Tupolev ANT-25
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1933 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Tupolev ANT-25 was a Soviet long-range record aircraft designed to fly extraordinary distances non-stop, featuring a massive high-aspect-ratio wing for aerodynamic efficiency.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Exceptionally long, narrow wing spanning over 34 m
- Single-engine low-wing monoplane built for distance records
- Large fuel tanks integrated into the wing for polar range
Unmistakable by its extraordinarily slender, tapering wing of roughly 34 m span on a compact fuselage; the single nose-mounted engine and plain oval fin complete the profile.
Specifications
- The Tupolev ANT-25 has a length of 13.4 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34 m (112 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 246 km/h (153 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Tupolev's team in the early 1930s, the ANT-25 made its first flight in 1933. It achieved global fame when Chkalov and his crew flew over the North Pole from Moscow to Vancouver, Washington in 1937, covering over 8,500 km non-stop.
Variants
Two aircraft were built; the second (RD-2) differed in minor detail and both were used for record attempts.
Where you'll see it
The ANT-25 was never an operational type but served exclusively as a prestige record-breaking aircraft for the Soviet state.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev ANT-21
- Tupolev I-14
- Tupolev ANT-20 Maksim Gorki
- Tupolev ANT-14 Pravda
- Henschel Hs 122
- Potez 452
- Amiot 130
- Marcel Bloch MB.411
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