Tupolev TB-1
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1925 · bomber
The Tupolev TB-1 (ANT-4) was a pioneering Soviet heavy bomber of 1925, the world's first cantilever monoplane bomber to enter service and a landmark in aviation history. Its corrugated all-metal construction and thick high-mounted wing influenced bomber design worldwide.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World's first all-metal cantilever monoplane heavy bomber
- Two engines mounted in the leading edge of a massive high-mounted thick wing
- Corrugated Duralumin skin covering entire airframe
The enormously thick, high-mounted cantilever wing with engines buried in its leading edge and the all-over corrugated metal skin are unique identifiers. The open cockpit and fixed undercarriage reflect its mid-1920s origins.
Specifications
- The Tupolev TB-1 has a length of 18 m (59 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.7 m (94 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 178 km/h (111 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Andrei Tupolev's team as the ANT-4 and first flown on 22 November 1925, the TB-1 entered Soviet Air Force service in 1929. It was produced in substantial numbers and served as the basis for numerous record flights and the Zveno parasite-fighter experiments where small fighters were carried beneath the wings.
Variants
The G-1 was a civil transport conversion used by Dobroflot on Arctic routes. The TB-1P was a floatplane variant. Several aircraft were modified as motherships for the Zveno parasite-aircraft programme.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Soviet Air Force through the 1930s and saw limited combat during the Winter War with Finland; civil examples operated Arctic supply and rescue missions into the 1940s.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev ANT-3
- Tupolev ANT-2
- Tupolev ANT-1
- Tupolev ANT-7
- Caproni Ca.73
- Fairey Fox
- Hawker Horsley
- Hawker Horsley II
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