https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/06/20/another-ilyushin-il-2-shturmovik-flies-in-russia/ The latest in warbirds and historical aviation Fri, 23 Jun 2017 03:04:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2017/06/20/another-ilyushin-il-2-shturmovik-flies-in-russia/#comment-40223 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 03:04:09 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=3267#comment-40223 Amazing to see another one in the air! Always think of that Erich Hartmann story when he was flying a combat patrol and saw 3 Shturmoviks in a tight vic formation flying below. Telling his “Staffel” to remain upstairs as top cover, he rolled inverted and dived down behind the Russians. His fellow pilots watched him make one pass across and behind the Shturmoviks before zoom climbing back to join the them. The Shturmoviks continued for a moment before wobbling out of formation as all three propellers froze. Hartmann had nailed all three Shturmovik’s huge belly coolant radiators…… in just one firing pass…..this was often the difference between other pilots and the air aces. Not so much flying ability…..the aces could shoot!

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