nato reporting seat soviet jet engined armored ground attack aircraft prototype flew successful fired guns disturbed engines caused problem took year involved radical change moving engine air way aircraft guns tip nose fuselage nose wheel aircraft resembling double shotgun ordered production production aircraft completed entire program canceled early discarded close air support doctrine favor tactical nuclear weapons battlefield development begun design studies jet engined ground attack aircraft possessing better performance characteristics possible engined aircraft end design bureau prepared technical proposal seat armored aircraft flow rated lbf maximum power lbf january sent proposal government quickly accepted directed design build prototype wings set low fuselage swept angle engines pods adjacent fuselage traditional ground attack aircraft core structure load bearing armored shell protected crew positions fuel tanks radio electrical equipment thickness shell ranged thickness armored bulkhead protecting pilot thick cockpit pilot given armored protect shells fired gunner protected armor thick total weight armored shell glass seats provided fitted rear fuselage underneath enhance aircraft dive initial armament mounted nose rounds protruding mounted remotely controlled tail barbette rounds maximum elevation maximum depression traverse traverse rate second elevate rate second small bomb bays fitted wings maximum capacity alternatively bomb racks fitted wings carry bombs rockets drop tanks total capacity litres gal normal bomb load carried conditions maximum rockets carried cameras fitted rear fuselage day night damage assessment photos flown march flight tests revealed shortcomings air operational far aft minor problem landing taking especially coupled short biggest problem proved guns effect engines aerial test cannons end march muzzle flash temporarily blinded pilot engines pilot able restart engines safely immediately started investigation cause engine problems ground tests high speed cameras revealed muzzle brakes blast tested difference engines single gun fired rounds decision replace guns nose cannon rounds gun rate fire greater totally revise gun installation guns moved tip nose separate compartment heat resistant steel provided special blast chamber blast away engine doors provided chamber chamber firing problem occurred immediately testing blast gases accumulated section spent links saved ignited occasionally strong actually chamber spent shell case section thoroughly muzzle brakes introduced successfully cure problem resolving problem guns prevented aircraft undergoing state acceptance trials july stipulated special commission appointed conduct trials december manufacturer trials successfully concluded january aircraft turned state acceptance trials lasted january march tests generally successful proving easy fly handful fighters opposing considerably superior engined ground attack aircraft service fight tests reveal blast gas firing engine opposite solutions evaluated cure problem pushed radical solution extending air engines way nose aircraft moving guns nose air change position guns extension air looked like double shotgun allowed nose wheel moved forward guns mounted nose wheel special shield added protect gun barrels debris thrown nose wheel linked nose wheel extended changes included replacement original engines improved version normal bomb load increased condition rear view mirror added allow pilot better observe rear upper hemisphere production began construction prototype evaluate solution endorsed october ordered production begin factory don improved version designated prototype flew february began state acceptance trials october changes resolved problems suffered earlier design order batch production machines placed completed spring undergoing pre flight tests entire program canceled april components preparation scrapped week later branch superseded branch doctrine drastically modified longer provide close support army use tactical nuclear weapons nuclear battlefield program canceled variants studied artillery spotting version known model added redesigned forward fuselage air reverted original position guns placed small wing bomb bays wasn danger engines blast guns navigator given extensively position tip nose protected armor glass fuselage nearing completion order came cancel entire program second variant torpedo carrying version called based fuselage navigator position flat glass panels facilitate aiming effort devoted model canceled early stage variants prototype second prototype production aircraft artillery navigator nose cockpit torpedo bomber navigator nose flat panels weapon aiming late 1960s revival concept beaten competition prototype ultimate iteration modern engines beaten specifications data gordon history characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant dry thrust lbf thrust lbf performance maximum speed mph range drop tanks service ceiling wing loading armament guns cannon fuselage nose cannon remotely controlled rear turret bombs bombs wing bomb bays carrying bombs rockets drop tanks
Ilyushin Il-40