went to the "free fly day" today a the Flying Heritage Collection in Everett... this is the only flying example of the Russian IL-2 Sturmovik ("Stormbird") in the world. It;s made up of parts from 4 wrecked aircraft, and actually has the engine from a US-made P-38 Lightning, since a rebuilt Russian engine was not available at the time the plane was restored. It was one of the most effective ground-attack aircraft in the second world war, and earned nicknames like "the flying tank" because of its ruggedness...
