This thread is designed to bring to note a rather impressive aircraft from WWII, the Ilyushin IL-2 "Sturmovik". As the IL-2 served on the Eastern Front during WWII, it is less well known in western circles than the P-51, Bf-109 or any of the Spitfire variants. The IL-2 was designed for one thing only, ground attack. At this it performed quite well, earning the name "Black Death" from German troops. Basics: The IL-2 was the Soviet WWII equivalent to our A-10, in other ways than just the function. The IL-2 was designed to place the pilot, the engine and the...