Lisunov Li-2

Template:Infobox Aircraft The Lisunov Li-2, originally designated PS-84 (NATO reporting name Cab), was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3, produced by the GAZ-84 works near Moscow, and subsequently at GAZ-34 in Tashkent. The project was directed by aeronautical engineer Boris Pavlovich Lisunov. An original Li-2 can be identified by the 4-bladed VISh-21 propellers, although many later Li-2s were equipped with three-bladed props. Unlike the C-47 development of the DC-3, military versions of the Li-2 also had bomb racks and a dorsal turret (see photograph).

Design and development

The Soviet Union had already received its first DC-2 in 1935 and although a total of 18 DC-3s had been ordered on 11 April 1936, the Soviets managed to purchase 21 DC-3s before World War II. The arrangement (possibly through a third country) accompanied a production license "for free" on 15 July 1936. Lisunov spent two years at the Douglas Aircraft Company, between 1938 and 1940 and modified the C-47 into a Soviet version, which was given the designation PS-84 (Passashirsky Samolyot 84, passenger airplane 84).

Despite the original intention to incorporate as few changes as necessary to the basic design, the GAZ-84 works documented over 1,200 engineering changes from the Douglas engineering drawings, and it was no small task for Vladimir Myasischev to change all dimensions from inches to metric units. Some of the changes were substantial, such as the use of the Russian Shvetsov ASh-621R engines. The Russian standard design practice also usually mandated fully shuttered engines in order to cope with the extreme temperatures. A slightly shorter span was incorporated but many of the other alterations were less evident. The passenger door was moved to the right side of the fuselage, with a top-opening cargo door on the left side in place of the original passenger door. The structural reinforcement included slightly heavier skins necessitated since the metric skin gauges were not exact duplicates of the American alloy sheet metal. Standard Russian metric hardware was different, and the various steel substructures such as engine mounts and landing gear, wheels and tires were also quite different from the original design. In order to operate in remote and Arctic regions, later modifications allowed the provision of ski landing gear. By 1939, the first PS-84s began to emerge from the GAZ-84 production line.

Operational history

Prewar, the PS-84 had flown with Aeroflot primarily as a passenger transport but when Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, many of the PS-84s were taken into military use and redesignated the Lisunov Li-2 in 1942. The military models were equipped with a 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, and later with a 12.7 mm UBK heavy machine gun. The aircraft were used for transport, partisan supply, bombing and also as ambulance aircraft. A version designated Li-2VV (Vojenny Variant = military variant) had a redesigned nose for extra defensive armament, and could also carry up to four 250 kg bombs under the wings. In addition, smaller bombs could be carried inside the fuselage, and were thrown out from the freight hatch by the crew.

More than 6,000 aircraft were produced of all Li-2 versions and it saw extensive use in Eastern Europe until the 1960s. There were many versions, comprising airliner, cargo, military transport, reconnaissance, aerial photography, parachute drop, bomber and high altitude variants. The Li-2 also saw extensive service in the Chinese Air Force in the 1940s and 1950s.

Several airlines operated Lisunov Li-2s, among others Aeroflot, CAAK, CSA, LOT, Malév and Tarom.

Variants

PS-84

Original passenger airliner, equipped with 14-28 seats. Somewhat smaller span and higher empty weight, and it was also equipped with lower-powered engines compared to the DC-3. The cargo door was also transposed to the right side of the fuselage.

Li-2

Military transport aircraft with defensive armament (designation started from 17 September 1942).

Li-2D

Paratroop transport version (1942), with reinforced floor and tie-downs, plus cargo doors (slightly smaller than the C-47 doors) on the left.

Li-2P

Basic civil passenger model.

Li-2PG

Civil "combi" passenger-cargo version.

Li-2R

"Reconnaissance" version, with bulged windows fitted behind the cockpit.

Li-2VV

Bomber version (1942)

Li-2V

High-altitude weather surveillance version of the Li-2, equipped with turbocharged engines.

Li-3

Yugoslavian version equipped with American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines (similar to the DC-3)

Li-2T

Polish bomber training aircraft

Operators

Military

• Bulgaria
• Czechoslovakia
• China
• Hungary
• Mongolia
• North Korea
• Democratic Republic of Vietnam
• Poland
• Romania
• Soviet Union
• Syria

Civil

People's Republic of China

• China National Aviation Corporation

Czechoslovakia

• CSA

Hungary

• Malév

North Korea

• CAAK

Poland

• LOT

Romania

• Tarom

Soviet Union

• Aeroflot

Specifications (Li-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: 5-6
• Capacity: 20+ passengers

Performance Armament
3× 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns
1× 12.7 mm UBK machine gun
1,000 kg bombs (normal load)
2,000 kg bombs (short distances)

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Davies, R.E.G. Aeroflot. Rockville, MD: Paladwr Press, 1993. ISBN 0-96264-831-0.
• Gordon, Yefim and Komissarov, Sergey and Dimitriy. Lisunov Li-2: the Soviet DC-3. St. Paul, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 1-85780-228-4.
• Gunston, Bill. Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. London: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2000. ISBN 1-84176-096-X.
• Jane, Fred T., ed. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1945-1946. London: Jane's Information Group, 1946.
• Mondey, David, ed. The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books Inc., 1978. ISBN 0-89009-771-2.
• Pearcy, Arthur. Douglas Propliners DC-1-DC-7. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1995. ISBN 1-85310-261-X.