Tupolev ANT-7
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1929 · bomber
The Tupolev ANT-7, designated R-6 in Soviet Air Force service, was a twin-engine heavy reconnaissance bomber and torpedo aircraft developed in the late 1920s. It featured the characteristic corrugated Duralumin skin of Andrei Tupolev's early designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.06 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet twin-engine corrugated-skin bomber/torpedo aircraft of the late 1920s
- High-wing monoplane with two large water-cooled engines in nacelles ahead of the wing
- Distinctive Tupolev corrugated Duralumin skin covering entire airframe
The corrugated skin on all surfaces — wing, fuselage, and tail — is the primary identifier for all early Tupolev types. The high cantilever wing with two tractor engines ahead of the leading edge is characteristic of the ANT-7/R-6.
Specifications
- The Tupolev ANT-7 has a length of 15.06 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.2 m (76 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 4-5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the ANT-4 (TB-1) heavy bomber, the ANT-7 first flew in September 1929 and entered production as the R-6. It served as a reconnaissance and escort aircraft with the Soviet Air Force and as a torpedo bomber with the Soviet Navy. Production totalled around 400 aircraft, and the type remained in service into the early 1940s.
Variants
The KR-6 was a further developed variant with more capable engines. Some were converted for Arctic exploration and transport duties.
Where you'll see it
Operated extensively by the Soviet Air Force and Soviet Naval Aviation during the 1930s. Some aircraft participated in Arctic expeditions. Withdrawn from front-line service by 1940.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev ANT-10
- Tupolev I-8
- Tupolev TB-6
- Tupolev I-12
- Caproni Ca.90
- Curtiss XF8C-2 Helldiver
- Curtiss XF8C-4 Helldiver
- Letov Š-31
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