Air giants ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky" and ANT-20bis

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Air giants ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky" and ANT-20bis


At the end of 1932, the fortieth anniversary of the literary and social activity of Alexei Maximovich Gorky was widely celebrated in the Soviet Union. On the eve of the anniversary of the master and the apprentice of the writing workshop, the friends of the writer gathered together and thought. What would such a gift to Gorky on the occasion of the celebration? Boots? Mouthpiece? No, it's not that! The complete works of M. Gorky? Again, not that! Or maybe something related to his literary images? Perhaps it will be something related to the rapid flight, even more precisely: with the proudly rushing petrel ... But what exactly? The final idea was formulated by the famous journalist Mikhail Koltsov, who was the editor of the magazine Ogonyok in those years. He said that it was necessary to "build a giant agit plane, an agitator plane, a winged fighter, personifying the culture of a new society under construction."

The implementation of such a grandiose project in those years was not an unfounded fantasy for Russia. Aviation the science and technology of the young republic worthily continued and increased the successes of pre-revolutionary Russia in the development of heavy aviation, which received, as you know, priority development and even then greatly exceeded the foreign one. N.E. Zhukovsky said that "heavy aviation is the brainchild of Russia." Of course, he was referring to the outstanding achievements of I.I. Sikorsky, who created in 1913 the heavy four-engine aircraft Grand, Russian Knight, Ilya Muromets, which had unique, at that time, flight performance.

The First World War ended, the civil war in Russia. Aviation has become one of the priority sectors in the young Soviet Union. In a fairly short time, a powerful aviation industry was created in the country, and talented aircraft designers were brought up. Created in the late twenties - early thirties original designs of domestic aircraft, their successful flights were known around the world. Already built and made the first in the world ultra-long flight from Moscow to New York, a heavy ANT-4 “Country of the Soviets” aircraft (1929 year). In many capitals of Europe: Berlin, Paris, London, Rome, ANT-9 “Wings of the Soviets” aircraft (1929 year) was demonstrated.

Russia still remained the birthplace of heavy aircraft. Heavy TB-3 and TB-4 bombers, an experienced K-7 aircraft, are being built in the country. In less than a year, the world's largest passenger, five-engined ANT-14 Pravda aircraft was built, which made over a thousand flights without a single accident. His test in August 1931 of the year was conducted by the honored pilot M. M. Gromov. Therefore, the idea of ​​M. Koltsov to build an even more ambitious land giant plane unprecedented in the world was a very real, feasible task. The journalist’s proposal was enthusiastically supported by the entire Soviet public. Prominent writers, journalists, foremost workers, scientists, public figures organized the All-Union Committee for the construction of the Maxim Gorky aircraft. Mikhail Koltsov was elected its chairman.



The news of the construction of the aircraft by the Soviet people was received with enthusiasm. The plane was built truly on folk remedies. Six million rubles were collected by readers of Soviet newspapers and magazines.

25 January 1933, the presidium of the Committee for the construction of a giant aircraft, adopted a decree: to transfer the design and construction of the aircraft to TsAGI as the leading institute of domestic aircraft manufacturing. In the development of an ambitious project was attended by many well-known designers: V.M. Petlyakov, A.A. Arkhangelsky, V.N. Belyaev. B.A. Saukke, E.I. Pogossky and others. He headed the work of A.N. Tupolev. Many enterprises, organizations and research institutes of various industries, the joint work of which was closely coordinated, were involved in the creation of the air giant.

10 March 1933 Chairman of the All-Union Committee M. Koltsov, Chairman of the Construction Department A. Goryanov, Deputy Head of TsAGI, Professor A. Nekrasov, and Chief Designer of the Maxim Gorky Aircraft A. Tupolev signed the contract for the construction of the air giant and M. Koltsov right there handed over to A. Nekrasov the first check in the amount of half a million rubles.

The creation of the ANT-20 aircraft, which in its scheme and design was a further development of the TB-4 bomber, was started by the team of A.N. Tupolev in the 1931 year, but at the end of the 1932 year, in connection with the decision to prioritize the creation of a special campaign aircraft , the appointment of ANT-20 has been changed. The technical requirements for this aircraft, approved at the beginning of 1933, provided for the possibility of its use also as a passenger and transport aircraft, a heavy bomber, and a flying headquarters for the highest military command. On board the aircraft, it was necessary to place equipment and means of agitation: a printing house, a photo lab, a film installation, a loud-speaking installation “Voice from the sky”, several radio stations.

