Bolkhovitinov DB-A
OKB Bolkhovitinov · Soviet Union · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Bolkhovitinov DB-A (Dalny Bombardirovshchik — Aviatsiya, 'long-range bomber') was a large Soviet heavy bomber of the mid-1930s designed as a successor to the TB-3.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | deep oval fuselage cross-section |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- four-engine mid-wing heavy bomber
- twin tail fins
- deep oval fuselage cross-section
A large four-engine mid-wing monoplane with a deep, rounded fuselage and twin endplate fins, broadly resembling the Tupolev ANT series but with a sleeker profile and retractable undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Bolkhovitinov DB-A has a length of 24.4 m (80 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 39.5 m (130 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 330 km/h (205 mph).
- Typical crew: 6-8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Viktor Bolkhovitinov's bureau, the DB-A flew in 1935 and demonstrated a meaningful performance improvement over the older Tupolev TB-3 it was meant to replace. A DB-A was used in an attempted transpolar flight to the United States in 1937, which ended with a forced landing in the Soviet far north after one of its four engines failed.
Variants
A small number of pre-series aircraft were completed; no large-scale production resulted as the competing Tupolev and Petlyakov types proved superior.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) but never entered large-scale service; overshadowed by the Pe-8.
Related aircraft
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