Lisunov Li-2 - Red Star Vol. 27 [Paperback]

Yefim Gordon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1857802284 | ISBN-13: 978-1857802283 | Publication Date: May 19, 2006

When they bought a manufacturing license for the DC-3 in 1935, the Soviet aircraft industry's decision makers had no way of knowing the place the Douglas airliner would come to occupy in aviation's hall of fame. Yet, even less did they know of the part the Soviet spin-off would play in the nation's aviation history. Suitably adapted to make use of Russian engines and structural materials, the DC-3 entered production as the PS-84; and gradually the design drifted further apart from the US original. In 1941 production was moved from Moscow to Tashkent to escape the advancing German troops and the aircraft was redesignated Li2. The Li-2 served an innumerable multitude of tasks, including the night bomber role during the war and flights in support of Soviet polar research in the post-war years. This addition to the ever-popular Red Star series describes all known versions of the PS-84/Li-2 and gives operational details as it explored what is probably the least-known aspect of the history of one of the world's best-known airliners. Four pages of line drawings are included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Yefim Gordon is one of Russia’s leading aviation writers and publishers.  He is the author of many books on Soviet aviation and currently lives in Moscow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Midland Publishing Ltd. (May 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857802284
• ISBN-13: 978-1857802283
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,103,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Review of a Rare Variant, August 29, 2006

By 

R. Wargo - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lisunov Li-2 - Red Star Vol. 27 (Paperback)

This is the only book I know of on the Li-2. It is very well done with 127 pages of photos and text. There are also 18 color photos and three pages of color profiles at the end of book. All variants are covered, including the Night Bomber versions. An excellent addition to my library on the world's greatest aircraft, the DC-3!

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book available on the "Soviet DC-3", August 9, 2006

By 

Higgins (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lisunov Li-2 - Red Star Vol. 27 (Paperback)

Perhaps the least-explored aspect of the Douglas DC-3's history is its license manufacture and use by the Soviet Union as the PS-84/Lisunov Li-2. This lack is highlighted by the fact that of the total worldwide DC-3 production of 15,000 to 16,000 examples, Russian variants accounted for 5,000 or so of these and continued to be built until 1953, nine years after the line had closed in the US. This book takes a big step toward filling that gap in our knowledge. Like the other books in the "Red Star" series it leaves little to the imagination, being well illustrated with photos (most rare or unpublished in the West) and high-quality line drawings.

The authors take us through the design team's struggle to redesign the airplane for Soviet materials and manufacturing methods, including converting all the measurements to metric. Considering that the DC-3 was one of the most advanced airplanes of its day this more challenging than might be expected. Many of the Li-2 variants have a fairly close US analog, being similar in purpose to such C-47 models as the TC-47 navigator trainer, VC-47 VIP transport , and EC-47 "Electric Gooney Bird." Others are completely different, such as the night bomber version of the PS-84 (which saw extensive and effective use in WW II) and the glass-nosed Li-2PR fishery reconnaissance aircraft.

Considering the DC-3's ubiquity even after being superseded by later types it would have been reasonable to expect something similar to have happened with the Li-2, but it appears that at least part of the reason the Li-2 is so little known is that its post-WW II heyday encompassed the coldest years of the Cold War and that by the time detente rolled around it was replaced in service by the "Annushka" (Antonov An-2) and hand-me-down Ilyushin Il-14s. Alas, at the time of the book's publication there was only one Li-2 known to be flying. Home-based in Hungary, it was restored to airliner configuration and colors and could be seen on the airshow circuit in Europe. At a time when some DC-3s are getting a new lease on life via the Basler turbine conversion, it appears such a renaissance will not be possible for the Li-2, unless there is a cache of airworthy airframes somewhere like China.

It almost goes without saying that this is the best book available to the English reader on the PS-84/Li-2, and as such adds a whole new dimension to our knowledge of the DC-3, arguably the single most influential and important transport aircraft design in aviation history.