Tupolev ANT-20 Maksim Gorki
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1934 · transport aircraft
The Tupolev ANT-20 Maksim Gorki was one of the largest aircraft in the world when it first flew in 1934, an eight-engine Soviet propaganda transport of extraordinary size intended to impress Soviet citizens with the achievements of socialism. It housed a printing press, telephone exchange, film projector, and radio transmitter.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Push-pull nacelle atop the fuselage in addition to wing engines |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Eight-engine Soviet propaganda transport — engine count capped at 4 in schema; actual count 8
- Push-pull nacelle atop the fuselage in addition to wing engines
- Carried printing press, cinema projector, and radio station on board
Unmistakable by sheer scale: eight engines including a push-pull nacelle atop the fuselage above the wing, a wingspan of approximately 63 m, and a slab-sided fuselage housing a self-contained media centre.
Specifications
- The Tupolev ANT-20 Maksim Gorki has a length of 33 m (108 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 63 m (207 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built to honour writer Maxim Gorky on his 40th literary anniversary, the ANT-20 was funded by public subscription and constructed by TsAGI/Tupolev. It flew propaganda missions across the USSR before being destroyed in a mid-air collision in 1935 when an escorting fighter pilot attempted an unauthorised aerobatic manoeuvre. A second improved example, the ANT-20bis, was completed in 1938.
Variants
The ANT-20bis (PS-124) was a civil passenger variant with a lengthened fuselage; it served Aeroflot until lost in a wartime accident in 1942.
Where you'll see it
The original flew briefly as a propaganda tool before its fatal 1935 accident; the ANT-20bis operated Aeroflot routes until 1942.
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- Tupolev ANT-25
- Tupolev ANT-29
- Tupolev ANT-37
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- CANT Z.501 Gabbiano
- Caproni Ca.133
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