Tupolev ANT-10

Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1930 · fighter

The Tupolev ANT-10 (military designation R-7) was a Soviet two-seat reconnaissance sesquiplane of all-duralumin construction, powered by a BMW VI V-12 engine. A single prototype was evaluated in 1930 but offered insufficient advantage over competing designs to warrant production.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Single-engine all-metal sesquiplane reconnaissance aircraft
BMW VI liquid-cooled V-12 in exposed nose installation
Large upper wing with vestigial lower stub wing

Identified by Tupolev's signature corrugated metal skinning and sesquiplane configuration with a large upper wing. The buried radiator bath under the nose and BMW VI installation distinguish it from strutted biplane contemporaries.

Specifications

The Tupolev ANT-10 has a length of 10.9 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15.2 m (50 ft).
Its maximum speed is 235 km/h (146 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed as a competitor to the Polikarpov R-5 for the Soviet Air Force reconnaissance role, the ANT-10 demonstrated Tupolev's characteristic corrugated duralumin construction technique. The single prototype flew in 1930 but its performance barely exceeded that of the R-5, which was already in production and had superior logistic support. The programme was accordingly cancelled.

Variants

Single prototype only; no production or variant aircraft.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; evaluated by the Soviet Air Force trials establishment only.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.