Ilyushin Il-28 (Beagle)
I first came across the “Beagle” when I was a young boy and a very keen builder of Airfix model kits. It was the images in the Airfix Magazines of this kit that always fascinated me. Unfortunately, my pocket money could only ever stretch to a Series 1 kit, and the Beagle was (if I remember correctly) a Series 4.
History
Development began in late 1947 to meet a requirement for a tactical bomber that could carry a 6,600lb (3,000kg) bomb load, and have a speed of 500mph (800kmh).
With a crew of 3 (pilot, navigator/bombardier and rear gunner), deliveries to the Soviet airforce started in early 1950.
The Il-28 has seen combat in the Middle East during the Arab-Isreali wars, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Nigeria and the Yemen.
Also licence built by Czechoslovakia as the B-28. Plus copied by China as various types of H-5 (exported as B5).
Withdrawn from the Soviet Airforce in the 1980s, however, many continue to be operated to date (December 2014), specifically by North Korea.
Versions
Il-28
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28U Trainer
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28R Tactical Reconnaissance
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28RTR ELINT
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28REB ECM
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28T Torpedo Bomber
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28N Nuclear Bomber
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28PL Anti Submarine Warfare
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28Sh Ground Attack (Shturmovik)
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28ZA Weather reconnaissance (civilian)
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Il-28M and Il-28BM Target tugs
| Speed | Weight | Span | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 478mph (cruise), 560mph (max) | 28,417lb (empty), 46,738lb (max) | 70ft 4.5in | 57ft 11in |
Users
| Country | Service | Model | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Airforce | Il-28 and Il-28U | 1957 to 1990s |
| Albania | Airforce | Il-28 | 1957 to 1971 |
| Algeria | Airforce | Il-28 | 1962 to ? |
| Bulgaria | Airforce | Il-28 and Il-28U | 1955 to 1974 |
| People’s Republic of China | Airforce and Navy | Il-28 and Il-28U plus H5 variants | 1960s to 2011 |
| Cuba | Airforce | Il-28 | 1962 to 1962 |
| Czechoslovakia | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U, Il-28RTR plus B-228 and CB-228 | 1954 to 1973 |
| East Germany | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U | 1954 to 1982 |
| Egypt | Airforce | Il-28 | 1956 to 1980s(?) |
| Finland | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28R | 1960s to 1981 |
| Hungary | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U, Il-28R | 1955 to ? |
| Indonesia | Airforce | Il-28 | 1961 to 1970 |
| Iraq | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U | 1961 to 1991 |
| Morocco | Airforce | Il-28 | ? |
| Nigeria | Airforce | Il-28 | ? |
| North Korea | Airforce | Il-28 plus H5 versions | 1960s to date |
| Vietnam (North) | Airforce | Il-28 | ? |
| South Yemen | Airforce | Il-28 | ? |
| Poland | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U, Il-28R | 1952 to 1977 |
| Romania | Airforce | Il-28, Il-28U, Il-28R | 1955 to 2001 |
| Soviet Union | Airforce and Air Defence Force | Il-28 all versions | 1950 to 1980s |
| Syria | Airforce | Il-28 | 1960s to 1980s |
