Search Results

This paper surveys the development and, to a lesser extent, the operational history of anti-armor aircraft of the German Luftwaffe and the Soviet Red Air Force during World War II. Though there were numerous types of specialized ground attack aircraft developed and used during the First World War, this category of combat aircraft received little attention until the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 and underscored the vitally important role of the ground attack aircraft. This paper examines the development of a select group of ground attack aircraft: those specialized and designed for anti-armor operations. More specifically, the focus is on those aircraft used in support of the vast tank battles on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. The primary aircraft discussed are the Henschel Hs 129 Panzerknacker and the Ilyushin II-2 Shturmovik, which were built in huge numbers.

Flying wing aircraft predate the First World War. The flying wing theoretically offers both aerodynamic efficiency and structural simplicity. Early efforts to develop the flying wing concept led to an increased interest in tailless and semi-tailless aircraft that eventually led to delta wings and swept wing planforms. Early flying wings were plagued by stability and control problems that have not been fully addressed until recently. The flying wing approach, however, still appears to be suitable only for aircraft that do not need to have high maneuverability and agility capabilities, such as long-range bombers or perhaps large transports. This paper surveys the long history of attempts to create flying wing aircraft.