Which aircraft is the most produced in history?
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Which aircraft is the most produced in history?
OK folks, here's a question for you:
Which aircraft is the most produced in history?
(A toast of vodka to the first person to get it right.)
Which aircraft is the most produced in history?
(A toast of vodka to the first person to get it right.)

Self Loathing Froggy
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Rotornut
Guess you were thinking of the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik (36,163 produced).
Na zdarovye !
Looks like the spamcan's big brother has overperformed it nowadays.
A toast of vodka to the first person to get it right.
Na zdarovye !
Looks like the spamcan's big brother has overperformed it nowadays.

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C172 39600+, amazing, and still not a nice airplane (its 'merican so its not an aeroplane) to fly
\'nuther question:
Which aero engines have highest production numbers?
A. piston
B turbine
Think I know the answer to A, no idea about B!

\'nuther question:
Which aero engines have highest production numbers?
A. piston
B turbine
Think I know the answer to A, no idea about B!

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Bre901,
Yes, that's exactly the figure I found in Collins/Jane's Aircraft of World War II, published in 1995, describing the Il-2 as "the most produced aircraft in history".
However, I don't doubt the figures for the 172 so I guess it's a toast of vodka and bourbon to all of you. By the way I was really surprised to learn about the Shturmovik. I never would have guessed that the Russians produced so many planes.
Yes, that's exactly the figure I found in Collins/Jane's Aircraft of World War II, published in 1995, describing the Il-2 as "the most produced aircraft in history".
However, I don't doubt the figures for the 172 so I guess it's a toast of vodka and bourbon to all of you. By the way I was really surprised to learn about the Shturmovik. I never would have guessed that the Russians produced so many planes.

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TD&H
Not sure what you have in mind for the piston, but you would think it might be the Mikulin AM-38 in the Il-2.
My guess on the turbine would be the PT6 family. Haven't done any searching though.
Not sure what you have in mind for the piston, but you would think it might be the Mikulin AM-38 in the Il-2.
My guess on the turbine would be the PT6 family. Haven't done any searching though.
Last edited by Specnut727; 4th Nov 2004 at 20:06.

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The one that surprised me when I heard about it years ago was the Messerschmitt 109 - Nazi Germany turned out around 35,000 of them; not a bad show when you consider that in the last couple of years of that regime's existence, the aircraft factories were being repeatedly bombed and the resources available were rapidly running out.

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BeauMan
It was an amazing feat. In fact, according to my figures, Germany produced 39,807 aircraft and 54,600 aircraft engines in 1944 - more than in any other year during the war. I understand it was largely due to Speer. The dark side of it was that they used a lot of slave labour, often in terrible conditions such as camp Dora, a notorious underground facility in the Harz Mountains.
It was an amazing feat. In fact, according to my figures, Germany produced 39,807 aircraft and 54,600 aircraft engines in 1944 - more than in any other year during the war. I understand it was largely due to Speer. The dark side of it was that they used a lot of slave labour, often in terrible conditions such as camp Dora, a notorious underground facility in the Harz Mountains.

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I would reckon the classic 'concorde' version of your average paper aeroplane is without doubt the most produced, and probably into the millions.
Much prefer a nice single malt myself.
Much prefer a nice single malt myself.


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Cringe: I don't have the figures, I'm sure someone out there will have, but doesn't the RR Merlin come close or even beat the R1830?
Like so many of these things I read it somewhere so it must be true!
Anyone one from the RRHT able to answer, please?
Like so many of these things I read it somewhere so it must be true!
Anyone one from the RRHT able to answer, please?

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Merlin engines
According to Bill Gunston book The development of PISTON AERO ENGINES there where 168,040 merlin's made including 55,523 by Packard USA.Not all would have been used in aircraft.Some would have been used in tanks and air sea rescue boats etc.

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Beauman, The Bf109 figure you mention may be slightly innacurate. I believe that if a 109 was destroyed at the factory, a new airframe number would be issued for any surviving parts. Similarly, an aircraft substantially damaged would be issued with a new serial number during repair.
N
N

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Amazing fact about the ME109
For ten 109 destroyed, 5 of them would be lost during take-offs or Landings
This is mainly due to the narrow landing gear (like the spitfire ) and the lack of experience of Luftwaffe pilots as the war went on.
I have met, 10 years ago, a former german pilot, who was lucky enough to survive the entire war, and who flew both ME109 and FW190. He told me he liked the messerscmidt ... once Airborne !
The FW was more forgivable for a young inexperienced pilot .
To come back on the thread, I think the Antonov 2 was widely build by the russians also, but probably not to the extent of the IL2. This amazing aircraft entered production in 1947 and is still made in China.
some workshop in Russia (Or Czeh ? ) do convert them with a Turbine, what a look
For ten 109 destroyed, 5 of them would be lost during take-offs or Landings

I have met, 10 years ago, a former german pilot, who was lucky enough to survive the entire war, and who flew both ME109 and FW190. He told me he liked the messerscmidt ... once Airborne !
The FW was more forgivable for a young inexperienced pilot .
To come back on the thread, I think the Antonov 2 was widely build by the russians also, but probably not to the extent of the IL2. This amazing aircraft entered production in 1947 and is still made in China.
some workshop in Russia (Or Czeh ? ) do convert them with a Turbine, what a look

