AM-38

The AM-38 was created by Alexander Mikulin from the high-altitude AM-35 by lowering the rated altitude: a ground-attack aircraft needs power near the ground, not at five kilometres. The supercharger was retuned and the compression ratio reduced — and the engine delivered 1620 horsepower where it mattered. It worked in exceptionally hard conditions: the armoured hull of the Il-2 restricted cooling, and flak splinters regularly damaged the radiators. The engine's repairability in field workshops became one of the factors behind the survivability of the assault regiments. On display is an engine from the museum reserve, partly opened to show the cylinder block and supercharger.