The Ilyushin Il-10 (NATO reporting name: "Beast") was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau. It was also license-built in Czechoslovakia by Avia as the Avia B-33.

From the start of Eastern Front combat in World War II, the Soviet Air Force (VVS) used the successful ground attack aircraft Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik, powered by the Mikulin AM-38 inline engine. As the war progressed, the Soviets laid plans for that aircraft's successor. The main goal was to increase speed and maneuverability at low altitudes, mainly to evade small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, which was the main threat for ground attack aircraft, and to remove some of the Il-2's faults. The most promising project was a modern, light and maneuverable close assault aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-6, developed by Pavel Sukhoi's bureau from 1942. At the same time, Sergei Ilyushin developed a heavier aircraft, the BSh M-71, (Il-8 M-71), derived from the Il-2 design, on which it was partly based, to be powered by the prototype Tumansky M-71 radial engine, which did not enter production.

In 1943, Ilyushin started work on a new aircraft, Il-1, which was to be a 1- or 2-seat heavily armoured fighter-interceptor, meant mainly for fighting enemy bombers and transports. The Il-1 was similar to the Il-2 design, but was more modern, compact, and powered with a new Mikulin engine: the AM-42. But the VVS gave up the idea of heavy armoured fighters, due to their low speed, which was not enough to intercept modern bombers. As a result, Ilyushin decided to turn the Il-1 into a two-seat ground attack plane, with the designation changed to Il-10 in early 1944 (odd numbers were reserved for fighters).

At that time, Ilyushin also finished a prototype of a heavier ground attack plane, the Il-8, using the same engine, and more closely derived from the Il-2. It carried a higher payload (1,000 kg/2,204 lb), but had lower performance than the Il-10. Both types first flew in April 1944, the Il-10 proving greatly superior to the Il-8, which had poor handling. The Il-10 successfully passed trials in early June 1944.

The third competitor was a new variant of the Sukhoi Su-6, also powered by the AM-42 engine. After comparative tests, the Il-10 was considered the winner and was chosen as the new ground attack plane, despite some opinions that the Su-6 was a better aircraft, notwithstanding inferior performance and payload, with better gun armament. Notably, the Su-6 prototype was tested with maximum payload, causing lowered performance, while the Il-10 was tested with normal payload. Some advantages of the Il-10 came from its technical similarity to the Il-2.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Soviet Ilyushin IL-10 ground attack aircraft that was piloted by Vladimir Avramovich Aleskenko, who was attached to the 15th GvShAP, then deployed to the eastern front during July 1945. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 8-inches
Length: 6-1/4-inches

Release Date: June 2021

Historical Account: "Aleksenko" - Vladimir Avramovich Aleksenko (January 27th, 1923 - June 16th, 1995) was a ground-attack aviation squadron and regimental commander during World War II who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded his first Hero of the Soviet Union award for making 107 attack sorties, and his second award was for making another 143 sorties, but by the end of the war he reached a total of 292 attack sorties. After the war he remained in the military, becoming a became a Lieutenant general after graduation from the Military Academy of the General Staff. Between 1967 and 1974, he commanded the 5th Air Army.

In 1942, Aleksenko graduated from the Krasnodar Military Pilots' Flying School. He joined the Communist Party in 1943. In February 1943, Aleksenko became an Ilyushin Il-2 pilot in the 15th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment on the Leningrad Front with the rank of junior lieutenant. During early 1944, Aleksenko flew attack sorties during the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive, which broke the siege of Leningrad. In the summer of 1944 he participated in the Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive, which helped end the Continuation War. On June 12th, Aleksenko and his flight engaged German fighters, with Aleksenko shooting down two of them. In the fall, he flew sorties in the Baltic Offensive.

From January 1945, Aleksenko, the a squadron commander, fought in the East Prussian Offensive. In February, he became the regimental deputy commander. On April 27th, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for reportedly making 107 successful assault sorties against German troop and equipment concentrations. In February 1945, he was promoted to assistant commander of his regiment, and that month he was nominated to receive a second gold star for having flown 250 sorties. He received it after the end of the war, and by that time he had flown 292 sorties against German fortifications, airfields and troop concentrations. He reportedly destroyed numerous aircraft on the ground, 33 tanks, 118 vehicles, 53 rail cars, 85 rail carriages, 54 anti-aircraft guns, 10 warehouses with ammunition, 27 artillery guns, 12 mortars. His attacks had also reportedly killed 1300 German soldiers.