Sikorsky Ilya Muromets

File:Sikorsky Russky Vityaz (Le Grand).jpg]]

The Ilya Muromets (Sikorsky S-22) was designed and constructed by Igor Sikorsky at the Russo-Baltic Carriage Factory (RBVZ) in Saint Petersburg in 1913.{{cite book |last=Finne|first=K.N.|title=Igor Sikorsky: The Russian Years |year=1987|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0-87474-274-9|page=118|others=translated and adapted by Von Hardesty; Carl J. Bobrow and Von Hardesty, eds.}} It was based on his earlier S-21 Russky Vityaz, which started out as the twin-engined Le Grand, then as the twin tandem-engined Bolshoi Baltisky before placing all four of the Baltisky's engines in a tractor configuration along the lower wing's leading edge to create the Russky Vityaz — which had played an important role in the development of Russian aviation and the multi-engine aircraft industries of the world.

The Ilya Muromets was first conceived and built as a luxurious aircraft. It was the first aircraft to have an insulated passenger saloon, containing wicker chairs, a bedroom, a lounge, as well as the first airborne toilet. The aircraft also had heating and electrical lighting.[http://www.aircrafttoday.com/Passenger_Planes.htm "Guide to Passenger Planes."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027170151/http://www.aircrafttoday.com/Passenger_Planes.htm |date=2016-10-27 }} The Aircraft Guide via AircraftToday.com. Retrieved: 25 April 2011. The S-22 cockpit had sufficient space allowing several persons to observe the pilot. Openings on both sides of the fuselage permitted mechanics to climb out onto the lower wings to service the engines during flight. A hatch on the left side provided an entry to the main cabin, behind the cockpit. The main cabin featured two large windows on each side. Further back was a private cabin that included a berth, a small table, and a cabinet. Lighting was provided by a wind-driven generator and heating was supplied by two long engine exhaust pipes that passed through the corners of the cabin. Despite many advancements, the flight instruments on the Ilya Muromets were primitive. They included four tachometers, one per engine, a compass, a crude altimeter and airspeed indicator, two glass U-shaped tubes and a ball for bank indication, and a series of horizontal bars situated vertically on the nose of the fuselage for measuring climbs and descents.{{cite book |last=Finne|first=K.N.|title=Igor Sikorsky: The Russian Years |year=1987|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0-87474-274-9|page=174|others=translated and adapted by Von Hardesty; Carl J. Bobrow and Von Hardesty, eds.}} Later, in the bomber variants, a drift indicator and elementary bombsight were added to aid bombing.Darcey et al. 1995, p. 38.

In 1913 the Ilya Muromets No. 107 flew for the first time, and on 11 February 1914, the second prototype (factory airframe 128) took off for its first demonstration flight with 16 passengers aboard, marking a record for number of passengers carried.Sikorsky 1938, p. 98.{{cite book |last=Finne|first=K.N.|title=Igor Sikorsky: The Russian Years |year=1987|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0-87474-274-9|page=40|others=translated and adapted by Von Hardesty; Carl J. Bobrow and Von Hardesty, eds.}} From 30 June to 12 July 1914, it set a world record by making a trip from Saint Petersburg to Kiev, a distance of some 1200 km, and back. The first leg took 14 hours and 38 minutes, with one landing for fuel at Orsha, and the return one, with a fuel stop at Novosokolniki, took even less time, about 13 hours.Sikorsky 1938, pp. 102–117. According to Sikorsky, "The {{convert|1600|mi|km}} flight proved conclusively the value of large multi-motored airplanes. The Army placed an order for ten four-engined airplanes of the Ilia Mourometz type and the factory personnel was overjoyed by this final approval of the results of two years of hard work."{{cite book |last1=Sikorsky |first1=Igor |title=The Story of the Winged-S |date=1952 |publisher=Dodd, Mead & Company |location=New York |pages=117}} The acclaim received by Sikorsky included Tsar Nicholas II presenting him with the Order of St. Vladimir, Fourth Degree, arranging for an exemption from the wartime draft to allow him to continue his design work, and a promise of a grant worth 100,000 rubles from the State Duma.{{#tag:ref|One of Sikorsky's prized possessions was a personal gift from the Tsar, a diamond-studded gold watch that arrived later in the mail, also in recognition of his achievements with the Ilya Muromets. Sikorski retained the watch throughout his lifetime.|group =N}} During an Imperial military review at Krasnoye Selo in July, Nicholas II decorated and christened the Ilya Muromets Type B Military Prototype, No. 128, the "Kievsky."Finne 1987, pp. 53–55.Windsock International, Vol. 6, #3, May/June 1990, p. 16.

