NOTE:
RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
Produced as a model to show the world the superiority of the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, the Tupolev ANT-20 was the largest aircraft of its time. It set a number of world records for its class.
The ANT-20 was designed by Andrei Tupolev. Its components were produced in numerous locations throughout the Soviet Union. That is much like the manufacturing of aircraft of today by major corporations. Their components are often made throughout the world.
It is said that thousands of workers participated in the Tupolev ANT-20 construction with final assembly taking place in Moscow.
As an example of the Soviet Union, it was intended that the Tupolev ANT-20 would be the most modern, technically advanced aircraft built to date. Due to its size the huge aircraft was a technical and financial challenge to construct. It is estimated to have taken some 750,000 man hours to build.
In reality the aircraft continued in the tradition of its recent predecessors. It was made primarily from steel cross members using steel sheeting as covering. The sheeting did not contribute to the structural integrity of the aircraft. The wings were designed using a main spar for
strength. Cables ran from the cockpit to the engines, ailerons, elevator, and rudder for control. The landing gear of the ANT-20 were not retractable and did not have wheel brakes.
The first public flight of the aircraft took place over Red Square where it was witnessed by thousands of people celebrating a national holiday. It was praised by the Soviet press for its advanced features and excellence of design.
However, aviation experts outside of the Soviet Union were critical of the ANT-20. They described it as an enlarged design of a current aircraft, with no new technology. Its construction was said to be of low quality using flawed materials.
About a year after its first flight the Tupolev ANT-20 met its demise when a fighter escort collided with it, sending both down. Some 45 people perished as a result.
The Soviet Union produced a second aircraft with the same ANT-20 designation. It was outwardly similar to the original without the push-pull engines on its centerline. It was used primarily as a passenger transport from 1938 through 1942.
transport
eight
Mikulin V-12
8 x 900 hp ea.
62,700 lbs.
116,600 lbs.
unknown
72 passengers
107' 11"
206' 8"
122 mph
137
mph
500 fpm
15,000 feet
750 miles
5/18/34
1934
Radio
Control Airplane
A rc Tupolev ANT-20 on display.
Radio Control Airplanes
Pictured above is the rc Tupolev ANT-20 scale model on display at the Le Bourget-Musee de l'Air in France. We do not have any information about its builder, wingspan, length,
weight, or engines.
The first picture below is of Martin Hunter holding his rc Tupolev ANT-20. It has a 64" wingspan, is powered by LPS B2C motors, and weighs just 1 lb. 4 oz.
The next two pictures below are of a scratch built rc giant scale Tupolev ANT-20 also built by Martin Hunter. It has a 126" wingspan and uses CD ROM motors for power.
Weight of the scale model radio control airplane is only 5 1/2 lbs.
You can download 3 view drawings from which to help build a rc Tupolev ANT-20 at Blueprints. com.
Dick Nadine at RC Universe started a build thread for a rc Tupolev ANT-20 scale model rc airplane. Its wingspan is 60".
Laddie Mikulasko scratch built a rc Tupolev ANT-20 with a wingspan of 99". It uses Speed 400 motors for power and weighs about 13 1/2 lbs.
Tupolev ANT-20
