Tupolev TB-1

The Tupolev TB-1The abbreviation TB stands for Тяжёлый бомбардировщик (Tyazholy Bombardirovschik), Russian for 'heavy bomber'. (development name ANT-4) was a Soviet bomber aircraft, an angular monoplane that served as the backbone of the Soviet bomber force for many years, and was the first large all-metal aircraft built in the Soviet Union.

Design and development

In 1924, the Soviet Air Force instructed TsAGI, (Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т (ЦАГИ) - Tsentralniy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut or Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute) to design a heavy-bomber. TsAGI gave the task to the division led by Andrei Tupolev. Tupolev's team designed a twin engined all-metal monoplane with a corrugated Duralumin skin, powered by two Napier Lion engines, the ANT-4.

The first prototype was built during 1925 on the second floor of Tupolev's factory in Moscow, it being necessary to knock down a wall to allow the aircraft to taken out of the building in pieces. After re-assembly at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome, it was flown on 26 November 1925.

Testing was successful, and it was decided to put the ANT-4 into production as the TB-1. Production...
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