During testing, the Ilya Muromets were fitted with both skis and pontoons in anticipation of new variants being produced. If it had not been for World War I, the Ilya Muromets would probably have started passenger flights that same year.

With the beginning of World War I, Sikorsky was encouraged by the results of the proving flights to redesign the aircraft to become the "Military Ilia Mourometz, Type V, the world's first purpose-designed heavier than air bomber.Loftin, Laurence K. Jr. [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/cover.htm "Part I: The Age of Propellers, Chapter 2: Design Exploration, 1914–18, Heavy Bombers."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529231420/https://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/cover.htm |date=2018-05-29 }} Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft. Washington, D.C.: NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch, 2004. Retrieved: 25 April 2011.{{#tag:ref|Sikorsky used the French transliteration of "Ilya Muromets."Sikorsky 1938, p. 119.|group=N}} The new heavy bomber was slightly smaller and lighter than the Type A. Internal racks carried up to 800 kg of bombs, and positions for up to nine machine guns were added for self-defense in various locations, including the extreme tail. The Muromets (in its S-25 Geh-2 variant, March 1916) was the first aircraft in history to incorporate a tail gunner position.Sergei I. Sikorsky with the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eE-trX3XZawC&dq=Sikorsky%20Ilya%20Muromets%20technical%20drawing&pg=PA31 Images of Aviation: The Sikorsky Legacy], Arcadia Publishing, 2007, Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH, San Francisco CA, 128 p., {{ISBN|978-0-7385-4995-8}} The engines were protected with 5 mm-thick armor. The military version was designed expressly for long-range flying in both bombing and reconnaissance roles.

File:14082007-Bashko.jpg

When WWI broke out, only two Ilya Muromets bombers were completed out of an initial production run of ten aircraft.Darcey et al. 1995, p. 33. In August 1914, the Ilya Muromets was introduced to the Imperial Russian Air Service and on 10 December 1914, the Russians formed their first ten-bomber squadron, slowly increasing the number to 20 by mid-1916.Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201-208 Operations with the heavy bombers began on 12 February 1915 with a raid on German frontline positions.Winchester 2004, p. 224.

German Fighter Pilots often were reluctant to attack Ilya Muromets in the air due to their defensive firepower including the unique tail gun position, and the difficulty in bringing down such a large aircraft. Once engaged, small fighters also found that they were buffeted by propeller wash of the four large engines.Lienhard, John H. [http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2371.htm "Sikorsky's Bomber. Episode No. 2371."] Engines of our Ingenuity, 2008. Retrieved: 25 April 2011.

On 12 September 1916 (Julian calendar), the Russians lost their first Ilya Muromets in a fight with four German Albatros, three of which it managed to shoot down. This was also the only loss to enemy action during the war; three others were damaged in combat, but managed to return to base to be repaired.

83 Ilya Muromets bombers were built for the Russian forces between 1913 and 1918. They recorded a number of firsts in the history of military aviation, like bombing from heavy bombers, performing bomber group raids on enemy targets, night bombing, and photographic bomb damage assessment. They were also the first to develop defensive tactics for a single bomber engaged in an air combat with several enemy fighters.Palmer, Scott W. [http://russiasgreatwar.org/media/military/air_operations.shtml "The Russian Origins of Strategic Air Operations."] Russia's Great War and Revolution: Western Illinois University, 15 February 2011. Retrieved: 25 April 2011.

The Ilya Muromets performed more than 400 sorties and dropped 65 tons of bombs during the war. By 1917, attrition from constant flying had reduced the bombing fleet substantially and only four bombers remained at the front line; the other Ilya Muromets were relegated to trainer duties. The heavy bombers of other participants appeared in 1916, all resembling the Russian pioneer to a certain degree. The Russian government and Sikorsky himself sold the design and production license to the British and French governments. The Germans tried to copy its design, using the fragments of the Ilya Muromets they had shot down over their territory in September 1916. By the end of 1916, the design was generally believed to be at the end of its development cycle, with ensuing modifications to individual aircraft, such as additional armor and weapons, making the aircraft too heavy and not suitable for operational use. Continual changes in the field as well as the factory led to many aircraft being redesignated as a new variant.

