Il-2 s/n 381417 with non-retractable ski installation at the state tests in January 1942. This is a rare plane built in Zavod 281.

The plane features an early unarmoured canopy and an early type metal wing with well visible balance weights for ailerons and wingtips.

All the upper and side surfaces are painted with Mk-1 washable white distemper.

(From Ilyushin Il-2 by Oleg Rastrenin)

An heavily retouched photo of black 6 , probably of 62th ShAP, with retractable ski gear. This is a plane built in Z.18.

Note the late type metal wing with VYa-23 guns and extended landing gear nacelles to fit the retracted ski.

Below: an Il-2 with retractable ski gear inflight.

(from Viktor Publishing, Il-2 part 1)

A reconstruction of this plane; the bort number, if any, was omitted.

Click on the profile to see a 3 views drawing.

An higher resolution version of this artwork will be published on the book on Il-2 of Jason Moore.

Red 4, probably of 62th ShAP, is photographed after a gear-up landng on the snow. Note that the retracted skis have protected well the plane, apart for the prop blades.

A serie of unpainted windows in the white finish let see the factory number, reported both on the rudder and the stabilizer.

Note the tail ski gear; some details are visible in the photo below.

A reconstruction of this plane.

Click on the profile to see a 3 views drawing.

An higher resolution version of this artwork will be published on the book on Il-2 of Jason Moore.