| ANT-8 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Maritime patrol aircraft Type of aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| First flight | 30 January 1931 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Tupolev Factory |
| Number built | 1 |
TheANT-8 was an experimentalflying boat designed byTupolev. It was designated the "MDR-2" (MDR meaningMorskoi Dalnii Razvedchik, or Naval Long-Range Reconnaissance) by the military.
Tupolev and theTsAGI 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. Shortly after the ANT-8 flew for the first time, theANT-14 lifted off the ground.
The ANT-8 was chosen to be made entirely from metal, with aDuralumin hull and similar wings to theTupolev R-6. Thefuselage received much attention from the designers and it was decided to have the floats included in the load-bearing structure. Power came from two pusherBMW VIengines 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 twoDA-2machine 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the ANT-8 project was deemed unnecessary by theSoviet Navy, as it was believed that it was obsolete and would soon be superseded by theChetverikov MDR-3. Only one was built, although its hull was modified several times.
Data fromThe Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
