Tupolev ANT-41
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1936 · bomber
The Tupolev ANT-41 was a prototype Soviet twin-engined torpedo bomber of the 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long weapons bay under the fuselage able to carry torpedoes |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Mid-winged cantilever monoplane of all-metal stressed-skin construction
- Radiators inside the wings inboard of the engines, fed by narrow ducts on the leading edge
- Long weapons bay under the fuselage able to carry torpedoes
A larger and more powerful relative of the SB bomber, with two Mikulin AM-34 engines in close cowlings and a retractable tailwheel undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Tupolev ANT-41 has a length of 15.54 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 25.73 m (84 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 435 km/h (270 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Work began in March 1934 under Vladimir Myasishchev for a high-speed long-range torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft and heavy fighter. The prototype first flew on 2 June 1936 and suffered severe tail flutter.
Variants
It was planned in both landplane and floatplane versions, but only the landplane prototype flew and a second prototype was never built.
Where you'll see it
The prototype was destroyed on its 14th test flight on 3 July 1936 when wing flutter caused a failure, traced to inadequate aileron design. The Ilyushin DB-3 was chosen instead.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev ANT-35
- Tupolev ANT-29
- Tupolev ANT-37
- Tupolev MTB-2
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.29
- Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
- Blenheim
- Bloch MB.131
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