Tupolev ANT-8

Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1931 · reconnaissance aircraft

The ANT-8 was an experimental flying boat designed by Tupolev, designated MDR-2 (Naval Long-Range Reconnaissance) by the military.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	17.03 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

All-metal flying boat with a duralumin hull and floats included in the load-bearing structure
Two pusher BMW VI engines mounted over the wings
Turrets in the bow and aft of the wing, each with two DA-2 machine guns

A high-wing flying boat with two pusher engines above the wing and gun turrets in the bow and behind the wing.

Specifications

The Tupolev ANT-8 has a length of 17.03 m (56 ft).
It has a wingspan of 23.7 m (78 ft).
Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
Typical crew: 4-5.

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

History

Tupolev and TsAGI were asked to build it in 1925, but work only began in earnest in 1930 under Ivan Pogosski. Its first flight was on 30 January 1931, piloted by S. Riballschuk.

Variants

Only one was built, although its hull was modified several times.

Where you'll see it

The aircraft showed excellent seaworthiness and Tupolev learned much about flying boat hulls from it. The Soviet Navy judged it obsolete, expecting it to be superseded by the Chetverikov MDR-3, and did not continue the project.

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