About This Content

The U-2 aircraft was designed under N.N. Polikarpov’s supervision from 1923 to 1928 as a simple, sturdy, and easy to handle two-seater aircraft for flight schools. Production began in 1929. Flight instructors and pilot candidates liked the plane because it was forgiving of the sorts of mistakes pilot trainees typically made. The U-2 was hard to stall and easy to recover with predictable behavior at high angles of attack. It also had a low landing speed which left a large margin of safety for young pilots. Many future aces learned to fly in this 'flying school-desk' as it was the first aircraft flown by the majority of VVS pilots during the war.

Its military version known as the U-2VS was mainly used as a low altitude light bomber and recon plane. The military variant could carry up to 300kg of bombs and was equipped with a defensive 7.62mm ShKAS machine gun operated by the observer/radioman. One modification allowed it to carry a wing-mounted forward facing ShKAS gun. It was a very hard target for enemy fighters at low altitudes because of its low speed and maneuverability, resulting in its relatively high survivability rate. It was used by the famous all female "Night Witches" of the 46th Guards night bomber regiment which harassed German troops when the sun went down. The U-2 was later renamed the Po-2 to honor N.N. Polikarpov after his passing in 1944.

Right now it is usable only in Quick Mission Builder and Multiplayer modes. In future update, you'll be able to fly it in Career mode during Battle of Stalingrad and Battle of Kuban timeframes.

• Bombs: Up to six 50 kg general purpose bombs "FAB-50sv" or two 104 kg general purpose bomb "FAB-100M".
  
• Height: 2.9 m
  
• Length: 8.17 m
  
• Wingspan (upper wing): 11.4 m
  
• Wingspan (lower wing): 10.65 m
  
• Wing surface: 33.15 m^2

Modifications

• Wing-mounted 7.62mm ShKAS machinegun with 500 rounds (27 kg weight increase, 3 km/h estimated speed loss)
  
• Rear turret with ShKAS 7.62mm machine gun with 400 rounds (34 kg weight increase, 2 km/h estimated speed loss)
  
• Radio transmitter RSI-4 (12.6 kg weight increase)
  
• Horizon indicator AGP-2 (2 kg weight increase)
  
• Landing light for night flights (2 kg weight increase, 1 km/h estimated speed loss)
  
• Navigation lights (4 kg weight increase)

Skins

• Standard pattern.
  
• 598th LBAP, 16th Air Army, Stalingrad, November 1942.
  
• 46th Guards NBAP, 4th Air Army, Kuban, April 1943.
  
• Early war U-2VS, summer 1941.
  
• Liaison aircraft of Normandie-Niemen Fighter Regiment, 1st Air Army, September 1943.
  
• 2nd NBAP «Kraków», Polish First Army Air Force, April 1944.

Technical details

Indicated stall speed in flight configuration: 63..70 km/h

Dive speed limit: 240 km/h
Maximum load factor: 6.5 G
Stall angle of attack in flight configuration: 19°

Maximum true airspeed at sea level, engine mode - Takeoff, 1750 RPM: 151.7 km/h
Maximum true airspeed at 500 m, engine mode - Takeoff, 1740 RPM: 150.3 km/h
Maximum true airspeed at 1000 m, engine mode - Takeoff, 1730 RPM: 148.9 km/h

Service ceiling: 3700 m
Climb rate:
500 m — 3 min. 5 sec.
1000 m — 6 min. 35 sec.
1500 m — 10 min. 40 sec.
2000 m — 15 min. 24 sec.
2500 m — 21 min. 15 sec.
3000 m — 28 min. 35 sec.
3500 m — 38 min. 20 sec.

Maximum performance turn: 22..23 s, at 105..115 km/h IAS.

Flight endurance at 500 m: 5 h, at 90 km/h IAS, 1300 RPM.

Takeoff speed: 75..85 km/h
Glideslope speed: 100 km/h
Landing speed: 60..70 km/h
Landing angle: 12°

Note 1: the data provided is for the international standard atmosphere (ISA).
Note 2: flight performance ranges are given for possible aircraft mass ranges.
Note 3: maximum speeds, climb rates and turn times are given for standard aircraft mass.
Note 4: climb rates are given for full-throttle mode and 95 km/h IAS.
Note 5: turn rate is given for 1400..1500 RPM with roll 43°..45°.

Engine:
Model: M-11D

Maximum power in Takeoff mode (1750 RPM) at sea level: no less than 125 HP

Maximum power in Nominal mode (1700 RPM) at sea level: 118 HP
Maximum power in Nominal mode (1700 RPM) at 500 m: 110 HP
Maximum power in Nominal mode (1700 RPM) at 1000 m: 105 HP

Maximum power in Continuous mode (1640 RPM) at sea level: 107 HP
Maximum power in Continuous mode (1640 RPM) at 500 m: 100 HP
Maximum power in Continuous mode (1640 RPM) at 1000 m: 95 HP

Engine modes:
Takeoff/Emergency (5 min) : 1750/1840 RPM
Continuous/Nominal (unlimited): 1640/1700 RPM

Oil rated temperature in engine output: 70..80 °C
Oil maximum temperature in engine output: 115 °C

Airscrew:
Type 257, D 2.4 m, pitch 1.524 m

Empty weight: 748 kg
Minimum weight (no ammo, 10% fuel): 927 kg
Standard weight: 1007 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 1350 kg
Fuel load: 90 kg / 126 l
Useful load: 350 kg

Operational features

• There is no engine supercharger.
  
• The fuel mixture control is manual: the mixture should be leaned as the altitude increases for optimal engine functioning and to reduce the fuel consumption while flying level.
  
• The fixed pitch propeller requires controlling the engine RPM manually.
  
• The tail skid is linked to the rudder (8° maximum tilt).
  
• There are no wheel brakes.
  
• There is no electric generator in the default aircraft configuration, so electric lights and Pitot tube warmer (which consumes up to 226W) are fed from a 24V battery (10 Ah capacity at 1 A current in standard conditions). To power the RSI-4 radio transmitter, GS-10-350 electric generator is installed along with it.
  
• Please note that with all possible modifications and full fuel the total aircraft weight is 1390 kg, more than its maximum takeoff weight.