Tupolev MTB-1
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1934 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Tupolev MTB-1 was a patrol flying boat built in the Soviet Union in the mid-1930s. It was also known as the MDR-4 and, inside Tupolev, as the ANT-27.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 21.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large high-wing flying boat with a full-cantilever wing
- Three engines, two tractor and one pusher
- Hull retained from the Chyetverikov MDR-3
It has three Mikulin M-34 engines, two tractor and one pusher, on a high cantilever wing above a flying-boat hull.
Specifications
- The Tupolev MTB-1 has a length of 21.9 m (72 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 39.4 m (129 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a refined version of the unsuccessful Chyetverikov MDR-3, keeping that hull but adding a new cantilever wing, a new tail and a new engine installation. Trials began in March 1934 and the first prototype was destroyed during one take-off.
Variants
A second prototype was built the following year and redesignated MTB-1 to reflect a new torpedo-carrying role. The earlier machine was the MDR-4.
Where you'll see it
Despite poor performance in trials the type was accepted for production before flight testing was complete. Fifteen were built and served with Soviet Naval Aviation until 1942.
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