After the armistice between Russia and the Central Powers about 30 Ilya Muromets were captured and destroyed.{{sfn|Pinto|1981|p=96}} One Ilya Muromets S-26 D-1 was taken by Polish forces in the city of Babruysk.Belcarz and Peczkowski 2001, p. 72. In October of 1917, Ukrainian forces acquired 16 Ilya Muromets aircraft near the city of Vinnytsia however only six of these were serviceable.Kharuk 2009, p. 11. During summer of 1918 the Ukrainian State counted four Ilya Murmomets aircraft in its inventory.Kharuk 2009, p. 32. A few remaining aircraft were used by the newly formed Soviet Air Forces during the Russian Civil War as trainers and transports.{{sfn|Gunston|1995|p=10}}{{sfn|Pinto|1981|p=96}} Some sources claim that Ilya Muromets aircraft were also used by the White Army during the conflict.{{sfn|Pinto|1981|p=96}}

From 1921 to 1922 Ilya Muromets were used as civil airliners on routes from Moscow to Sevastopol (via Kharkiv) and from Sarapul to Yekaterinburg.{{sfn|Pinto|1981|p=96}}

File:14082007-Illya-Muromec-1.jpg

; Ilya Muromets No. 107

: Experimental airliner, 1913; fitted with four {{cvt|100|hp}} Argus As I engines, later refitted with two {{cvt|200|hp}} Salmson 2M7 and two Argus 115 hp engines.{{sfn|Khajrulin|2018|pp=21–45}}

; Ilya Muromets No. 107 Hydroplane

: Hydroplane modification of airframe No. 107, fitted with two {{cvt|200|hp}} Salmson 2M7 and two Argus 115 hp engines.{{sfn|Khajrulin|2018|pp=21–45}}

; Ilya Muromets Kievsky No. 128

: Experimental airliner, 1914; fitted with two Argus 140 hp engines and two Argus 125 hp engines.{{sfn|Khajrulin|2018|pp=21–45}}

; Ilya Muromets S-22 Type A

: Unarmed trainer, one built 1913, used in Gachina Air School in 1914

; Ilya Muromets S-23 Type B(eh) Bomber

: Bomber. First flight: 1914, in service August 1914, original armament: one 37mm cannon, one 8 mm machine gun; six built (heavily modified).

::Type B No 135, 1914; fitted with four Argus engines of 130 hp each.

::Type B No 136, 1914; fitted with two Salmson engines of 200 hp each and two Salmson engines of 136 hp each.

::Type B No 137, 1914; fitted with two Salmson engines of 200 hp each and two Salmson engines of 136 hp each.

::Type B No 138, 1914; fitted with two Salmson engines of 200 hp each and two Salmson engines of 136 hp each.

::Type B No 139, 1914; fitted with two Salmson engines of 200 hp each and two Salmson engines of 136 hp each.

; Ilya Muromets S-23 V(eh) Series

: Bomber, First flight 1914, fitted with four Sunbeam Crusader V-8 engines of 148 hp each

::Type V No 151, 1915; fitted with four Argus engines of 140 hp each.

::Type V No 159 Trainer aircraft, 1915; fitted with two Sunbeam 225 hp V-8 engines.

::Type V No 167, 1915; fitted with four RBVZ-6 engines of 150 hp each.

::Type V No 182; fitted with four Beardmore 160 hp engines. Aircraft later rebuilt as a G-1.Woodman 2000, p. 27.

; Ilya Muromets S-24 G-1 Series

:Bomber, First flight 1914; 18 built.

; Ilya Muromets S-25 Series

: Bomber, First flight 1915; 55 built.

; Ilya Muromets S-25 G-2 "Russobalt"

: Bomber, fitted with four RBVZ-6 engines of 150 hp, 170 kg bombload, five MG.

; Ilya Muromets S-25 G-3 "Renobalt" Series

: Bomber, fitted with two Renault engines of 220 hp each and two RBVZ-6 engines of 150 hp, 190 kg bombload, six MG

; Ilya Muromets S-26 D-1 DIM Series

: Bomber, First flight 1916, fitted with four Sunbeam engines of 150 hp; three built.