The plane had to be operated from relatively small airfields, the take-off distance was not to exceed 350-400 meters (at TB-4 it was 800 meters). This required to design a wing with a larger area and length. Accordingly, for the power plant, eight M-34FRN aircraft gearboxes with a total power of 7200l had to be used. with. Six engines were located in the wing tip, and a couple, like on the TB-4, was placed in a tandem installation above the fuselage. It was possible to continue horizontal flight when two any motors are disconnected in flight. The on-board compressor unit ensured the launch of all aircraft engines within three minutes.

Under the contract, the new aircraft was supposed to go to factory tests in an unusually short period of time - in just 14 months (by May 1934 of the year).

There were skeptics who believed that a plane of similar take-off weight, if it rose into the air, it would not be able to get on. For example, E. Gray, the editor of the British magazine Aeroplan, wrote: "All that remains for us to do is to give thanks to God for the fact that the Russian imagination significantly and far exceeds the possibilities of implementation by both Russians and others." But despite this unbelief, the talent of A. N. Tupolev, the enthusiasm of the team of builders, the active support of the plan by the entire Soviet people for the “Russian imagination” was translated into reality.



On April 1, 1934, the construction of the Maxim Gorky was completed at the TsAGI plant of experimental structures. Parts of the giant aircraft were transported to the Central Airport. MV Frunze, where its assembly began and then factory tests.

In mid-June, the Maxim Gorky airplane, the 1934, took off for the first time. Piloted by his chief-pilot TsAGI M.M. Gromov. He said about the new car: "Amazing aircraft. It is exceptional in its flight characteristics, its aerodynamics. The machine has impeccable steering. The world's largest aircraft is controlled very conveniently and simply."



The plane was so reliable that on the third day of the flight tests, 19 June 1934, took part in a parade organized in honor of the returning Chelyuskin heroes and the pilots who had saved them - the first Heroes of the Soviet Union. Began regular flights unique aircraft. Soon, new world load ratings were set on it - ten and fifteen tons were raised to the height of 5000 m. Since August 1934, the air giant has become the flagship of the Gorky propaganda squadron.

In terms of its flight weight (42 000 kilograms), the Maxim Gorky aircraft was, until 1950, the largest civilian land plane in the world. Its payload was fourteen tons. Wingspan - giant 63 meters, wheel diameter - two meters. The all-metal aircraft had a fuselage with a length of 32,5 m, a width of 3,5 and a height of 2,5 meter. The total area of ​​the interior exceeded one hundred square meters. For planting a giant car on the ground, the developers have created a special chassis design, with air-oil shock absorbers.



The aircraft was equipped with an automatic telephone station for sixteen subscribers, the original autopilot, electrical mechanisms for moving the steering wheel, various café equipment, passenger 72 cabins and sleeping cabins. The crew reached eight people. It was first used to enter the aircraft, part of the bottom surface of the fuselage reclined as a ramp. For the first time in the world, an alternating current was required on board the aircraft, which was required for various equipment on board that was not previously provided on aircraft. In the process of creating such aircraft as TB-4 and ANT-20, many of the most difficult, for that time, issues of aerodynamics, structural mechanics, numerous onboard and other equipment were solved.



Meanwhile, everyday work was going on in the squadron, the material part of the unique aircraft had been working flawlessly for more than a year. Joyful for the propaganda squadron was the May Day celebration of 1935, when "Maxim Gorky" led the air show of Soviet winged cars over Red Square. On weekdays, he made regular flights over Moscow, conducted an "air baptism" of the best workers of production and drummers of Moscow enterprises.

The misfortune, as usual, happened unexpectedly. In the middle of the day 18 May 1935-th plane again rose above Moscow. It was piloted by pilots I. Mikheev and I. Zhurov. "Maxim Gorky" escorted light aircraft I-5 and P-5, on board which was a cameraman. What happened on that day was published in TsAGI and the Scientific-Memorial Museum of N. Ye. Zhukovsky in the compilation "Aircraft Manufacturing in the USSR. 1917-1945." described as follows: "accompanying Maxim Gorky on the I-5 fighter aircraft, pilot N. P. Blagin began to perform aerobatics in the vicinity of the giant aircraft, which were not provided by the flight mission. When trying to make a loop around the wing of the aircraft, he lost speed at the top point, and his unmanaged car fell on the wing of the Maxim Gorky.



