ANT-14 'Pravda' by A.N.Tupolev

30k b/w from ANT-14 "Pravda" at the Virtual Aircraft Museum

Large passenger aircraft, development of the ANT-9 layout. It also utilized number of TB-3, including the wing (with slightly increased span) and landing gear. Fifth engine was installed in the nose.

Aircraft was built less than in a year, and on August 14, 1931 M.M.Gromov tried it in the air. Next day another flight was performed, and soon trials were concluded with 100% positive result. No shortcomings were found. The only correction was addition of four passenger seats.

Unfortunately, USSR had no capacities for mass production of such an airliner. There were also no internal market for large aircraft (one of the largest passenger planes of its time!). ANT-14 was transferred to Propaganda 'regiment' named after Maxim Gorky, where it served as a flagship for many years. It was used mostly for commercial amusement flight over Moscow. More than 1000 flights were performed, about 40000 passengers were carried without a glitch during 10 years. Two flights were performed to Kharkiv, one - to Leningrad.

ANT-14 served until its resources run out. It was transferred to exposition of military equipment, where it served as a documentary movie theater during the Great Patriotic War.

20k b/w drawing "History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.1 p.466

Predecessors		Modifications
ANT-9	TB-3	???

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References
"History of aircraft construction in the USSR", Vol.1 p.466-467;
Links
ANT-14 "Pravda" ANT-14 "Pravda" at the Virtual Aircraft Museum	ANT-14, Tupolev A.N.Tupolev aircraft