'Pegas' '111', variants N°01, N°03 and N°04 by D.L.Tomashevich

27k b/w 'Pegas' N°03, "History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.2 p.269

This aircraft stays far apart from any other Soviet aircraft of the second half of the WWII. It was built as a single-seat ground attack aircraft. Simple handling put minimum demands on pilot's skills. Poor overall flight performance was compensated by maximum protection of the pilot. And by extremely cheap materials and technology, allowing to built the '111' in enormous numbers.

64k b/w drawing of the 'Pegas' N°01 in biplane configuration, "History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.2 p.269

Low quality construction plywood, roof cover tan, pine wood, soft steel (joints and armor), angular shape made '111' very easy to built even for least skilled workers. Duralumin was used only on engines cowling. Pilot cockpit was protected against 20mm shells, windshield - against 7.62mm ammo. Main external fuel tanks were dropable, with internal armored tanks providing fuel for 30min flight. Pilot cockpit construction provided very good down-forward sight, special in the N°04 configuration.

131k drawing of 'Pegas' N°03 and N°04, "History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.2 p.269

Interestingly, such a primitive aircraft could fly at incidence angle up to 20° without stall. Simple fixed undercarriage was tested during harsh landing with both engines cut out. Aircraft (carrying 500kg bomb) almost fall on the runway, turned 'tail forward' on touchdown, but received no damage!

Aircraft could carry single 500kg or two 250kg bombs. Container for smaller bombs inside fuselage was also considered.

Five aircraft were built in Siberia. The first was even a biplane. After trials project was abandoned - advantages could not overcome all its shortcomings.