Thirty-three passengers, twelve crew members and the pilot N. Blagin himself died. An absurd catastrophe claimed dozens of human lives and destroyed a unique aircraft. Regarding the death of the giant Maxim Gorky aircraft, many articles were published in the media with different versions of the tragedy. So in the autumn of 1935goda in the Polish press organ of Russian émigrés “The Sword”, it was stated that Blagin consciously and deliberately rammed a giant plane. The newspaper cited a letter allegedly written by Blagin on the eve of the tragic event. Stylistically, the letter was an anti-communist appeal to the citizens of Russia, in which Blagin announced the decision "to avenge the Russian people and destroy several dozen idlers-gangsters, communists, who ride around the neck of ordinary people." This version, by the way, should be rejected immediately. This is nothing more than a falsification of immigrants who dreamed of the beginning of an uprising in the USSR against the communists and giving out their dreams as real. The facts say the opposite.

Blagin, despite his noble birth, voluntarily and out of conviction joined the Bolshevik Party and the Red Army, as early as 1918. In addition, the pilot addressed a written request to the head of TsAGI for the suspension of his flights to escort a giant aircraft, as it distracts him from the main and favorite work - testing new fighter aircraft. In addition, one cannot ignore the fact that the Blagin family not only did not suffer from the persecution of the NKVD, but also received an increased “personal” pension for the deceased, similar to those paid to the rest of the victims of the disaster.

The only thing that is still not known for sure is the question on whose initiative N. Blagin performed the aerobatics. On his own, on instructions from the management or at the request of cameramen who were on the Maxim Gorky plane and who had a long conversation with Blagin before the flight. It is not known what exactly was recorded in his flight mission, whether this flight mission itself was preserved, which was indicated in it. No one also knows whether N. Blagin received from someone verbally the task of performing aerobatic maneuvers, which ones and at what specific minimum distance from Maxim Gorky? As long as these questions remain unanswered, one cannot speak of the immediate cause of the tragedy.

The disaster shook the whole Soviet Union. But the reaction was in the spirit of that era. In exchange for the dead car, the collection of funds began for the construction of 16 new aircraft-giants such as ANT-20. 4 August 1935, the Labor and Defense Council (STO) issued a decree. Although "Maxim Gorky" was an agitplane, all 16 new giants were decided to transfer to civil aviation.

In August, the pilot of the Civil Air Fleet Research Institute Nikolai Novikov, 1939, completed testing a new aircraft - a six-engine multi-seat passenger PS-124 (the second name is ANT-20bis), created in the design office of A.N. Tupolev based on the eight Maxim Gorky. In the future, the new aircraft was to become the main one on the busiest Aeroflot passenger lines of the pre-war years.



Although the main purpose of these aircraft were considered passenger, but in the traditions of those years in wartime they were planned to be used as heavy night bombers and military transport aircraft. In accordance with this, the places for mounting small and bomb armaments were constructively equipped, while the OPB-1 bomb sights and aircraft intercom were to be installed immediately. The main difference between the Maxim Gorky cars was the number of engines. Now there were six, but more powerful ones, such as M-34PH with new metal three-bladed screws.

With full payload (the plane lifted the passenger 64 and crew members 8 into the air), the PS-124 could pass several thousand kilometers without landing. Despite its gigantic size, the speed of the new aircraft reached 225-230 kilometers per hour. As the tests showed, the PS-124 had a good rate of climb, which was extremely important in case of need to quickly break through the clouds, “slip” a small hotbed of icing.

As test pilots of the GVF Research Institute Edward Ivanovich Schwartz and Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov, who conducted state tests of the PS-124, noted in their records, “the plane was obedient to control. All its steering wheels are well compensated and effective, so that the plane responds well to all their actions. When one or even two motors stop on one side, the controlled fletner of the steering wheel fully compensates for the pressure on the foot.



