russian flying tank destroyer soviet twin engined multi purpose aircraft developed world war prototype built extremely heavy armament ground attack duties example built decided revise design powerful engines development design bureau ordered begin development fast twin engined aircraft ground attack duties heavy fighter delivered ground attack version following year evaluation modified necessary roles reasonably successful decided powerful engines modify structure improved aircraft designated low winged twin engined aircraft mixed structure fuselage halves birch wing tail structures built mix steel tubes skin metal skinned control surfaces ussr main legs conventional landing gear retracted aft engine fixed nose extensively navigator good visibility armed cannon vertical travel rear gunner radio operator sat pilot manually operated turret armed machine gun cannon mounted wing roots prominent barrels bombs carried internally fuselage pair bombs carried wings pair engines driving bladed propellers specifications data gordon soviet world war general characteristics crew length wingspan wing area weight gross weight powerplant liquid cooled engines propellers bladed performance maximum speed mph metres range nmi service ceiling armament guns cannon cannon machine gun bombs total
Polikarpov VIT-1