Tupolev ANT-8

Infobox Aircraft
name=ANT-8


caption=
type= Maritime patrol aircraft
manufacturer= Tupolev
designer=
first flight= 30 January 1930
introduced=
retired=
status= Retired
primary user= Tupolev Factory
more users=
produced=
number built= 1
variants with their own articles=

The ANT-8 was an experimental flying boat designed by Tupolev. It was designated the "MDR-2" (MDR meaning Morskoi Dalnii Razvedchik, or Naval Long-Range Reconnaissance) by the military.

Design and Development

Tupolev and the TsAGI were asked to build it in 1925, but other projects were deemed more important. Thus, little was completed on the ANT-8. Finally, in 1930, Ivan Pogosski leading, actual work was started the aircraft. Its first flight was on January 30, 1931, piloted by S. Riballschuk. It is important to note that shortly after the ANT-8 flew first time, the ANT-14 lifted off the ground.

Construction

The ANT-8 was chosen to be made entirely from metal, with a Duralumin hull and similar wings to the Tupolev R-6. The fuselage received much attention from the designers and it was decided to have the floats included in the load-bearing structure. Power came from two pusher BMW VI engines mounted over the wings. The aircraft was fitted with an enclosed cockpit for the two pilots, while turrets were mounted in the bow and aft of the wing each mounting two DA-2 machine guns. Up to 500 kg of bombs could be carried under the wing-roots. Gunston 1995, p.389.]

Although the aircraft demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, and Tupolev learned a lot about flying boat hulls from it, continuation of the ANT-8 project was deemed unnecessary by the Soviet Navy, as it was believed that it was obsolete and soon be superseded by the Chetverikov MDR-3. Only one was made, though its hull was modified several times.

Operators

;flag|Soviet Union|1923
*Tupolev factory.

pecifications (MDR-2)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995 Gunston 1995, p.390.]
crew=
capacity=
length main= 17.03 m
length alt= 55 ft 10⅓ in
span main= 23.7 m
span alt= 77 ft 9 in
height main=
height alt=
area main= 84 m²
area alt= 904 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 4,560 kg
empty weight alt= 10,053 lb
loaded weight main= 6,920 kg
loaded weight alt= 15,256 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=BMW VI
type of prop= water cooled V-12
number of props=2
power main= 507 kW
power alt= 680 hp
power original=

max speed main= 203 km/h
max speed alt= 110 knots, 126 mph
max speed more= at sea level
cruise speed main= 166 km/h
cruise speed alt= 90 knots, 103 mph
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt= knots, mph-->
range main= 1,062km
range alt= 574 nm, 660 mi
ceiling main= 3,350 m
ceiling alt= 11,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 82.4 kg/m²
loading alt= 16.9 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.066 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.089 hp/lb
more performance=
*Endurance: 5 hours
*Climb to 1,000 m (3,280 ft): 7 min

armament=
* Four DA-2 machine guns in nose and dorsal turrets
* Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs

avionics=

References

* Duffy, Paul and Andrei Kankdalov. (1996) "Tupolev The Man and His aircraft". Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
* Gunston, Bill. "The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1975-1995.". London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1 85532 405 9.