Landing an aircraft, despite its large size, is simple. With a smooth alignment of the steering wheels on himself, he sits on three points without any tendency to jump. On the run is stable. But the pilot must be vigorously slowed down, since the inertia of the large mass of the aircraft lengthens the mileage. Under braking conditions, the car’s mileage does not exceed five hundred meters. ”



Equipped with modern radio navigation aids for that period of time, the ANT-20bis was adapted to fly in difficult meteorological conditions and at night. Both test pilots praised the cockpit of the new aircraft. Spacious, with chairs in which it is pleasant and comfortable to sit. The successful work of the crew contributed to the rational placement of instruments and equipment. Pilot review is excellent. The navigator’s workplace is also equipped with great comfort. All devices, radio equipment, two-way communication, equipment for radio direction finding are located so that the navigator is easy and convenient in flight. In addition, the new aircraft were provided with operational communications and alarm systems. The automatic telephone station on seven telephones connected not only crew members, but also passengers.

By the way, for passengers in the PS-124 was provided a lot of amenities. Three passenger cabins and four sleeping cabins were pleasing the beauty and comfort. In this case, in the first passenger cabin, there were ten passenger seats. In the second - sixteen, and in the third - eight places. In the fourth cabin there was a “restaurant”. The name was quite appropriate, since the plane had a kitchen with an electric stove, a kettle, a fridge, a thermos and even a dishwasher.



In the special four sleeping cabins there were sixteen places for recreation. Here, as in the salons, there are tables, comfortable soft chairs, mirrors, and carpets. The walls are covered with special sound insulation, which allowed in the passenger rooms to speak freely, without raising his voice. Other amenities include: a wardrobe, toilets, a library with reference, artistic and technical literature, etc.



Unfortunately, the tests revealed the shortcomings of the new aircraft. In particular, the flight mechanics remained “in favor”: the aircraft builders, as they say, bypassed them in comfort. The designers took them a place in the wing: each between three motors. They did not make a separate cabin for them and thus did not protect them from the strong noise of engines and the smell of exhaust gases. And because in their recommendations, they wrote; "It would be necessary at the first repair of the aircraft after a certain period of operation to take care to fill this annoying gap ..."

Nevertheless, the state tests of the new Aeroflot flagship were successfully completed. The PS-124 Acceptance Commission concluded that as a result of the tests on the aircraft, only a small number of minor, easily removable defects were detected.

After testing, the giant plane was put into operation on the Moscow-Mineralnye Vody resort lines, where it served until the summer of 1941. From the beginning of the war to the end of 1942, the giant machine was used as a military transport until it crashed during an emergency landing near Tashkent. However, its mass production did not take place: it was driven out by less bulky and easy-to-operate aircraft. Unique winged car, built in a single copy, went into oblivion. In aviation museums there is not even its layout.





Sources:
Rigmant V. ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky" // Aviation and Cosmonautics. 1997. No.11-12. C.65-67.
Kotelnikov V. Passenger aircraft PS-124 // Aviation and Cosmonautics. 2011. No.3. C.10-19.
Matulevich B. Giant air ocean / / Civil Aviation. 1994. No.6. C. 38-39.
Kotelnikov V. Epoch of the Giants // Aviamaster. 2004. No.6. C. 20-22.
Muromov A. The crash of the ANT-20 “Maxim Gorky” // 100 of the great plane crashes. M .: Veche, 2003. C. 72-77.
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  1. +9
    5 November 2015 06: 04
    The legendary plane! Airplane era, symbol.
    1. +8
      5 November 2015 09: 58
      I heard and read in Soviet times about the tragedy of "Maxim Gorky", but I did not know about the fact that the aircraft of this model were also produced and flew!
      Thanks to the author !!! Well, "PLUS"
  2. +9
    5 November 2015 06: 08
    Yes, the USSR was able to build such a giant, but the usual one, for the mass transportation of passengers and cargo around the country - no, had to be bought from the Americans "Douglas".
    1. +11
      5 November 2015 07: 47
      Douglas produced and used half the world. The legendary plane, you can’t imagine anything better at that time. For example, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
  3. +9
    5 November 2015 06: 50
    In the middle of the day, May 18, 1935, the plane again rose above Moscow.

