View source for Engineering:Tupolev ANT-7

{{Short description|Russian military aircraft}}
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 |name=R-6
 |image=
 |caption=Tupolev R-6 multi-role aircraft
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
 |type= Experimental aircraft
 |manufacturer= Tupolev
 |designer=[[Organization:TsAGI|TsAGI]]
 |first flight= 20 October 1929
 |introduced= 1930s
 |retired= 1941
 |status= Retired
 |primary user= {{wipe|Soviet Air Forces}}
 |more users= Aeroflot <br /> Avia Arktika
 |produced= 1931–1934
 |number built= 411
 |variants with their own articles=
 |developed from= [[Engineering:Tupolev TB-1|Tupolev TB-1]]
}}
|}

The '''Tupolev ANT-7''', known by the {{wipe|Soviet Air Forces}} as the '''Tupolev R-6''' ( R – ''razvedchik'' – reconnaissance), was a reconnaissance aircraft and escort fighter of the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet Union]]. The R-6 traces its roots back to early 1928 when the {{wipe|Soviet Air Force}} needed  a long-range multirole aircraft. The requirements were that it could be used for long-range transport, defensive patrolling, reconnaissance, light bombing and torpedo attack.

==Design and development==
Under Ivan Pogosski and guided by [[Biography:Andrei Tupolev|Andrei Tupolev]], [[Organization:TsAGI|TsAGI]] developed the ANT-7 from the [[Engineering:Tupolev TB-1|Tupolev TB-1]] by scaling it down by about one third.<ref name=Gunston/> Power for the ANT-7 was intended to be provided by two {{convert|388|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} – {{convert|455|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} Hispano Suiza engines or {{convert|313|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}}  Bristol Jupiter engines, but the prototype was powered by two {{convert|373|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} – {{convert|529|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} BMW VI engines.

The first flight of the ANT-7 took place on 11 September 1929, piloted by Mikhail Gromov. Flight tests started in March 1930 after TsAGi decided to postpone them until after the winter. That summer, the NII-VVS (''Nauchno-Issledovatel'skiy Institut Voyenno-Vozdooshnykh Seel'' – air force scientific test institute) conducted state tests which revealed tailplane buffeting, which was alleviated by fitting enlarged elevators. The next flight encountered radiator damage and an engine failure, but in spite of this, the  ANT-7 passed the state acceptance tests.

==Operational history==
Production aircraft were designated  '''R-6''' by the Soviet Air Force. The first production aircraft was rolled off the GAZ-22, (GAZ – ''Gosudarstvenny Aviatsionnyy Zavod'' – state aviation plant/factory), assembly line in November 1931, a year after production started. Another 410 aircraft were made during the following three years: 385 at GAZ-22 in [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]] (one of these was the R-6 Limuzin), five at GAZ-31 in Taganrog (floatplanes designated KR-6P), and 20 more at GAZ-12 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

The standard aircraft crew consisted of the pilot, gunner and observer and the aircraft was able to carry {{convert|113.4|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} of bombs to a distance of up to {{convert|965.6|km|mi|abbr=on|0}}. Some were built with floats as the '''MP-6''', (also known as '''KR-6P'''), for maritime patrol duties. Another variant was the KR-6 (KR – ''Kreiser Razveyedchik'' – cruiser reconnaissance), which had two PV-2 machine guns and a second gunner, that was later relegated to training duties.

By 1935, the R-6 was becoming obsolete, and several were transferred to Aeroflot and Avia Arktika, which used them to carry passengers and cargo in Siberia before the Great Patriotic War, designated '''PS-7-2M17''' (the "2M17" showed that the aircraft were powered by two Mikulin M-17s), or as '''MP-6-2M17''' if  floats were attached.

==Variants==
;ANT-7:The OKB designation of the project and prototype, powered by two {{convert|544.4|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} BMW VI V-12 engines.
;R-6:(R – ''Razvyedchik'' – reconnaissance) reconnaissance version, powered by two {{convert|544.4|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} Mikulin M-17F V-12 engines. first flight 1929, trials 1930.
;KR-6:(KR – ''Kreiser Razvyedchik'' – cruiser reconnaissance) escort fighter version 1934, powered by two {{convert|507.1|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} Mikulin M-17 V-12 engines, fitted with two PV-2 machine guns and a second gunner.
;KR-6P:Alternative designation of the MR-6 floatplane version.
;MP-6 2M-17:(''Morskoj Paassazhirskii'' – seaplane passenger transport) Civil floatplane version, powered by two {{convert|507.1|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} Mikulin M-17 V-12 engines..
;PS-7 2M-17:(''Paassazhirskii'' – passenger transport) Civil transport version PS-7 2M-17, cargo and passenger transport, first versions open cockpit, one version enclosed.
;MR-6:(''Morskoj razvyedchik'' – maritime reconnaissance) R-6, torpedo bomber version, 1932.
;P-6:(''Paassazhirskii'' – passenger transport) Civil cargo and passenger transport version.
;R-6 Limuzin:Nine-seat civil transport version with a closed cockpit and a seven-seat cabin with glass windows and a luggage compartment. Powered by two {{convert|544.4|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} BMW VI V-12 engines. First flown in July 1933, the sole R-6L crashed on 5 September 1933 as a result of a maintenance error.
;ANT-18:Ground attack version with two Mikulin M-34 engines, armor protection, and two dorsally-mounted machine guns.<ref>Gordon & Rigamant</ref>

