Polikarpov NB
Polikarpov Design Bureau · Soviet Union · first flew 1944 · bomber
The Polikarpov NB (Nochnoi Bombardirovschik — Night Bomber) was a Soviet twin-engine night bomber prototype that flew in 1944, representing one of the final projects from Nikolai Polikarpov's bureau before his death that year. It did not enter production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.29 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet twin-engine night bomber prototype of 1944
- Mid-wing monoplane with twin radial engines
- One of Polikarpov's final designs before his death
Twin-engine mid-wing monoplane bomber with a long glazed nose, two large radial engines in streamlined nacelles, and a conventional tail; resembles contemporary Soviet medium bombers in general layout.
Specifications
- The Polikarpov NB has a length of 15.29 m (50 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.52 m (71 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 510 km/h (317 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in the early 1940s as a long-range night bomber to supplement existing Soviet types, the NB reached prototype form and first flew in 1944. Polikarpov died in July 1944, and with his bureau subsequently dissolved and the war nearing its end, the NB project was abandoned without leading to a production order.
Variants
One prototype only; no production variants were built.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; evaluation only.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.