Tupolev ANT-8

ANT-8
Role Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer Tupolev
First flight 30 January 1931
Status Retired
Primary user Tupolev Factory
Number built 1

The ANT-8 was an experimental flying boat designed by Tupolev. It was designated the "MDR-2" (MDR meaning Morskoi Dalnii Razvedchik, or Naval Long-Range Reconnaissance) by the military.

Design and development

Tupolev and the TsAGI were asked to build the ANT-8 in 1925, but other projects were deemed more important. Thus, little was completed on the ANT-8. Finally, in 1930, with Ivan Pogosski leading, actual work was started on the aircraft. Its first flight was on January 30, 1931, piloted by S. Riballschuk. It is important to note that shortly after the ANT-8 flew for the first time, the ANT-14 lifted off the ground.

Construction

The ANT-8 was chosen to be made entirely from metal, with a Duralumin hull and similar wings to the Tupolev R-6. The fuselage received much attention from the designers and it was decided to have the floats included in the load-bearing structure. Power came from two pusher BMW VI engines mounted over the wings. The aircraft was fitted with an enclosed cockpit for the two pilots, while turrets were mounted in the bow and aft of the wing, each mounting two DA-2 machine guns. Up to 500 kg (1,102 lb) of bombs could be carried under the wing roots.[1]

Although the aircraft demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, and Tupolev learned much about flying boat hulls from it, continuation of the ANT-8 project was deemed unnecessary by the Soviet Navy, as it was believed that it was obsolete and would soon be superseded by the Chetverikov MDR-3. Only one was built, although its hull was modified several times.

Operators

 Soviet Union

Specifications (MDR-2)

Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995 [2]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: 4 × DA-2 machine guns in nose and dorsal turrets
  • Bombs: Up to 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs

References

  1. ↑ Gunston 1995, p.389.
  2. ↑ Gunston 1995, p.390.
  3. 1 2 Duffy and Kandalov 1996, p.208.
  • Duffy, Paul and Andrei Kandalov. (1996) Tupolev The Man and His aircraft. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
  • Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1975–1995.. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
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