Antonov A-7

Antonov A-7

Company type	Military glider
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1941
Founder	Oleg Antonov
Products	Military transport gliders

The Antonov A-7 served as a lightweight Soviet military glider during the Second World War.

Development

Following the German invasion in 1941, Soviet command identified the necessity for transport gliders and commissioned several designs. Oleg Antonov proposed a light glider based on preliminary concepts drafted in 1939. Initially designated RF-8 (Rot Front-8), it represented a scaled-up version of the RF-7 sports glider. After testing, its capacity was increased from five to seven occupants, including the pilot.

Constructed entirely of wood, the A-7 featured a high-wing monoplane design with retractable landing gear.

Evaluations conducted in late 1941 led to production approval under the name A-7 (Antonov, seven seats). Around 400 units were manufactured.

An experimental variant emerged in late 1942 to early 1943: a tanker glider equipped with a 1000-litre fuel tank. This version was towed by a DB-3 bomber and intended for in-flight refueling to extend range; however, it did not enter mass production.

Operational history

Together with the Gribovsky G-11, the A-7 formed the core of Soviet transport gliders. Their primary role involved delivering supplies, weapons, equipment, and trained personnel to Soviet partisans. The peak period of deployment occurred between April and November 1943 across Belarus, particularly in the Polotsk-Begoml-Lepel corridor. Hundreds of Soviet gliders of various models conducted nocturnal supply missions during this timeframe. Upon landing, these gliders were typically destroyed, with pilots occasionally retrieved by aircraft. In 1944, they continued to support partisan groups in select regions and were also utilized for inserting sabotage teams behind enemy lines; however, the limited capacity of the A-7 restricted its effectiveness for such operations. Towing was primarily performed by SB or Ilyushin DB-3 bombers, with the DB-3 capable of towing two A-7s simultaneously.

A distinctive mission involved establishing an air bridge from Moscow to the Stalingrad area in November 1942 to rapidly supply antifreeze coolant for tanks during the battle of Stalingrad.

While regarded as a successful design, the A-7 had less capacity compared to the G-11 light glider. Additionally, cargo space was constrained by seat arrangement and structural elements linked to the retractable landing gear within the central compartment. The glider could carry seven personnel (including pilot) or up to 900 kg of freight.

Description

Featuring a high-wing design and predominantly wooden construction, the fuselage employed a semi-monocoque structure with a rectangular cross-section. The cockpit, accommodating a single pilot, was positioned at the front. Directly behind this was a cargo area outfitted with seating for six passengers: two seats were arranged opposite each other on the front sides, another pair on the rear sides, and two centrally placed seats facing forward and backward. Access was provided by double doors located on the left side at the front and on the right side at the rear; to open these doors, the seats adjacent to them (left front and right rear) had to be lifted first. Small circular windows were installed both in the doors and on the fuselage side opposite each door. The wings consisted of three sections covered with plywood and fabric. The landing gear was manually retractable, with its cantilever supports housed within the transport compartment between the two central seats. For landing, the glider could touch down on a skid positioned beneath the fuselage to reduce stopping distance.

Operators

Template:USSR

• Soviet Air Force

External links

• A-7 (RF-8) at Ugolok Neba (in Russian)
• Plan and description (in Russian)