Sikorsky Ilya Muromets

Ilya Muromets
General information
TypeAirliner, heavy bomber
National originRussian Empire
ManufacturerRusso-Baltic Wagon Factory
Designer
Primary userImperial Russian Air Service
Number built85+
History
Manufactured1913 to 1917
Introduction date1914
First flight1913
Retired1922
Developed fromSikorsky Russky Vityaz

The Sikorsky Ilya Muromets (Russian: Сикорский Илья Муромец) (versions S-22, S-23, S-24, S-25, S-26 and S-27) was a class of Russian pre-World War I large four-engine commercial airliners and military heavy bombers used during World War I by the Russian Empire.[1] The aircraft series was named after Ilya Muromets, a hero from Slavic mythology.[2] The series was based on the Russky Vityaz or Le Grand, the world's first four-engined aircraft, designed by Igor Sikorsky.[3] The Ilya Muromets aircraft as it appeared in 1913 was a revolutionary design, intended for commercial service with its spacious fuselage incorporating a passenger saloon and washroom on board. The Ilya Muromets was the world's first multi-engine aircraft in production and at least sixty were built.[4] During World War I, it became the first four-engine bomber to equip a dedicated strategic bombing unit.[5] This heavy bomber was unrivaled in the early stages of the war, as the Central Powers had no aircraft capable enough to rival it until much later.[6]

  1. ^ Woodman, Harry. "Ilya Muromets." Airfix Magazine, May 1985, p. 352.
  2. ^ Lake 2002, p. 31.
  3. ^ Sikorsky 1938, p. 95.
  4. ^ Sikorsky 1938, p. 96.
  5. ^ Massenkov et al. 1994, p. 23.
  6. ^ Mackworth-Praed 1996, p. 202.