The development of civil airlines and the great commercial success achieved by the Douglas company with the production of the DC-2 for American Airlines led to the creation of a new design. The twin-engine Douglas Commercial DC-3, of all-metal semi-monocoque construction in a cantilever low-wing configuration, became the most popular transport aircraft of the 1930s. At the beginning of 1938, the USSR purchased a production licence for the DC-3 from the United States. However, the aircraft did not fully meet operational requirements.
A team led by Boris Lisunov introduced certain modifications. The structure was strengthened, the position of the entry doors was changed, and the engines were replaced. Serial production of the PS-84 began at the end of 1939. By early 1940, the machines entered service with Aeroflot and military units. In 1941, the PS-84 was renamed Li-2.
Li-2 aircraft were produced in several versions: transport, airline, transport-passenger, long-range, bomber, photogrammetric and high-altitude. Appropriate equipment was used depending on the version. Li-2s could operate even in very difficult weather conditions, as they were equipped with de-icing systems.
During the war, Li-2 aircraft performed frontline missions, supplied besieged Leningrad, and in August 1945 were used for airborne landings at Mukden, Port Arthur and Dairen. On Polish territory, most parachute drops from the eastern side were made from Li-2s. In 1943–1944, paratroopers of the Polish Independent Special Battalion jumped from the decks of these aircraft.
In Poland, after the war, the gun positions were removed from the aircraft and the machines were assigned to air transport units. Individual specimens were on the strength of the Officers’ Aviation School. On 13 May 1974, the last Li-2T flight took place on the Deblin-Kraków route.
The specimen exhibited at the Museum comes from the series of machines produced in 1943. In 1943–1945, it was used by the Soviet air force. After the war, it was transferred to the Polish air force, and between 1950 and 1974 it was used at the Officers’ Aviation School. It was transferred to the Museum’s collection in 1984.
| Wingspan | 28.8 m |
| Length | 19.0 m |
| Takeoff weight | 11500 kg |
| Maximum speed | 280 km/h |
| Ceiling | 5600 m |
| Range | 2400 km |
| Armament | – |
| Engine | 2 x radial ASz-62 with a power output of 1000 hp (736 kW) each |
