Harman Patil (Editor)

Tupolev TB 1

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Top speed
  
178 km/h

Length
  
18 m

Manufacturer
  
Tupolev

Wingspan
  
29 m

First flight
  
1925

Designer
  
Tupolev TB-1 Tupolev TB1 Ulyanovsk aircraft on display

The Tupolev TB-1 (development name ANT-4) was a Soviet bomber aircraft, an angular monoplane that served as the backbone of the Soviet bomber force for many years, and was the first large all-metal aircraft built in the Soviet Union.

Contents

Tupolev TB-1 Tupolev TB1 and TB4

Design and development

Tupolev TB-1 Tupolev TB1 Photos history characteristics of the aircraft TB1

In 1924, the Soviet Air Force instructed TsAGI, (Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т (ЦАГИ) – Tsentralniy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut or Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute) to design a heavy-bomber. TsAGI gave the task to the division led by Andrei Tupolev. Tupolev's team designed a twin-engined all-metal monoplane with a corrugated Duralumin skin — based on Tupolev's earlier work utilizing the all-metal aircraft design techniques first pioneered by Hugo Junkers in 1918 — powered by two Napier Lion engines, and named the ANT-4.

Tupolev TB-1 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The first prototype was built during 1925 on the second floor of Tupolev's factory in Moscow, it being necessary to knock down a wall to allow the aircraft to be taken out of the building in pieces. After reassembly at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome, it was flown on 26 November 1925.

Tupolev TB-1 WINGS PALETTE Tupolev TB1 ANT4 USSRRussia

Testing was successful, and it was decided to put the ANT-4 into production as the TB-1. Production was delayed, however, by shortages of aluminium, and by the need to find a replacement for the expensive imported Lion engines, the BMW VI (and later the Soviet licence-built version, the Mikulin M-17). Production eventually started at the ex-Junkers factory at Fili, Moscow in 1929, 216 following the two prototypes, production continuing until 1932. It was produced in both wheel- and float-gear variants (a total of 66 ANT-4 seaplanes built).

Operational history

Tupolev TB-1 WINGS PALETTE Tupolev TB1 ANT4 USSRRussia

The first production aircraft was completed as an unarmed civil aircraft, named Strana Sovyetov (Land of the Soviets) for a propaganda flight from Moscow to New York, taking an eastward course via Siberia, reaching its destination on 3 November, flying 21,242 km (13,194 mi) in 137 flying hours. The TB-1 became the Soviet Air Forces' first standard heavy bomber, also being fitted with floats for use as a torpedo bomber (TB-1P), and for aerial survey operations.

Tupolev TB-1 Tupolev TB1 Wikipdia

It was also widely used for experimental purposes, being the first mothership used in the Zveno Parasite aircraft project, carrying two I-4 fighters over the aircraft's wings.

The TB-1 was replaced as a heavy bomber by the similar, but much larger, four-engined Tupolev TB-3, with many aircraft being converted to civil freighters (designated G-1) for use by Aeroflot and Aviaarktika, Aeroflot's polar division. One Avia Arktika ANT-4, flown by Anatoly Liapidevsky, played a key role in the rescue of the crew of the steamship Chelyuskin, which sank on 12 February 1934 after being trapped in ice near the Bering Strait. Liapidevsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. G-1s continued in use with Avia Arktika until 1948.

Variants

  • TB-1 : Twin-engined heavy bomber aircraft. Also known as the ANT-4.
  • ANT-4bis : Third prototype.
  • TB-1P : Twin-float torpedo-bomber seaplane.
  • G-1 : Twin-engined transport aircraft.
  • Survivors

    One ANT-4, an ex-Aviaarktika Tupolev G-1, survives, being preserved at the Ulyanovsk Aircraft Museum.

    Operators

     Soviet Union
  • Aeroflot
  • Soviet Air Force
  • Soviet Naval Aviation
  • Specifications (TB-1)

    Data from The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995

    General characteristics

  • Crew: six
  • Length: 18.00 m (59 ft 0⅔ in)
  • Wingspan: 28.7 m (94 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 5.1 m (16 ft 8¾ in)
  • Wing area: 120.0 m² (1,292 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 4,520 kg (9,965 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 6,810 kg (15,013 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × M-17 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 510 kW (680 hp) each
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 178 km/h (96 kt, 111 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 156 km/h (84 knots, 97 mph)
  • Range: 1,000 km (540 nm, 621 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,830 m (15,846 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 3.03 m/s (596 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 56.8 kg/m² (11.6 lb/ft²)
  • Power/mass: 0.15 kW/kg (0.091 hp/lb)
  • Armament

  • Guns: 6 × DA machine guns
  • Bombs: 1,000 kg (2,205 lb)
  • References

    Tupolev TB-1 Wikipedia


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