Kolesnikov-Tsibin KC-20
The Kolesnikov-Tsibin KC-20 or KTs-20 (Russian: КЦ-20) was a Soviet light troop military glider of World War II. Development Shortly after the German attack in 1941, Soviet headquarters realized a need for transport gliders and ordered the development of several designs. The biggest was a design of Dmitry Kolesnikov and Pavel Tsibin, although it was still a light glider. Two prototypes were built in October 1941. It was ordered for production, under the designation KC-20 (or KTs-20) for designers' initials and the number of troopes carried. 68 were built in 1942-1943. They were produced in a wood industry works in Lopatino village near Kazan. The KC-20 was the biggest, but least numerous of Soviet transport gliders. It could transport 20 troops or up to 2200 kg of cargo. It was quite successful, its major drawback was a lack of a big cargo hatch, therefore guns could by only carried in parts. It was initially planned to fit the glider with a back machine gun turret, hence double tailfin, but the plan was abandoned. Operational history Like Antonov A-7 and Gribovski G-11, they were mainly used for supplying Soviet partisans with provisions, weapons, equipment and trained men, in night flights. The