| ANT-37 (DB-2) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Long-range bomber |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Designer | Pavel Sukhoi |
| First flight | 16 Jun 1935 |
| Primary user | Aeroflot |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Tupolev DB-1 |
The Tupolev ANT-37 (or DB-2) was a Soviet twin-engined long-range bomber designed and built by the Tupolev design bureau, [1] the design team operating under the guidance of Pavel Sukhoi. [2] The aircraft did not enter production, but three examples of the type were used for research and record breaking flights. [1]
Design and development
Based on the unbuilt Tupolev ANT-36 (DB-1) single-engined bomber, the ANT-37 was a twin-engined monoplane [1] of stressed skin, dural construction, [3] fitted with a high-aspect-ratio wing [4] and tailwheel landing gear, the main units retracting into the engine nacelles. [5]
Powered by 800 hp (597 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engines, the prototype first flew on 16 June 1935. [1] The program suffered a setback when the prototype crashed the following month, after the tail splintered into pieces during flight. [5] A re-designed second prototype was built, designated as the DB-2D, in an attempt to overcome the design problems encountered during flight testing, particularly with the tail unit. [1]
It was decided not to order the type into production, the Ilyushin DB-3 being selected for Soviet Air Force service instead. [1] Despite this, three aircraft were built, designated ANT-37bis (or DB-2B), for research and record breaking purposes. These three aircraft would survive into the 1940s. [1]
Operational history
The first of the three DB-2B aircraft was given the name Rodina ("Motherland"), and, flown by an all female crew ( Valentina Grizodubova, Polina Osipenko, and Marina Raskova) between 24 and 25 September 1938, it was used to establish a distance record of 5,908 km (3,671 mi) [1] [5] before ending in an emergency landing. [3] This set a world's record for distance flown by a woman crew. [6]
Operators
Specifications (DB-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 15.00 m (49 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 31.00 m (101 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 84.9 m2 (913 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 5,855 kg (12,908 lb)
- Gross weight: 12,500 kg (27,558 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14K , 597 kW (800 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 342 km/h (213 mph, 185 kn)
- Range: 5,000 km (3,105 mi, 2,698 nmi)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Notes
Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Orbis, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- Gordon, Yefim and Vladimir Rigmant. OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Midland, 2006. ISBN 1-85780-214-4.
- Higham, Robin, John Greenwood and Von Hardesty. Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century. Routledge, 1998. ISBN 0-7146-4380-7.
- Nemecek, Vaclav (1986). The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918. London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218033-2.
External links
| ANT-37 (DB-2) | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Role | Long-range bomber |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Designer | Pavel Sukhoi |
| First flight | 16 Jun 1935 |
| Primary user | Aeroflot |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Tupolev DB-1 |
The Tupolev ANT-37 (or DB-2) was a Soviet twin-engined long-range bomber designed and built by the Tupolev design bureau, [1] the design team operating under the guidance of Pavel Sukhoi. [2] The aircraft did not enter production, but three examples of the type were used for research and record breaking flights. [1]
Design and development
Based on the unbuilt Tupolev ANT-36 (DB-1) single-engined bomber, the ANT-37 was a twin-engined monoplane [1] of stressed skin, dural construction, [3] fitted with a high-aspect-ratio wing [4] and tailwheel landing gear, the main units retracting into the engine nacelles. [5]
Powered by 800 hp (597 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engines, the prototype first flew on 16 June 1935. [1] The program suffered a setback when the prototype crashed the following month, after the tail splintered into pieces during flight. [5] A re-designed second prototype was built, designated as the DB-2D, in an attempt to overcome the design problems encountered during flight testing, particularly with the tail unit. [1]
It was decided not to order the type into production, the Ilyushin DB-3 being selected for Soviet Air Force service instead. [1] Despite this, three aircraft were built, designated ANT-37bis (or DB-2B), for research and record breaking purposes. These three aircraft would survive into the 1940s. [1]
Operational history
The first of the three DB-2B aircraft was given the name Rodina ("Motherland"), and, flown by an all female crew ( Valentina Grizodubova, Polina Osipenko, and Marina Raskova) between 24 and 25 September 1938, it was used to establish a distance record of 5,908 km (3,671 mi) [1] [5] before ending in an emergency landing. [3] This set a world's record for distance flown by a woman crew. [6]
Operators
Specifications (DB-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 15.00 m (49 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 31.00 m (101 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 84.9 m2 (913 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 5,855 kg (12,908 lb)
- Gross weight: 12,500 kg (27,558 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14K , 597 kW (800 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 342 km/h (213 mph, 185 kn)
- Range: 5,000 km (3,105 mi, 2,698 nmi)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Notes
Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Orbis, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- Gordon, Yefim and Vladimir Rigmant. OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Midland, 2006. ISBN 1-85780-214-4.
- Higham, Robin, John Greenwood and Von Hardesty. Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century. Routledge, 1998. ISBN 0-7146-4380-7.
- Nemecek, Vaclav (1986). The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918. London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218033-2.
External links