; Ilya Muromets S-27 E (Yeh-2) Series

: Bomber, First flight 1916, fitted with four Renault engines of 220 hp each; two built.Sikorsky 2007, p. 10.

;{{flag|Russian Empire|1914}}/{{flag|Russian Republic|1917}}

• Imperial Russian Air Service

;{{flag|Russian SFSR|1918}}

• Soviet Air Forces

;{{POL}}

• Polish Air Force

;{{flagicon image|Flag_of_Ukraine_(1917–1921).svg|Ukrainian State}} Ukrainian State

• Ukrainian Air Force

• Soviet Union Civil Air Fleet

File:Ilya Muromets at Central Air Force Museum - 130513 - Vasters 2186 (8911084051).jpg

One Ilya Muromets S-22 replica exists{{cite web|title=Central Air Force Museum|url=http://www.monino.ru/index.sema?a=articles&pid=2&id=25|access-date=28 October 2014|location=Monino}} in the Monino Air Force Museum near Moscow built in 1970.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Cochrane, Dorothy and Von Hardesty 1989, p. 94.

|prime units?=met

|crew=8{{sfn|Davies|1992|p=10}}

|length m=18.8

|length note=

|upper span m=34.5

|upper span note=

|lower span m=26.6

|lower span note=

|height m=

|height note=

|wing area sqm=220

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=5000

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=7460

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{cvt|920|kg|0}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=4

|eng1 name=Renault 12F

|eng1 type=V-12 water-cooled piston engines

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 note={{cvt|220|hp|kW}}

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=fixed-pitch propellers

|prop dia m=

|prop dia note=

|max speed kmh=130

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed kmh=

|minimum control speed note=

|range km=560

|range note=

|combat range km=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=4.4 hours

|ceiling m=3200

|ceiling note=

|g limits=|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

• 9 min 24 s to {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
• 26 min to {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
• 68 min to {{convert|3000|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|wing loading kg/m2=34.2

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|power/mass={{cvt|0.053|hp/lb|kW/kg|3|abbr=on|order=flip}}

|guns=8 machine guns{{sfn|Davies|1992|p=10}}

|bombs=Up to {{cvt|800|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}Pinto 1981, p. 89. with individual bomb-sizes up to {{cvt|410|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gunston|1995|p=10}}

}}

• List of Russian inventions

{{aircontent

|related=

• Sikorsky Russky Vityaz

|similar aircraft=

• Wanamaker Triplane
• Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
• Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV
• AEG R.I
• Handley Page V/1500

