Tupolev ANT-1
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1923 · light aircraft
The Tupolev ANT-1 was the first aircraft designed by Andrei Tupolev and his team at TsAGI, flying in 1923. It was a small single-seat monoplane that established the all-metal corrugated-skin construction philosophy that would define Tupolev's subsequent designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First aircraft designed by Andrei Tupolev, 1923
- Tiny single-seat monoplane with corrugated metal skin
- Diminutive prototype, only one built
Very small early monoplane with distinctive corrugated metal skin, a single piston engine, and conventional fixed undercarriage; identifiable mainly from historical photographs.
Specifications
- The Tupolev ANT-1 has a length of 5 m (16 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.5 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 135 km/h (84 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Conceived as a proof-of-concept for all-metal aircraft construction in the nascent Soviet aviation industry, the ANT-1 was built at TsAGI in Moscow and first flew in 1923. Only one example was built, but the aircraft launched Tupolev's extraordinary career and demonstrated that Soviet designers could produce viable aircraft independently. The corrugated Duralumin skinning became a Tupolev trademark.
Variants
Only a single prototype was built; there were no variants or production aircraft.
Where you'll see it
The ANT-1 was a pure research and demonstration aircraft and never entered any form of service; it is historically significant as the first Tupolev design.
Related aircraft
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