Petlyakov Pe-8
Petlyakov / Kazan Aircraft Production Association · Soviet Union · first flew 1936 · bomber
The Petlyakov Pe-8 was the Soviet Union's only four-engine heavy strategic bomber of WWII, used in small numbers for long-range raids including attacks on Berlin in 1941.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 23.59 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet WWII four-engine heavy bomber — only one of its kind in Soviet service
- Engines in nacelles faired into the wing leading edge
- Single large vertical fin with twin horizontal stabilisers
A large, somewhat ungainly four-engine mid-wing monoplane; the deep fuselage, single fin, and inline engine nacelles distinguish it from American and British heavy bombers.
Specifications
- The Petlyakov Pe-8 has a length of 23.59 m (77 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 39.13 m (128 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 443 km/h (275 mph).
- Typical crew: 11.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in the mid-1930s under Tupolev's bureau by Vladimir Petlyakov, the Pe-8 entered service in 1940. It suffered from persistent engine reliability problems, and only around 93 were built, making it a rarity compared to Allied heavy bombers.
Variants
Several engine variants were tried including AM-35, AM-35A, and diesel ACh-30B; the later Pe-8ON served as a VIP transport for Molotov's 1942 flight to Britain.
Where you'll see it
Served exclusively with the Soviet Air Forces in WWII; no airworthy examples exist.
Related aircraft
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