|lists=

}}

{{Reflist|group=N}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914–1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. {{ISBN|0-517-41021-4}}.
• Belcarz, Bartlomiej and Peczkowski, Robert. White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918-1939. Hikoki, 2001. {{ISBN|1902109732}}.
• Cochrane, Dorothy and Von Hardesty. The Aviation Careers of Igor Sikorsky. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press, 1989. {{ISBN|978-0-295-96916-9}}.
• Darcey, Alan, Thomas Kulikov and Victor Durkots. The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I. Mountain View, California: Flying Machine Press, 1995. {{ISBN|978-1-891268-07-6}}.
• {{cite book |last=Davies |first=R. E. G. |title=Aeroflot an Airline and its Aircraft an Illustrated History of the Worlds Largest Airline |year=1992 |location=Rockville, Maryland |publisher=Paladwr Press |isbn=0-9626483-1-0}}
• Delear, Frank J. Igor Sikorsky: Three Careers in Aviation (Air & Space Series, No 24). New York: Bantam, 1992. {{ISBN|978-0-553-29701-0}}
• Durkota, Alan E., T. Darcey and V. Kulikov. The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I. Boulder, Colorado: Flying Machines Press, 1995. {{ISBN|0-9637110-2-4}}.
• Finne, K. N. Igor Sikorsky: The Russian Years. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, 1987. {{ISBN|0-87474-274-9}}.
• Finne, K. N. Русские воздушные богатыри И. Сикорского (Russian Air Warriors: I. Sikorsky) (Russian). Moscow: AST, Harvest, 2005. {{ISBN|985-13-2878-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Gunston |first=Bill |title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995 |year=1995 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |isbn=1-85532-405-9}}
• Kharuk, Andriĭ. Вiйськово-повiтрянi сили Украi:ни,1917-1920 (Wings of Ukraine: Ukrainian Air Force 1917 - 1920) (Ukrainian). Tempora, 2009. {{ISBN|9789668201714}}.
• Lake, Jon. The Great Book of Bombers: The World's Most Important Bombers from World War I to the Present Day. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing Company, 2002. {{ISBN|0-7603-1347-4}}.
• Mackworth-Praed, Ben. Aviation: The Pioneer Years. London: Studio Editions, 1996. {{ISBN|1-85170-349-7}}.
• Massenkov, Vladamir I., Boris Urinovski and Vadim I. Suvorov. Russia in ICAO to the 50th Anniversary of ICAO. Moscow: 1994. No ISBN.
• Miller, Russell. The Soviet Air Force at War. Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life books, 1983. {{ISBN|0-8094-3371-0}}.
• Pember, Harry. Sikorsky Aircraft: From a Vision to Reality and Beyond. Stratford, Connecticut: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 1999. No ISBN.
• {{cite book |last=Pinto |first=Renato |title=Perfiles Historia De La Aviacion |trans-title=History of Aviation |lang=es |volume=I |year=1981 |publisher=Viscontea |location= |url=https://archive.org/details/historiadelaaviacionperfilestomo1viscontea1981 |isbn=}}
• Roustam-Bek-Tageev, LCol Boris. [http://www.alexanderpalace.org/aerialrussia/ Aerial Russia: The Romance of The Giant Aeroplane.] Austin, Texas: Alexander Palace Time Machine (Bob Atchison), 2011, Internet reprint of original 1917 edition.
• Sikorsky, Igor. Story of the Winged-S: An Autobiography by Igor Sikorsky. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1938. No ISBN.
• Sikorsky, Sergei I. The Sikorsky Legacy (Images of Aviation). Charleston, South Carolina: Acadia Publishing, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-4995-8}}.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. London: Studio Editions, Reprint 2001. {{ISBN|1-85170-347-0}}.
• Winchester, Jim. "Sikorsky Ilya Muromets." Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes (Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2004. {{ISBN|1-84013-641-3}}.
• Woodman, Harry. Sikorsky Ilya Muromets Type Veh, (Windsock Datafile Special No.3 – Classics of WW1 Aviation Volume 3). Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Productions Limited, 2000. {{ISBN|978-1-902207-13-1}}.
• {{cite book

| last=Khajrulin

| first=M.A.

| title=Legendarnyj "Ilja Muromets". Pervyj tjazhelyj bombardirovschik

| publisher=Jauza

| location=Moscow

| year=2018

| language=ru

| isbn=978-5-04-091056-4

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons category|Sikorsky S-22 Ilya Muromets}}

• [http://wwiaviation.com/bombers_Russia.html WWI Russian Bombers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225200448/http://wwiaviation.com/bombers_Russia.html |date=2018-02-25 }}
• [http://www.wio.ru/ww1a/im.htm some data on an Ilya Muromets]
• [http://www.moninoaviation.com/19a.html Reconstruction of an Ilya Muromets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406005833/http://www.moninoaviation.com/19a.html |date=2009-04-06 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311122417/http://infoart.udm.ru/pictures/dak/muzb_03.jpg Image of a scale model]
• [http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=584 Sikorsky Ilya Muromets (Series) Bomber/Reconnaissance Aircraft]
• {{cite journal |date=7 February 1914 |title=Sikorsky's Stupendous Biplane |journal=Scientific American Supplement |volume=LXXVII |issue=1988 |page=91 |hdl=2027/umn.31951d00343389d?urlappend=%3Bseq=99 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951d00343389d?urlappend=%3Bseq=99 }}
• {{cite journal |date=15 March 1914 |title=Les Aérobus: Un nouvel appareil géant de Sykorsky |trans-title=The Aerobus: A new giant aircraft from Sykorsky |journal=L'Aérophile |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=137–138 |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65850821/f37.item |language=fr }}
• {{cite journal |author1= Joanidi, J. |date=20 March 1914 |title=Der Doppeldecker "Ilija Murometz" |trans-title=The Biplane "Ilya Muromets" |journal=Der Motorwagen |volume=XVII |issue=VIII |pages=181–182 |hdl=2027/mdp.39015080016242?urlappend=%3Bseq=193 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015080016242?urlappend=%3Bseq=193 |language=de }}

{{Sikorsky Aircraft}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1910s Russian bomber aircraft

Ilya Muromets

Category:Russian inventions

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