ANT-14
Tupolev · Passenger transport / propaganda aircraft · Soviet Union · Interwar (1919–1938)
The Tupolev ANT-14 (Soviet name Pravda, Russian for "Truth") was a Soviet five-engine 36-passenger airliner — at the time of its 1931 first flight, the largest civil airliner in the world. Andrei Tupolev designed the ANT-14 at TsAGI in 1929-1930; the prototype first flew on 14 August 1931. Only one ANT-14 was built — the aircraft served as Aeroflot's flagship demonstration aircraft on Soviet propaganda flights until retirement in 1942.
The ANT-14 used all-metal Kolchugaluminium construction. Five Gnome-Rhône Jupiter 9-cylinder radials (480 hp each). Maximum speed 195 km/h, range 1,200 km, service ceiling 4,220 m. Capacity: 36 passengers + 5 crew (pilot + co-pilot + radio operator + 2 cabin stewards). The cabin layout featured paired seats, large windows, and a forward galley — luxurious for the period. The aircraft was specifically designed to outdo the German Junkers G.38 and American Sikorsky S-40 in the international large-airliner competition of the early 1930s.
ANT-14 service was limited to Aeroflot demonstration roles. The single airframe served Moscow propaganda flights — flying passengers in joyrides over the capital, demonstrating Soviet aviation role to foreign visitors, and serving as a publicity vehicle. The aircraft never entered scheduled passenger service because operating five engines was uneconomical for the available routes. The ANT-14 was retired in 1942 and the airframe was scrapped during WWII; the cabin became a movie theatre / cafe on Moscow's Tushino airfield until destroyed in WWII bombing.
Variants
- ANT-14 (sole prototype)
- Single airframe built 1931. Five Gnome-Rhône Jupiter engines. Served Aeroflot Moscow demonstration role 1932-1942.
Notable Operators
- Aeroflot
- Sole operator. Moscow demonstration flights only — never entered scheduled passenger service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the ANT-14 the world's largest airliner?
At first flight in August 1931, yes. The ANT-14 carried 36 passengers in a 40-metre-wingspan all-metal airframe. The German Junkers G.38 (1929) carried 30 passengers in a 44-metre-wingspan airframe. The American Sikorsky S-40 (1931) carried 38 passengers but had a slightly shorter wingspan. The three were roughly contemporaneous; the ANT-14 was the largest Soviet airliner of its era by a wide margin.
Why was only one ANT-14 built?
The aircraft was uneconomic. Operating five engines for 36 passengers gave a per-seat operating cost far above smaller Tupolev ANT-9 tri-motors that carried 9 passengers with three engines. Aeroflot's Soviet domestic route economics required smaller, cheaper airliners. The ANT-14 was instead repurposed as a one-off demonstration aircraft for Moscow propaganda flights.
What happened to the only ANT-14?
Retired from flying duty in 1942. The cabin was removed from the airframe and converted into a movie theatre / cafe on Moscow's Tushino airfield. The cafe was destroyed during WWII German bombing of Moscow. The airframe components were scrapped for the war effort.
Did the ANT-14 ever carry mail or cargo?
Briefly — some test flights carried Soviet propaganda materials, postal mail, and government cargo. But the aircraft's primary role was demonstration passenger flights over the capital. It never operated on scheduled cargo or postal routes.
Sources
See Also
- Tupolev ANT-9 — Smaller direct predecessor (9-passenger trimotor)
- Tupolev ANT-20 Maxim Gorky — Direct larger successor (72-passenger giant)
- Tupolev ANT-35 — Direct technological successor (10-passenger high-speed twin)
- Junkers G.38 — Contemporary German giant airliner
- Sikorsky S-40 — Contemporary American flying boat airliner