Borovkov-Florov D

The Borovkov‑Florov D, produced by the Soviet‑era Sokol plant in the early 1940s, was an experimental twin‑engine fighter‑bomber that sought to combine high‑altitude performance with rugged ground‑attack capability. Designed by the team of M.M. Borovkov and P.M. Florov, the aircraft first flew on 22 April 1943 from the Sokol airfield near Moscow. Its wooden‑frame construction, covered with a plywood skin, reflected wartime material shortages, while the powerplants—two Klimov VK‑105P liquid‑cooled V‑12 engines—provided a respectable 1 560 hp total, allowing a top speed of 620 km/h at 6 000 m. Unique features included a variable‑incidence wing that could be lowered for improved lift during low‑level attack runs and a retractable ventral gun turret equipped with a 20 mm ShVAK cannon, giving the D a rare blend of air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground firepower. Although only a limited series of ten prototypes was built and the type never entered mass production, the Borovkov‑Florov D demonstrated innovative aerodynamic solutions and informed later Soviet designs such as the Yak‑9U and the Lavochkin La‑15. Today, the D is remembered as a bold, transitional step that highlighted Sokol’s engineering flexibility during World War II.

Sokol

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Design & Classification