and they became involved in the Il-22's design. The Il-22 prototype was rapidly assembled and made its first flight in July 1947. It proved to have docile handling characteristics, but was severely underpowered as the TR-1 engines only produced 80% of the required thrust. As the engines thrust could not be increased in a timely manner, Ilyushin made the decision not to submit the bomber for State acceptance trials as its performance did not meet the requirements. However, the Il-22 did fly over Tushino during the Aviation Day display in August 1947 and the USAF allocated Type Number 10 to it. In response to an official order, Ilyushin eventually redesigned the Il-22 with two Mikulin jets, designating Il-24. In 1948, the Il-24 program was cancelled while the Il-28 Beagle bomber design started.