Tupolev ANT-8

ANT-8

Manufacturer: Tupolev
First flight: 30 January 1930
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 it in 1925, but other projects were deemed more important. Thus, little was completed on the ANT-8. Finally, in 1930, Ivan Pogosski leading, actual work was started 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 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.

Although the aircraft demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, and Tupolev learned a lot 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of the ANT-8 project was deemed unnecessary by the Soviet Navy, as it was believed that it was obsolete and soon be superseded by the Chetverikov MDR-3. Only one was made, though its hull was modified several times.

Operators

Soviet Union

Tupolev factory.

Specifications (MDR-2)

Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995

General characteristics

Length: 17.03 m (55 ft 10â…“ in)
Wingspan: 23.7 m (77 ft 9 in)
Height: 5.67 m (18 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 84 m² (904 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,560 kg (10,053 lb)
Loaded weight: 6,920 kg (15,256 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 8,160 kg (17,952 lb)
Powerplant: 2x— BMW VI water cooled V-12, 507 kW (680 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 203 km/h (110 knots, 126 mph) at sea level
Cruise speed: 166 km/h (90 knots, 103 mph)
Range: 1,062 km (574 nmi, 660 mi)
Endurance: 5 hours
Service ceiling: 3,350 m (10,991 ft)
Wing loading: 82.4 kg/m² (16.9 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.066 kW/kg (0.089 hp/lb)
Climb to 1,000 m (3,280 ft): 7 min

Armament

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

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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Source: WikiPedia