Ilyushin Il-32

Ilyushin Il-32

Company type	Military glider
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	September 20, 1947 (1947-09-20)
Headquarters	Soviet Union
Products	Heavy military glider

The Ilyushin Il-32 was a heavy military glider developed in the Soviet Union shortly after World War II, designed to transport up to 7,000 kg (15,000 lb) of cargo. To simplify the processes of loading and unloading, both the nose and tail sections were engineered to hinge sideways. The Il-32 required a powerful four-engine aircraft for towing; however, the project was discontinued when it became apparent that no suitable tug would be available following the cancellation of the Tupolev Tu-75 and Ilyushin Il-18 programs, both of which were halted due to shortages of their planned Shvetsov ASh-73 engines.

Development

In the aftermath of World War II, the Soviet Union invested significant resources into designing large transport gliders intended to deploy troops during airborne operations. On 20 September 1947, the Council of Ministers commissioned the Ilyushin design bureau to develop a glider capable of carrying 7,000 kg (15,000 lb)—enough for 60 soldiers or alternatively a 122 mm (4.8 in) artillery piece along with its tractor unit, ammunition, and crew. The planned towing aircraft was the Tupolev Tu-75, a four-engine transport derived from the Tupolev Tu-4 bomber.

The Il-32 featured an aluminum airframe and was configured as a high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. Its fuselage had a square cross-section to maximize cargo capacity. The wings employed a two-spar design with a moderate aspect ratio. Designed for expendability, the glider was constructed with simplicity in mind to enable mass production. Both its nose and tail sections could pivot up to 95° to starboard, allowing easy access for loading operations.

The first flight occurred on 20 August 1948, with the glider being towed by an Ilyushin Il-12 twin-engine aircraft; however, this tug lacked sufficient power for fully loaded flights. Subsequently, from 20 September onward, tests used a four-engine Il-18 airliner prototype as a tow plane. During these trials, the Il-32 achieved a cruising speed of approximately 323 km/h (201 mph) at an altitude near 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), carrying a weight around 16,000 kg (35,000 lb). While flight testing yielded positive results and preparations for production commenced, the absence of an adequate towing aircraft posed significant challenges. None of the Soviet four-engine planes suitable for this role were in production or accessible—the Tu-70 and Il-18 airliners had been canceled, as had the Tu-75 transport variant; meanwhile, the Tu-4 remained dedicated to strategic bombing duties. Attempts to tow the Il-32 using two Il-12s simultaneously proved hazardous and complicated. Consequently, due to the lack of an appropriate tug aircraft, the Il-32 program was ultimately terminated.

Specifications

File:Ilyushin Il-32.svg