    Grandfather said that he, a simple adjunct of the Air Force Academy, did not get a place for this flight, although they promised. The front-line workers of the production flew, some mid-level party cones, some military men.
    He says it was a shame - horror, and then ... Then he said that everyone had a shock and pain (something like a Kursk, as I understand it now) for all the aviators. Yes, probably, and not only for them.
  4. +19
    5 November 2015 07: 03
    Quote: svp67
    Yes, the USSR was able to build such a giant, but the usual one, for the mass transportation of passengers and cargo around the country - no, had to be bought from the Americans "Douglas".

    Reasonable then was the country's leadership. Purchased exclusively new, best and most promising world models. And at the same time, they themselves made record and unique cars. And foreign cars were mastered in production with their technologies and, starting from world experience, they went further, becoming in many respects world leaders.
    1. +16
      5 November 2015 10: 03
      That's it. Together with the license for the Douglas, which was later produced in the USSR under the name PS-84 (the last modifications were called Li-2 in honor of the plant director Lisunov), then they acquired the technology for the manufacture of aircraft by the most advanced plaza-template method at that time - all the same that conveyor assembly in production. Until the outbreak of World War II, this plazo-template production method was never mastered by such an advanced country in terms of aviation development as France. And in the USSR, and thanks to this, during the war years, the Soviet aircraft industry was able to dramatically increase the volume of aircraft production.
      I have the honor.
      1. +3
        5 November 2015 14: 33
        Quote: Alexander72
        Together with the license for "Douglas", which was later produced in the USSR under the name PS-84 (the latest modifications were called Li-2 in honor of the director of the plant Lisunov)
        On September 17, 1942, Lieutenant General F.A. signed by the head of the Civil Air Fleet. Astakhov and the military commissar of the Civil Air Fleet, Brigadier Commissar Antonov, order No. 72 “On renaming the PS-84 aircraft,” which said: “Based on the order of the KA Air Force No. 0174 of September 8, 1942, the PS-84 aircraft will henceforth be referred to as Li-2 (Lisunov- 2). ” An order was prepared on September 16, 1942, the name of the performer is Snytkin.
        In accordance with the decree of the Defense Committee, which appeared in December 1940, the order of the People’s Commissar of Aviation Industry No. 704 of December 9, 1940 established the following procedure for assigning a name to an aircraft: it should include the first letters of the name of the machine’s designer (s) and the number even for military transport and bomber aircraft. The name was introduced directly by order of the People's Commissar of the aviation industry.
        B.P. In the 42nd year, Lisunov was the chief engineer of the plant number 84 and had nothing to do with the design of the PS-84 aircraft. The birth of this name looks somewhat unusual. The first letters did not belong to the designer, but the order of the people's commissar to rename the aircraft to Li-2 appeared much later than the order of the head of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet.
        In addition, the wording “... based on the order of the KA Air Force ...” looks strange. The link could only be on the order of the Air Force Commander, but the word “commander” is not in the text. Whose order was this?
        In one of the following orders signed by Astakhov, the aircraft is referred to as LI-2 (PS-84), and later as LI-2 or Li-2.
        If you follow the logic of events, then the name of the aircraft, produced in September 1942, could be the name "Ce-2" (Senkov-2) - in honor of the chief designer of the plant number 84, who developed the military version of the PS-84. Without detracting from Lisunov’s merits in the deployment of machine production in Tashkent, preference should probably be given to the director of the plant, Yarunin, whose shoulders laid the brunt of responsibility for the plant’s activities, including the continuous improvement of the PS-84 aircraft. One could call the aircraft “Mo-2” - in honor of the chief designer (head of design bureau) of the plant No. 84 Mosolov, who had decided by this time a number of problems of modernization of the PS-84. And best of all, use the name "Sem-2" - according to the names of the main designer of the military version of the aircraft Senkov and his deputy and successor in this matter Mosolov. In the documents of the Air Force the name “Li-2” appears only in the second half of 1943.
        None of the above "applicants" in perpetuating their name in the famous American transport aircraft was not an aircraft designer. In addition, Lisunov's surname, as we can see, was ideally suited to the "license" one, and as the chief engineer, Lisunov undoubtedly performed a large amount of work to introduce improvements. The absence of the name of the Soviet designer in the name of the aircraft explained the fact that the aircraft was designed by a foreign designer, and the Li-2 is only licensed, by the way, not the best copy.
  5. +11
    5 November 2015 07: 44
    We were born to make a fairy tale come true ... What people stood at the head of the country and aviation. And now we have Serdyukov ...
    1. +3
      5 November 2015 14: 38
      Quote: avia12005
      What kind of people were at the head of the country and aviation. And now we have Serdyukov ..

