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History of the aircraft
The prototype of the PO-2 biplane, which was later to become the legendary plane of the Soviet Air Force, was designed in the design office of Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov in 1927. With over 40,000 PO-2s, it is probably the most produced aircraft in the world. The two seat biplane, which was produced from the beginning of 1928, was used in the civil aviation and the air force by the new generation of Soviet pilots. The plane was powered by The Shvetsov M-11 engine with power output of 100-115 hp.
In the World War II it served as the training, liaison, staff, transport, ambulance, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Because of its quiet, rattling engine the Germans called it Sewing machine (Nähmaschine). Soviets called it Kukuruznik (Maize Cutter). Because of its quiet sounding engine the plane was used for various purposes such as air lifting supplies to partisan’s units in the night, transporting wounded soldiers, directing gun fire from the plane and night bombing raids. The plane was made most famous probably by the 46th Aviation Regiment composed by female pilots which took part in the night raids on the German army positions. Germans called this female units “Night Witches” (Nachthexen) which the female members of the regiment accepted and started using themselves. The plane was continuously improved and in 1944 it was renamed Po-2 in the memory of the designer Polikarpov who tragically died. After the war it was produced under licence in Poland. The production in the Soviet Union ended in 1953. The Kukuruznik was also used by the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps and after the war it was used with designation K-62 by the Czechoslovak Air Force. Several Po-2s were used by the Svazarm aero clubs until the late 1960s.