Back Polikàrpov Po-2 Catalan Polikarpov Po-2 Czech Polikarpov Po-2 Danish Polikarpow Po-2 German Polikarpov Po-2 Spanish پولیکارپوف پو-۲ Persian Polikarpov Po-2 Finnish Polikarpov Po-2 French פוליקרפוב Po-2 HE Polikarpov Po-2 Croatian
| Po-2 "Kukuruznik" | |
|---|---|
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| 1944 Polikarpov Po-2 of The Shuttleworth Collection, United Kingdom | |
| Role | Utility biplane |
| Manufacturer | Polikarpov |
| First flight | 24 June 1927[1] |
| Introduction | 1929 |
| Primary users | Soviet Air Force Aeroflot DOSAAF |
| Produced | 1928-1959[2] |
| Number built | 20,000–30,000[2] |
The Polikarpov Po-2 (also U-2, for its initial uchebnyy, 'training', role as a flight instruction aircraft) served as an all-weather multirole Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik (Russian: Кукурузник,[3][N 1] NATO reporting name "Mule"). The reliable, uncomplicated design of the Po-2 made it an ideal trainer aircraft, as well as doubling as a low-cost ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, psychological warfare and liaison aircraft during war, proving to be one of the most versatile light combat types to be built in the Soviet Union.[4] As of 1978 it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other Soviet-era aircraft.[4]
Production figures for Polikarpov U-2 and Po-2 bombers and trainers combined are between 20,000 and 30,000[2] with production ending as early as 1952.[2] Precise figures are hard to obtain since low-rate production by small repair shops and aero clubs is believed to have continued until 1959.[5]
- ^ Bargatinov, Valery. Баргатинов Валерий: Крылья России ("Wings of Russia") Moscow, 2005.
- ^ a b c d "Soviet Polikarpov U-2 bomber, trainer; Polikarpov Po-2 bomber, trainer." Archived 2014-07-03 at the Wayback Machine wwiivehicles.com. Retrieved: 30 November 2012.
- ^ Gunston 1995, p. 292.
- ^ a b Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 214.
- ^ Century of Flight: Polikarpov U 2 Po 2. Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 30 November 2012.
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