Stal-7
TsAGI / Bartini Design Bureau · Soviet Union · first flew 1937 · transport aircraft
The Stal-7 was an advanced Soviet twin-engine transport of the late 1930s, designed by the visionary engineer Robert Bartini using innovative all-steel stressed-skin construction techniques. Its 450 km/h top speed was extraordinary for a transport aircraft of the period and surpassed many contemporary fighters.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Sleek 1930s streamlined fuselage achieving 450 km/h — exceptional for a transport |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet twin-engine transport with a distinctive inverted gull wing
- Designed by Robert Bartini with innovative all-metal stressed-skin construction
- Sleek 1930s streamlined fuselage achieving 450 km/h — exceptional for a transport
The sleek stressed-metal fuselage, low elliptical wing, and twin engines give the Stal-7 a stylistically advanced 1930s appearance; its speed-optimised streamlining is visually striking compared to contemporary Soviet transports.
Specifications
- The Stal-7 has a length of 16 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Bartini designed the Stal-7 using the all-steel 'Stal' (steel) construction system he had developed, first flying the type in 1937. The aircraft achieved a remarkable speed record of 405 km/h over a closed circuit in 1939. However, Bartini had been arrested during the Stalinist purges of 1938, and the programme's momentum was lost; the Stal-7 never entered production. The design influenced later Soviet transport projects.
Variants
A proposed long-range passenger version designated Er-2 (Yermolayev Er-2) was developed from the Stal-7 design for bombing use after modification.
Where you'll see it
The Stal-7 itself never entered service; its design was adapted into the Yermolayev Er-2 long-range bomber, which did see limited Second World War service.
Related aircraft
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