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Tupolev ANT-3

Reconnaissance · Interwar (1919–1938)

Tupolev ANT-3 — Reconnaissance
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The Tupolev ANT-3 (military designation R-3) was an early Soviet reconnaissance biplane — the first Soviet all-metal aircraft to enter mass production. Andrei Tupolev designed the ANT-3 at the TsAGI design bureau in 1924-1925; the prototype first flew on 8 August 1925. About 103 R-3s were built between 1927 and 1929 at Moscow Plant No. 22. The aircraft served the Soviet Air Forces in field reconnaissance and liaison roles from 1928 until replacement by the Polikarpov R-5 around 1932.

The ANT-3 used Kolchugaluminium (Soviet Duralumin) construction. Single Liberty L-12 V-12 engine (400 hp) or later Mikulin M-5 (also 400 hp). Maximum speed 194 km/h, range 1,300 km, service ceiling 4,920 m. Crew: 2 (pilot + observer/gunner). Defensive armament: one synchronised PV-1 machine gun forward + two DA-2 7.62 mm flexible-mount machine guns at the observer's position. The ANT-3 was technically modern for the 1925 Soviet aircraft industry — most Soviet aircraft of the period used wood-and-fabric construction.

ANT-3 service was concentrated in Soviet Air Forces field reconnaissance squadrons. The most famous flight was the August-September 1926 Moscow-Tokyo "Our Answer" flight, demonstrating Soviet long-range role. By 1932 the ANT-3 had been replaced by the more-capable Polikarpov R-5 in front-line service; surviving airframes served as trainers and liaison aircraft through 1935. No ANT-3 survives complete; some component recovery from crashed airframes exists in Russian museum collections.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Tupolev ANT-3 was a special airplane built in the Soviet Union in the 1920s. It was the first Soviet airplane made of metal to be built in large numbers. Most planes back then were made of wood and fabric, so this was a big deal!

A designer named Andrei Tupolev created it at a place called TsAGI. The first one flew on August 8, 1925. About 103 of these planes were built between 1927 and 1929 at a factory in Moscow.

The ANT-3 had a crew of two people — a pilot and an observer. It could fly at nearly 194 kilometers per hour. It could travel up to 1,300 kilometers without stopping, which is longer than many road trips!

The most famous trip was in 1926. A pilot flew an ANT-3 all the way from Moscow to Tokyo. People called this trip "Our Answer." It showed the world that Soviet planes were strong and could travel very far.

The Soviet Air Forces used the ANT-3 for scouting and sending messages. It kept flying until around 1932, when a newer plane replaced it.

Fun Facts

  • The ANT-3 was the very first Soviet all-metal airplane to be mass produced.
  • About 103 ANT-3 planes were built in just two years, from 1927 to 1929.
  • The ANT-3 could fly longer than a road trip from New York to Chicago!
  • Its engine made 400 horsepower — that is like many race cars combined.
  • The famous 1926 Moscow-to-Tokyo flight helped show the world how good Soviet planes were.
  • The ANT-3 carried two crew members — a pilot and an observer who sat together.
  • Before the ANT-3, most Soviet planes were smaller than a modern car garage and made of wood and cloth.
  • The plane was built using a special Soviet metal called Kolchugaluminium, which is similar to a material called Duralumin.

Kids’ Questions

Why was the ANT-3 so special?

The ANT-3 was special because it was the first Soviet airplane made of metal to be built in large numbers. Most planes at the time were made of wood and fabric. Metal made it stronger and more modern.

What was the "Our Answer" flight?

"Our Answer" was a famous flight in 1926. A pilot flew the ANT-3 all the way from Moscow to Tokyo. It was a long and tough journey that showed how far Soviet planes could fly.

How many people flew in the ANT-3?

The ANT-3 had a crew of two people. One was the pilot who flew the plane. The other was an observer who watched for things on the ground.

How long did the ANT-3 stay in service?

The ANT-3 started serving in the Soviet Air Forces in 1928. It kept flying until around 1932. Then a newer plane called the Polikarpov R-5 took its place.

Variants

ANT-3 / R-3 (Liberty engine)
Initial production with Liberty L-12 V-12 engines. About 25 built 1927-1928.
R-3M5 (Mikulin engine)
Production variant with Soviet-built Mikulin M-5 engine. About 78 built 1928-1929.

Notable Operators

Soviet Air Forces
Sole operator. ~100 ANT-3s served in field reconnaissance and liaison roles 1928-1935.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the ANT-3's place in Soviet aviation?

The first Soviet all-metal aircraft in mass production. It pioneered Soviet domestic Duralumin (Kolchugaluminium) airframe construction at production scale. The technical lessons from the ANT-3 directly fed into the larger TB-1 heavy bomber that followed.

What was the 'Our Answer' flight?

A 1926 Soviet long-range demonstration flight from Moscow to Tokyo (via Sverdlovsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Chita, Verkhneudinsk, Spassk, and Tokyo) by pilot Mikhail Gromov in the ANT-3 prototype. The flight covered 7,150 km in 153 flight hours over 35 days. It was a Soviet response to American and European long-range demonstration flights of the period.

How many ANT-3s were built?

About 103 airframes between 1927 and 1929 at Moscow Plant No. 22 — 25 with Liberty L-12 engines + 78 with Soviet Mikulin M-5 engines.

Are any ANT-3s preserved?

No complete ANT-3 survives. The type was retired from Soviet service by 1935 and no airframe was preserved. Component recovery from crashed airframes exists in Russian museum collections.

Sources

See Also