      Beauties, heroic pilots of night light bombers Po-2. But at the head of the country and aviation were other people.
  6. +2
    5 November 2015 07: 48
    However, its mass production did not take place: it was replaced by less bulky and easy to operate aircraft... But the experience is not drunk .. came in handy .. a little later ..The unique winged car, built in a single copy, went into oblivion. In aviation museums there is not even her layout....It's a pity, thank you
  7. -1
    5 November 2015 08: 36
    qwert (1) RU Today, 07: 03 New

    Quote: svp67
    Yes, the USSR was able to build such a giant, but the usual one, for the mass transportation of passengers and cargo around the country - no, had to be bought from the Americans "Douglas".

    Reasonable then was the country's leadership. Purchased exclusively new, best and most promising world models.

    As an example, bought the 100th Heinkels and did not buy the 87th Junkers?
    1. +9
      5 November 2015 09: 21
      Quote: Yarik
      As an example, bought the 100th Heinkels and did not buy the 87th Junkers?


      And why did you need to buy a car, known even in Spain, if the prototype already had an SU-2? Many, however, succumbed to the fashion of the near bomber then7
      A planned shopping list:
      - He 100 with steam cooling
      - He 100 with conventional water cooling,
      - Bf 109E,
      - Bf 110C,
      - bombers Ju 88, Do 215,
      - Bu 131 “Jungmann”, Bu 133 “Jungmeister” (training)
      - Me 209,
      - Fw 226 (helicopters!)
      rather than talking about the desire to obtain a license for their production, as in the case of "Douglas", but about the desire to find out the level of development and tendencies of aircraft construction in Germany and, if there are good ideas, to steal something.
    2. +12
      5 November 2015 10: 13
      The Junkers Ju-87, with its non-retractable landing gear in bulky "trousers" - fairings of the main struts and weak defensive armament by the beginning of the 40s was already considered an outdated machine. Another thing is that no one expected the Germans to be able to use it so effectively (I'm not talking about Münghausen on the core, ugh, that is, of course not about Rudel on the "piece"!) Especially if the enemy does not have air defense as a class. In contrast, the Heinkel He-100, especially in the version with an evaporative cooling system, was considered a very advanced fighter design. Buying aircraft in Germany, our side primarily pursued the goal of getting acquainted with the promising machines and the latest achievements of the aircraft industry of the 3rd Reich, which in those conditions was very important for us - I think that few of the USSR leadership doubted that early or later will have to fight Nazi Germany. Of all the aircraft purchased in Germany, they copied and reproduced in the series (albeit in a very small one) only the light multipurpose aircraft "Fieseler" Fi-156 "Storh", which in the USSR became OKA-38 "Aist" (by the way, the first aircraft of O.K. . Antonova).
      I have the honor.
    3. 0
      5 November 2015 14: 43
      Quote: Yarik
      As an example, bought the 100th Heinkels and did not buy the 87th Junkers?

      In vain, It would seem outdated and slow-moving, the Yu-87 proved to be excellent during the war as an effective dive bomber. There were many stories of veterans how much blood he drank.
    4. +3
      5 November 2015 16: 48
      Somewhere it came across (it seems to be I. Shelest, but I’m not sure) that the He-100 was considered a very promising fighter. But survivability was nowhere lower. It is we who NOW know what this or that plane was, and then the knowledge was incomplete.
  8. 0
    5 November 2015 11: 35
    Oh war, war! How many unrealized projects!
  9. +1
    5 November 2015 11: 51
    There are always rules. The pilot violated them. I decided to show my "I" without permission. Someone became a hero, flying under the bridge, and in this case, a disaster.
    1. +5
      5 November 2015 14: 49
      Quote: bandabas
      There are always rules. The pilot violated them

      There were publications where it was asserted that this was not a violation, but a task. Moreover, this is confirmed by the presence of cameramen on the escort plane. By that time, "Maxim Gorky" had flown for a long time and what was there to shoot if the flight was a private? Unfortunately, the show ended in tragedy.
  10. +8
    5 November 2015 13: 48
    A good article, but it would be worthwhile to dwell in more detail on the concept as a result of which such giants were actually built - after all, the MG was not designed as a passenger or propaganda plane. It was actually converted into a propaganda plane when the Air Force abandoned the concept of "air battleships" ... Huge, with a gigantic payload, studded with turrets, but very slow-moving and unmanageable ...

