Ilyushin Il-6

Ilyushin Il-6

Company type	Military aircraft project
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1942
Headquarters	Soviet Union
Products	Long-range bomber aircraft (prototype)

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The Ilyushin Il-6 (Russian: Ильюшин Ил-6) was a Soviet long-range bomber that evolved from the Ilyushin Il-4 in 1942. Initially conceived as a faster successor to the Il-4, the project shifted focus to create an extended-range bomber powered by fuel-efficient diesel engines before the prototype’s production commenced in December 1942. During flight trials, pilots encountered control difficulties when landing at heavy weights, and the engines exhibited challenges starting in cold conditions alongside sluggish throttle responsiveness. Development was ultimately halted in 1944.

Development

Though bearing a strong resemblance to the Il-4 externally, the Il-6 featured a sleeker, elongated fuselage and a completely redesigned wing with a high aspect ratio of 8, characterized by sharp tapering. The engine nacelles were aerodynamically refined to minimize drag and enhance speed, with radiators integrated into the wing’s center section and cooled via leading-edge slits. Defensive weaponry was significantly upgraded, incorporating five 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons mounted flexibly in the nose, dorsal turret, two waist gun positions, and a ventral blister located ahead of the tailplane.

Originally designed to replace the Il-4 with superior speed, the Il-6’s role was revised following completion of the initial design in August 1942 when the VVS requested prioritization of range over velocity. Consequently, the planned M-71 radial engines were substituted with Charomskiy ACh-30 diesel powerplants known for their low fuel consumption, aiming to meet the extended range requirements especially under moderate loading conditions. The updated design was finalized by December 1942, prompting prototype construction. The Il-6’s maiden flight occurred on 7 August 1943 near Irkutsk, utilizing less powerful ACh-30B engines as replacements for the unavailable ACh-30BF variants.

Testing revealed handling difficulties coupled with insufficient power due to delayed delivery of the intended ACh-30BF engines. Initial trials were conducted without waist gun installations or their operator until these engines were installed between May and July 1944. Despite attempts at refinement, the aircraft continued to experience poor controllability at low speeds when heavily loaded along with unsatisfactory gliding capabilities. While engine performance during flight was acceptable, ground operations exposed persistent problems including challenging cold starts and delayed throttle response. As a result, further advancement of the program was discontinued.

Variants

• Il-6 – the planned production model equipped with Charomskiy ACh-30BF engines, also referred to as M-30.
• Il-6 – a proposed bomber variant powered by M-90 engines; although production blueprints were created, no further development occurred, likely due to the prioritization of the diesel-engine version.