| MTB-2 (ANT-44) | |
|---|---|
| Role | Flying boat/Amphibian |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| First flight | 19 April 1937 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Soviet Union |
| Number built | Two |
Tupolev MTB-2 (Russian: Морской Тяжелый Бомбардировщик — Heavy Naval Bomber), also known as ANT-44, was a four-engine flying boat designed in the Soviet Union in 1935.
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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 Major 14Kdrs M-85 radial engines as well as underslung stabilizing floats, construction of the first flying boat prototype began in 1934. [1]
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.[2]
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:[2]
Only the two MTB-2 prototypes were built as war interrupted any further development and both aircraft were pressed into service in the Black Sea region. The ANT-44D piloted by I. M. Sukhomlin saw limited operational use in 1941-1943 both as a bomber and transport.[2]Other special tasks such as emergency supply flights were also undertaken in the Black Sea area.[1]
Data from [2]
General characteristics
Performance
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