    But apocalyptic paintings were drawn in the style of steampunk when squadrons of such ships equipped with steam turbines instead of ICE would overshadow the sun over enemy cities ...
  11. +4
    5 November 2015 17: 01
    Of the airplane, of course, it was known, but I see the photos of the interior for the first time.
    I wonder where the Techie gets so much interesting and rarely found information. Respect!
    1. Alf
      +1
      5 November 2015 21: 13
      Quote: AlexA
      I wonder where the Techie gets so much interesting and rarely found information.

      Do not burn the source, otherwise the bloody gebenna does not sleep. Joke.
      But seriously, I read Techie’s articles with pleasure, and the numbers are easy to read, not like breaking through the jungle.
  12. +3
    5 November 2015 17: 23
    Beauty and Pride of the Soviet aircraft industry!
  13. +1
    5 November 2015 20: 51
    In the old newsreel, for some reason, the moment of the collision is not shown. Cut out ???
  14. +2
    5 November 2015 21: 01
    In the article: "... Since August 1934, the air giant has become the flagship of the M. Gorky propaganda squadron."
    In the book "Tu - Man and Airplane". L. L. Kerber. Publishing House "Soviet Russia". 1973: "On May 18, 1935, the last two flights of Maxim Gorky were scheduled, after which the plane was transferred from TsAGI to the agitation squadron."
    Where is the truth?
  15. +2
    5 November 2015 21: 18
    Thanks to the author! About passenger and even flying for the first time I read. hi
  16. +1
    6 November 2015 11: 28
    Unfortunately, Tupolev used outdated technical solutions that were tested but already in order in this machine, but it was impressive. The real embodiment of a diesel engine. Immediately I recall Porco Rosso Miyazaki.
  17. +2
    6 November 2015 22: 40
    I read about Soviet giant planes earlier and this article did not become a revelation, but I still liked it because of its quality factor and the wide attraction of various sources. Although it was possible to tell a couple of words about TB-16, more about the G-20 accident near Tashkent (everywhere only a statement of the fact of the accident). But I was just struck by the illustrations! I certainly haven’t met such a quantity anywhere, many thanks to the author for his work!
    And I also have a question for dear Alexander 72. About the air defense of which army did you mention as absent as a class? If about the anti-aircraft gunners of the Red Army, then I want to argue: it was in the USSR that German pilots from the very beginning of the war were unpleasantly surprised by the skillful actions and accuracy of our anti-aircraft crews (Schwabedissen). And if you meant that the Ju-87 could be used only where the enemy's air defense was absent as a class, then here it is also not entirely true: the absence or presence of air defense did not greatly affect the efficiency of these dive bombers. Guaranteed to shoot down the Junkers-87 during his attack, when its height and speed are constantly and, most importantly, change very quickly, it was possible only with dense concentrated rifle and machine-gun fire of the infantry, together with anti-aircraft artillery fire. This is not for you to shoot down horizontal bombers where the main thing is to correctly determine the altitude of their flight and approximately know the flight speed. But for fighters, the "laptezhnik" was a relatively simple target, and if our "hawks" could establish clearer interaction with ground units, and not patrol their airfields, then perhaps the star of Junkers-87 would have rolled back in 1941, after all, apart from the Western Front they were nowhere to be found.
  18. 0
    7 November 2015 17: 33
    Good article. thank!
  19. 0
    8 November 2015 19: 17
    The plane is a breakthrough! And how absurdly his story was interrupted. It is a pity. hi
  20. 0
    9 November 2015 20: 57
    great era! if it weren’t for the war, many wonderful projects could see the light and maybe now the Boeing would set the fashion in aircraft construction
  21. 0
    17 July 2017 13: 30
    He flew on the Moscow-Min line. Water

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"