Polikarpov Po-2

what is it?

The Polikarpov Po-2 (also U-2 before 1944, for its initial uchebnyy, 'training', role as a flight instruction aircraft) is an all-weather multirole Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik (Russian: Кукурузник, 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. As of 1978, it remained in production for a longer period of time than any other Soviet-era aircraft.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 11.4 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 152 km/htop speed
• range 630 kmwithout refuelling
• size 1,350 kgmax take-off weight
• built 33,528made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 99 years ago, in 1927.
• 🚗Wingspan of 11.4 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1927-06-24

introduced

1928

number built

33,528

role

utility biplane

makers

Polikarpov

engines

1× Shvetsov M-11D / Shvetsov M-11

crew

2

length

8.2 m

wingspan

11.4 m

height

3.1 m

max take-off weight

1,350 kg

top speed

152 km/h

cruise speed

110 km/h

range

630 km

ceiling

3,000 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.