Li-2 2209

Basic data



Marking:



History of the aircraft:
From the beginning it was operated by CSA.
After the elimination of Li-2 from the CSA in the years of 1956-57 was taken over by the army.
In the sixties served at FLS Hradcany.
In the movie the Heavenly Riders played Wellington OJ-F.
Note:

source: Monographs of the Lisunov Li-2 in ms. aviation, Paul Týc, L+K 9-12/1994.

Remodeling in Wellington for the film Heavenly riders

For the movie the Heavenly horsemen according to the book of Philip Jánského (on its own behalf Philip Husman) was a Li-2F t.č. 2209 modified to the form of the british bomber Wellington. The reconstruction work was carried out in the Aero Vodochody in the operation where they were carried out remodelling of the Il-14 on the fotogrametrické Il-14FG. Reconstruction began in September of 1967. Was built the new front part of the duralumin sheet, as well as the rear part is střelišti. The original cabin of the Li-2 was given new glazing. On the trunk was installed laťová body covered with cloth to imitate the geodetic design of the Wellington. Due to the fact that the hull of the acquired volume and the propeller could not be reduced (due to security), it was necessary to make in the hull recess to the propeller might taxiing to spin. The plane received even the superstructure of the fin surface, the rudder and also on the engine nacelle. Machine guns in the stations were the German MG 17.
For filming, the aircraft was without wings stretched Tatrou T-141 at the airport in Klecanech, where it was compiled. There has also been domalovány code letters OJ-F and the characters on the hull.
The aircraft was eventually destroyed in the making an emergency landing on the belly according to the scenario.

Along with this machine in the movie played yet Li-2 no. 2804, which accounted for the English Dakotu with no 2894.

Filming was delayed by the invasion in 1968.

The Film was premiered in the prague cinema of Sevastopol in September 1969.

On the performance of the reconstruction and the enthusiasm of those who have it and also the whole film of the Heavenly riders were able to realize they reveal these words:
"His experience (Filip Jánského) created the background for the book and its subsequent film version have resulted in a unique creation: a transport aircraft designed in the US, built in the Soviet union, converted in Czechoslovakia, to constitute a british bomber... and equipped with German machine guns!"
(from the article Lisunovs Wellington written by Miroslav Balousem, which was published in Air Enthusiast February/1973 and dedicated to just this conversion)

source: Wellington from Vodochod for the Heavenly rider, str. 47-49, L+K 7/1994.