Tupolev ANT-20

Tupolev ANT-20 Maxim Gorky

Company type	Aircraft
Industry	Aviation
Founded	July 4, 1933 (1933-07-04)
Founder	Andrei Tupolev
Headquarters	Soviet Union
Products	Large eight-engine airplane

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The Tupolev ANT-20 Maxim Gorky (Russian: Туполев АНТ-20 "Максим Горький", occasionally transliterated as Maksim Gorki) was a Soviet eight-engine airplane, recognized as the largest globally throughout the 1930s. Its wingspan rivaled that of a contemporary Boeing 747, remaining unsurpassed until the 64.6-metre (212 ft) wingspan of the Douglas XB-19 heavy bomber prototype, which first took flight in 1941.

Overview

Conceived by Andrei Tupolev and inspired by German engineer Hugo Junkers' pioneering all-metal aircraft construction methods dating back to 1918, the ANT-20 was assembled between 4 July 1933 and 3 April 1934. It was one of only two such planes produced by the Soviet Union. Named in honor of Maxim Gorky and commemorating four decades of his literary and public contributions, the ANT-20 stood as the largest example to utilize the Junkers company's design principles featuring corrugated metal sheets extensively on critical airframe components, particularly for the skinning.

The Maxim Gorky served as the centerpiece of the Maxim Gorky propaganda aviation group—known as Maxim Gorky Agiteskadril—tasked with touring the Soviet Union to disseminate and celebrate Soviet Communist ideals and accomplishments. To fulfill this mission, it was outfitted with an advanced radio system dubbed "Voice from the sky" (Russian: Голос с неба, romanized: Golos s neba), along with printing presses, a library, radio broadcasting gear, a photographic lab, and a sound-equipped film projector to screen movies during flight. Notably, it featured an innovative folding ladder that integrated seamlessly into the cabin floor when stowed.

This aircraft pioneered simultaneous use of both direct current and alternating current electrical systems. Additionally, it was designed for disassembly and rail transport if required. The ANT-20 established multiple world records related to payload capacity and is immortalized in a 1934 artwork by Vasily Kuptsov, currently housed at the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

1935 Maxim Gorky Accident

File:Vasily kuptsov, Maxim Gorky ANT-20, 1934.JPG

Vasily Kuptsov, Maxim Gorky ANT-20 (1934), Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

On 18 May 1935, the Maxim Gorky, piloted by I. V. Mikheyev and I. S. Zhurov, along with three additional aircraft—a Tupolev ANT-14, a R-5, and a I-5—departed for a demonstration flight above Moscow. The smaller aircraft flew in close proximity to highlight the size contrast with the Maxim Gorky. During this display, the Polikarpov I-5 biplane, flown by Nikolai Blagin, executed two loops around the Maxim Gorky without incident. However, on the third loop, a collision occurred between the two planes. The Maxim Gorky subsequently crashed into a low-rise residential area located west of what is now the Sokol metro station. The accident resulted in 45 fatalities: the fighter pilot, both crew members, all 33 passengers aboard the Maxim Gorky, and nine individuals on the ground.

ANT-20bis

File:Aeroflot ANT-20bis.jpg

Aeroflot's ANT-20bis

Following the loss of the original aircraft, production of a successor, the ANT-20bis (also known as PS-124 or Passazhirsky Samolyot 124, named after its assembly at Plant No. 124), commenced in the subsequent year. This model made its maiden flight in 1938, though some sources cite 15 May 1939 as the date of first flight. The design closely mirrored that of its predecessor but featured six enhanced Mikulin AM-34FRNV engines. On 12 August 1939, Aeroflot acquired this aircraft, which was then deployed on passenger routes within Russia and Uzbekistan. In December 1940, modifications were made to replace the inner two engines (numbers three and four) with slightly more powerful Mikulin AM-35 units. Tragically, on 14 December 1942, the ANT-20bis crashed after a passenger briefly occupied the pilot’s seat and inadvertently engaged the stabilizer control via a switch located on the pilot’s armrest. This action caused the stabilizer to raise abruptly, sending the plane into a steep dive from approximately 500 m (1,600 ft), resulting in the deaths of all 36 people aboard.

Operators

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File:ANT-20bis.jpg

Starboard engine view and mechanic’s observation station integrated into wing structure for in-flight monitoring from ANT-20bis cabin

External links

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