==Operators==
;Military operators
;{{USSR}}
*{{wipe|Soviet Air Force}}
*Soviet Naval Aviation

;Civil operators
;{{USSR}}
*Aeroflot
*Avia Arktika

==Accidents and incidents==
*June 23, 1941: A Dalstroi Aviation PS-7 crashed on takeoff from Chokurdakh after the left float struck a submerged log; all five on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.airdisaster.ru/database.php?id=695|script-title=ru:Авария ПС-7 авиаотряда Дальстроя НКВД СССР в Чокурдахе|language= ru|trans-title= Accident PS-7 Dalstroi Aviation near Chokurdakh|publisher= airdisaster.ru|access-date= 2014-11-13}}</ref>
*October 19, 1943: A Dalstroi Aviation PS-7 crashed on takeoff from Zyryanka owing to improper luggage loading caused by crew error; all 12 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.airdisaster.ru/database.php?id=696|script-title=ru:Авария ПС-7 авиаотряда Дальстроя НКВД СССР в Зырянке|language= ru|trans-title= Accident PS-7 Dalstroi Aviation near Zyrianka|publisher= airdisaster.ru|access-date= 2014-11-13}}</ref>

==Specifications (R-6)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875 – 1995<ref name=Gunston>Gunston 1995a, pp. 388–389</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=four
|capacity=
|length m=15.06
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=23.2
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=80
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=3,856
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=6,472
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift note=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Mikulin M-17F
|eng1 type=V-12 water-cooled piston engines
|eng1 kw=540<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|eng2 number=
|eng2 name=
|eng2 type=
|eng2 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng2 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng2 note=
|eng2 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng2 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|eng3 number=
|eng3 name=
|eng3 type=
|eng3 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng3 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng3 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng3 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng3 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng3 note=
|eng3 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng3 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|more power=

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=230
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level {{convert|216|km/h|mph|abbr=on|0}} at {{convert|3,000|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=800
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=5,620
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=2.7
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=81
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=0.170 kW/kg (0.10 hp/lb)
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=<br/>
* '''Take-off distance:''' –  {{convert|160|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} / 11 seconds
* '''Landing distance:''' –  {{convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} at {{convert|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on|0}}
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=
*5 × {{convert|7.62|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} [[Engineering:Degtyaryov machine gun|DA-2 machine guns]]
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|related=
* [[Engineering:Tupolev TB-1|Tupolev TB-1]]
* [[Engineering:Tupolev ANT-8|Tupolev ANT-8]]
* [[Engineering:Tupolev ANT-9|Tupolev ANT-9]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[Engineering:List of interwar military aircraft|List of interwar military aircraft]]
* List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Duffy, Paul & Kandalov, Andrei. (1996) ''Tupolev, The Man and His Aircraft''. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: Society of Automotive Engineers. {{ISBN|1-56091-899-3}}
* {{cite book|last1=Gordon|first1=Yefim|last2=Rigamant|first2=Vladimir |title=OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft|publisher=Midland Publishing|location=Hinckley, England|year=2005|isbn=1-85780-214-4|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995|publisher=Osprey|location=London|year=1995a|isbn=1-85532-405-9|}}
* {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|title=Tupolev Aircraft since 1922|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1995b|isbn=1-55750-882-8}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kulikov|first1=V.|last2=Kotel'nikov|first2=V.|name-list-style=amp |title=Les Tupolev ANT-7 et dérivés: des avions victimes du "mal de mer" |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=January 2001 |issue=94 |pages=48–54 |trans-title=The Tupolev ANT-7 and its Derivatives: The Aircraft Victims of "Seasickness" |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kulikov|first1=V.|last2=Kotel'nikov|first2=V.|name-list-style=amp |title=Un B.C.R. à la soviétique: le Tupolev R-6/KR-6 et ses dérivés|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=February 2001 |issue=95 |pages=35–40 |trans-title=A Soviet B.C.R.: The Tupolev R-6/KR-6 and its Derivatives |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Kulikov|first1=V.|last2=Kotel'nikov|first2=V.|name-list-style=amp |title=Les Tupolev R-6 et leurs dérivés durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=January 2001 |issue=94 |pages=48–55 |trans-title=The Tupolev R-6 and Their Derivatives During the Second World War |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}

* {{Aviation.ru}}

{{Tupolev aircraft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tupolev Ant-7}}
[[Category:Tupolev aircraft|ANT-07]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Tupolev ANT-7}}