Tupolev MTB-2
Encyclopedia
Tupolev
MTB-2 ( — Heavy Naval Bomber), also known as ANT-44, was a four-engine flying boat
designed in the Soviet Union
in 1935.
14Kdrs M-85 radial engines as well as underslung stabilizing floats, construction of the first flying boat prototype began in 1934.
The first of two prototypes flew on 19 April 1937 with T. V. Ryabenko and D. N. Ilyunskiy at the controls. With factory trials commenced in November 1937, a decision in the following month to have uprated Tumansky M-87 627 kW (840 hp) engines installed. In 1938, the prototype was modified into an amphibian
version and the engines were again replaced with 709 kW (950 hp) M-87A engines.
The second prototype, designated ANT-44bis or ANT-44D was an amphibious aircraft powered by four M-87A engines. With I. M. Sukhomlin at the controls, the aircraft was used to set a number of world records in its class:
region. The ANT-44D piloted by I. M. Sukhomlin saw limited operational use in 1941-1943 both as a bomber and transport.Other special tasks such as emergency supply flights were also undertaken in the Black Sea area.
Tupolev
Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Basmanny District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Known officially as Public Stock Company Tupolev, it is the successor of the Tupolev OKB or Tupolev Design Bureau headed by the Soviet aerospace engineer A.N. Tupolev...
MTB-2 ( — Heavy Naval Bomber), also known as ANT-44, was a four-engine flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
designed in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1935.
Design and development
The ANT-44 was designed as a long range maritime reconnaissance/bomber flying boat. Employing an all-metal construction, with a shoulder-mounted semi-gull wing that incorporated four 604 kW (810 hp) Gnome-Rhône Mistral MajorGnome-Rhône Mistral Major
|-See also:-References:* Danel, Raymond and Cuny, Jean. L'aviation française de bombardement et de renseignement 1918-1940 Docavia n°12, Editions Larivière...
14Kdrs M-85 radial engines as well as underslung stabilizing floats, construction of the first flying boat prototype began in 1934.
The first of two prototypes flew on 19 April 1937 with T. V. Ryabenko and D. N. Ilyunskiy at the controls. With factory trials commenced in November 1937, a decision in the following month to have uprated Tumansky M-87 627 kW (840 hp) engines installed. In 1938, the prototype was modified into an amphibian
Amphibious aircraft
An amphibious aircraft or amphibian is an aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water. Fixed-wing amphibious aircraft are seaplanes that are equipped with retractable wheels, at the expense of extra weight and complexity, plus diminished range and fuel economy compared to planes...
version and the engines were again replaced with 709 kW (950 hp) M-87A engines.
The second prototype, designated ANT-44bis or ANT-44D was an amphibious aircraft powered by four M-87A engines. With I. M. Sukhomlin at the controls, the aircraft was used to set a number of world records in its class:
- 17 June 1940: altitude of 7,595 m (24,918 ft) without payload
- 17 June 1940: altitude of 7,134 m (23,406 ft) with 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) payload
- 19 June 1940: altitude of 6,284 m (20,617 ft) with 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) payload
- 19 June 1940: altitude of 5,219 m (17,123 ft) with 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) payload
- 28 September 1940: maximum speed of 277.4 km/h (150 kn, 172 mph) over 1,000 km (540 nmi, 621 mi) with 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) payload
- 7 October 1940: maximum speed of 241.9 km/h (131 kn, 150 mph) over 1,000 km (540 nmi, 621 mi) with 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) payload
Operational history
Only the two MTB-2 prototypes were built as war interrupted any further development and both aircraft were pressed into service in the Black SeaBlack Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
region. The ANT-44D piloted by I. M. Sukhomlin saw limited operational use in 1941-1943 both as a bomber and transport.Other special tasks such as emergency supply flights were also undertaken in the Black Sea area.