The Sikorsky Ilya Muromets (Russian: Сикорский Илья Муромец) (Sikorsky S-22, S-23, S-24, S-25, S-26 and S-27) were a class of Russian pre-World War I large four-engine commercial airliners and military heavy bombers used during World War I by the Russian Empire.
The aircraft series was named after Ilya Muromets, a hero from Slavic mythology. The series was based on the Russky Vityaz or Le Grand, the world's first four-engined aircraft, designed by Igor Sikorsky.
The Ilya Muromets aircraft as it appeared in 1913 was a revolutionary design, intended for commercial service with its spacious fuselage incorporating a passenger saloon and washroom on board. During World War I, it became the first four-engine bomber to equip a dedicated strategic bombing unit. This heavy bomber was unrivaled in the early stages of the war, as the Central Powers had no aircraft capable enough to rival it until much later.
The wild Ilya Muromets, legendary warrior, after whom the plane was named (center).
Igor Sikorsky meets Niel Armstrong---
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It had a propensity to fall from the sky, but those that didn't were emblematic of where the world was heading. Russia does that sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI worked with a Pilot whose Grandfather had been a Plane Captain in one of the Imperial Flying Ship Squadrons, (what they were known as) and the Pictures he had were Amazing, some of the Battlefields from 12,000 Feet or more, Fighter Planes couldn't get to them, and the Flak Guns were very few in numbers. It was the first Bomber to have a Heated Cabin and Breathing Oxygen System for High Altitude Operations. Like all Russian Military Gear, they were designed to Operate at -40 C. in the Wintertime, when every other Arm was 'Frozen Out'.
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