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Tupolev ANT-35

Tupolev · Commercial · Soviet Union · Interwar (1919–1938)

Tupolev ANT-35 — Commercial
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The Tupolev ANT-35 (military designation PS-35) was a Soviet twin-engine 10-passenger airliner — the first Soviet aircraft to incorporate modern monocoque construction, retractable landing gear, variable-pitch propellers, and trailing-edge flaps in an integrated package. Andrei Tupolev designed the ANT-35 at TsAGI in 1935; the prototype first flew on 20 August 1936. About 12 PS-35s were built between 1937 and 1939 at Moscow Plant No. 22. The aircraft served Aeroflot main-line domestic and international routes 1937-1945.

The ANT-35 used a fully-modern all-metal monocoque airframe (the previous Tupolev ANT-9 / ANT-14 had used corrugated-skin Junkers-style construction). Two Gnome-Rhône 14K Mistral Major 14-cylinder radials (850 hp each, later Soviet M-85 copy). Maximum speed 376 km/h (much faster than the contemporary ANT-9's 209 km/h), range 1,650 km, service ceiling 7,500 m. Capacity: 10 passengers + 2 crew. The aircraft was specifically designed to compete with the Douglas DC-2 / DC-3 in the international airliner market.

ANT-35 service was concentrated on Aeroflot main-line domestic and international routes — Moscow-Paris, Moscow-Stockholm, Moscow-Prague, Moscow-Riga, and several Soviet domestic city-pair routes. Production was limited to 12 airframes because the Soviet aviation industry shifted its priority to Lisunov Li-2 (Soviet licence-built DC-3) production from 1939 onward. Surviving ANT-35s served through WWII as VIP and cargo transports; the last ANT-35 was retired in 1947.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Tupolev ANT-35 was a Soviet passenger plane from the 1930s. It could carry ten passengers and two crew members. A Soviet engineer named Andrei Tupolev designed it in 1935. The first flight happened on August 20, 1936.

The ANT-35 was a big step forward for Soviet aviation. It was the first Soviet airliner built with a smooth metal shell called monocoque construction. It also had wheels that folded up into the plane, special propellers, and flaps on the wings. These features made it much more modern than older Soviet planes.

This plane was faster than a lot of other airliners of its time. It could fly at about 376 kilometers per hour. That is much faster than the older ANT-9, which could only reach about 209 kilometers per hour. It could also fly routes as long as 1,650 kilometers.

Aeroflot, the Soviet airline, used the ANT-35 on important routes. It flew from Moscow to cities like Paris, Stockholm, and Prague. Only about 12 of these planes were ever built, between 1937 and 1939. Later, the ANT-35 was replaced by a plane called the Li-2.

Fun Facts

  • The ANT-35 could carry ten passengers, which was a big deal for Soviet airlines in the 1930s.
  • The ANT-35 was faster than the older ANT-9 by more than 160 kilometers per hour.
  • It was the very first Soviet airliner to have wheels that folded up during flight.
  • The plane flew international routes all the way from Moscow to Paris.
  • Only about 12 of these planes were ever built at a factory in Moscow.
  • The ANT-35 was designed to compete with the famous American Douglas DC-3 airliner.
  • It could fly as high as 7,500 meters, which is higher than most mountains in Europe.
  • The plane used two powerful engines, each producing 850 horsepower.

Kids’ Questions

Who built the ANT-35 and when did it first fly?

The ANT-35 was designed by a Soviet engineer named Andrei Tupolev. He created it in 1935 at a place called TsAGI. The very first flight took place on August 20, 1936.

What made the ANT-35 special compared to older planes?

The ANT-35 was the first Soviet airliner with a smooth, all-metal body called monocoque construction. It also had folding wheels and special propellers that older Soviet planes did not have. These features made it much more modern and faster than earlier designs.

Where did the ANT-35 fly?

The ANT-35 flew on important routes for the Soviet airline Aeroflot. It traveled from Moscow to cities like Paris, Stockholm, Prague, and Riga. These were some of the longest and most important air routes of that time.

Why was the ANT-35 eventually replaced?

The ANT-35 was replaced by a plane called the Li-2. The Li-2 was based on the American Douglas DC-3 design. Only about 12 ANT-35s were ever made, so a newer and more common plane was needed.

Variants

ANT-35 (Gnome-Rhône engine)
Initial production with imported French Gnome-Rhône 14K engines. About 4 built.
PS-35 (Soviet M-85 engine)
Production variant with Soviet-built Shvetsov M-85 (14K licence-copy) engines. About 8 built.

Notable Operators

Aeroflot
Sole large operator. Main-line Moscow-international routes 1937-1939, then retasked to VIP / cargo roles 1939-1947.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the ANT-35 historically important?

It was the first Soviet aircraft to incorporate modern airliner technology — monocoque skin, retractable landing gear, variable-pitch propellers, trailing-edge flaps — in an integrated commercial package. Earlier Tupolev airliners (ANT-9, ANT-14) used corrugated Junkers-style skin and fixed landing gear. The ANT-35 demonstrated that Soviet design could match Western airliner technology of the mid-1930s.

Why was only 12 built?

The Soviet aviation industry decided in 1939 to license-build the American Douglas DC-3 (as the Lisunov Li-2) for main-line airliner production. The Li-2 had longer range, better economics, and a much-larger production base. The ANT-35 was discontinued and its production capacity diverted to other Tupolev projects. About 6,157 Li-2s were eventually built compared with 12 ANT-35s.

How fast was the ANT-35?

376 km/h maximum speed — roughly 80% faster than the contemporary ANT-9 trimotor (209 km/h) and competitive with the Douglas DC-2 (338 km/h). The speed gain came from the monocoque skin, retractable landing gear, and variable-pitch propellers — all relatively new technologies in the mid-1930s.

Are any ANT-35s preserved?

No complete airframe survives. The type was retired by 1947 and no preserved example exists. The Russian Aviation Museum (Monino) holds components from crashed airframes.

Sources

See Also