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The 'Lisunov Li-2', originally designated 'PS-84' (NATO reporting name Cab), was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3, produced by the GAZ-84 works near Moscow, and subsequently at GAZ-34 in Tashkent. The project was directed by aeronautical engineer Boris Pavlovich Lisunov.
An original Li-2 can be identified by the 4-bladed ASh-62IR propellers as in the image on this page, although many later Li-2's appear with three-bladed props.^[3] Unlike the DC-3, military versions of the Li-2 also had bomb racks and a dorsal turret (see photograph).

Contents

Development

Operational service

Versions

Operators

Military

Civil

Specifications (Li-2)

References

Development

The Soviet Union received its first DC-2 already in 1935, and the Soviets also managed to purchase 21 DC-3s before World War II (possibly through a third country). 18 of these had been ordered on 11 April 1936. The Soviets obtained a production license for free on 15 July 1936. Lisunov spent two years at the Douglas Aircraft Company, between 1938 and 1940 and modified the C-47 into a Soviet version, which was given the designation PS-84 (Passashirsky Samolyot Nomer 84). The aircraft was re-designated the Lisunov Li-2 in 1942. The builders documented over 1,200 engineering changes from the Douglas engineering drawings. No small task was changing all dimensions from inches to metric units, handled by Vladimir Myasischev.^[4] Some of the changes were substantial, such as the use of the Russian ASh-621R engines. The passenger door was moved to the right side with a top-opening cargo door on the left side in place of the original passenger door. The structural skins were slightly heavier since the metric skin gauges were not exact duplicates of the American alloy sheet metal. Standard Russian metric hardware was different, and the various steel substructures such as engine mounts and landing gear, wheels and tires were also quite different from the original design. The Russian standard design practice usually mandated fully shuttered engines in order to cope with the extreme temperatures.

Operational service

When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, many of the PS-84s were taken into military use, and were equipped with a 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, and later with a 12.7 mm UBK heavy machine gun. The aircraft was used for transport, partisan supply, bombing and also as ambulance aircraft. A version called 'Li-2VV' (''Vojenny Variant'' = military variant) had a redesigned nose for extra defensive armament, it could also carry up to four 250 kg bombs under the wings. Further, smaller bombs could be carried inside the fuselage, and were thrown out from the freight hatch by the crew.
More than 6,000 aircraft were produced of all Li-2 versions and it saw extensive use in Eastern Europe until the 1960s. There were many versions, among other airliner, cargo, military transport, reconnaissance, aerial photography, parachute drop, bomber and high altitude versions. The Li-2 also saw extensive service in the Chinese Air Force in the 1940s and 1950s.
Several airliners operated Lisunov Li-2s, among others Aeroflot, CAAK, CSA, LOT, Malév and Tarom.

Versions

;PS-84: Original passenger airliner, equipped with 14-28 seats. Somewhat smaller span and higher empty weight, and it was also equipped with lower-powered engines compared to the DC-3. The cargo door was also transposed to the right side of the fuselage.
;Li-2:Military transport aircraft with defensive armament (designation started from 17 September 1942).
;Li-2D: Paratroop transport version (1942)
;Li-2VV: Bomber version (1942)
;Li-2V: High-altitude weather surveillance version of the Li-2.
;Li-3: Yugoslavian version equipped with American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines (similar to the DC-3)
;Li-2T: Polish bomber training aircraft

Operators

Military

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★ Czechoslovakia

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★ Democratic Republic of Vietnam

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Civil

★ Aeroflot

★ CAAK

★ China National Aviation Corporation

★ CSA

★ LOT

★ Malév

★ Tarom

Specifications (Li-2)

References

★ Arthur Pearcy. ''Douglas Propliners DC-1 - DC-7''. Airlife Publishing Ltd., Shrewsbury, England. ISBN 185310261X

★ R.E.G.Davies, ''Aeroflot''. Paladwr Press. Rockville, MD, USA. ISBN 0962648310

★ Jane's All The World's Aircraft. Jane's Information Group. 1945-1946

★ Bill Gunston. Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Osprey Publishing Limited. 2000. ISBN 1 84176 096 X
1. Pearcy, Arthur: ''Douglas Propliners DC-1 - DC-7'', Airlife Publishing Ltd., Shewsbury, England
2. R.E.G.Davies, R.E.G.: ''Aeroflot: An airline and its aircraft'', Paladwr Press, Rockville, MD, USA
3. Douglas DC-2 and DC-3 History
4. V.M.Myasichev