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Tupolev ANT-9

Commercial · Interwar (1919–1938)

Tupolev ANT-9 — Commercial
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The Tupolev ANT-9 was an early Soviet three-engine passenger airliner — the first Soviet airliner designed specifically for civil air transport rather than a military conversion. Andrei Tupolev designed the ANT-9 at TsAGI in 1928; the prototype first flew on 5 May 1929. About 75 ANT-9s were built between 1930 and 1932 at Moscow Plant No. 22. The aircraft served Aeroflot's predecessor Dobrolyot on Soviet domestic and international routes throughout the 1930s.

The ANT-9 used all-metal Kolchugaluminium construction in the Tupolev lineage. Three engines (initially Gnome-Rhône Titan Major 9-cylinder radials, later Wright J-6 Whirlwind on M-26 Soviet copies), Maximum speed 209 km/h, range 1,000 km, service ceiling 5,100 m. Capacity: 9 passengers + 2 crew. Cabin layout was relatively luxurious for the period with individual leather seats and a forward galley. The aircraft pioneered Soviet civil air transport — earlier Soviet airliners had been TB-1 cargo conversions or imported Junkers F.13 / G.24s.

ANT-9 service was widespread on Soviet domestic and international routes. Aeroflot routes included Moscow-Berlin, Moscow-Stockholm, and several Soviet domestic city-pair routes. The aircraft also served as VIP transports — Soviet Premier Vyacheslav Molotov flew the ANT-9 on diplomatic missions. By 1937 the type had been superseded on main-line routes by the Tupolev ANT-14 and Tupolev ANT-35; surviving airframes continued in short-haul Aeroflot service through World War II as cargo / liaison aircraft.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Tupolev ANT-9 was a special airplane from the Soviet Union. It was the first Soviet airplane built just to carry passengers. Designer Andrei Tupolev created it in 1928. The first flight happened on May 5, 1929.

The ANT-9 had three engines and could carry nine passengers. It also had two crew members to fly and run the plane. The seats were made of leather, which was very fancy for that time. There was even a small kitchen area at the front of the cabin.

About 75 of these planes were built between 1930 and 1932. They were made at a factory in Moscow. The ANT-9 was built from a strong metal called Kolchugaluminium. This made the plane tough and long-lasting.

The ANT-9 flew routes between big cities like Moscow and Berlin. It also flew from Moscow to Stockholm. These trips were longer than most flights people made back then. The airline that used it was called Dobrolyot, which later became Aeroflot.

Fun Facts

  • The ANT-9 could fly faster than a speeding car, reaching about 209 kilometers per hour.
  • It could travel up to 1,000 kilometers without stopping — longer than a drive from New York to Chicago!
  • The ANT-9 was the first Soviet airplane designed just for passengers, not made from a military plane.
  • The nine passenger seats were covered in leather, which was very fancy for planes in 1929.
  • About 75 ANT-9s were built in just two years at a Moscow factory.
  • The plane used three engines to stay safely in the air.
  • The ANT-9 flew international routes, connecting the Soviet Union to other countries in Europe.
  • The airline that flew the ANT-9 later grew into Aeroflot, one of the biggest airlines in the world.

Kids’ Questions

Who built the ANT-9 and when did it first fly?

Andrei Tupolev designed the ANT-9 in 1928. It first flew on May 5, 1929. It was built at a factory in Moscow. About 75 planes were made between 1930 and 1932.

How many people could ride in the ANT-9?

The ANT-9 could carry nine passengers and two crew members. The passengers sat in leather seats, which was very comfortable for the time. There was also a small kitchen at the front of the cabin.

Where did the ANT-9 fly?

The ANT-9 flew between many big cities. It traveled from Moscow to Berlin and from Moscow to Stockholm. It also flew on routes inside the Soviet Union. These were some of the longest passenger flights of that time.

Variants

ANT-9 (Gnome-Rhône Titan)
Initial production with imported French Gnome-Rhône Titan Major engines. About 20 built.
ANT-9 (Wright Whirlwind / M-26)
Subsequent production with American Wright J-6 Whirlwind or Soviet-built M-26 copy. About 55 built.

Notable Operators

Dobrolyot / Aeroflot
Soviet civil air transport main user 1930-late 1930s. Moscow-Berlin, Moscow-Stockholm, Soviet domestic routes.
Soviet government VIP transport
Soviet Premier Vyacheslav Molotov and other senior officials used ANT-9s for diplomatic missions 1932-1937.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the ANT-9 historically important?

It was the first Soviet aircraft designed specifically as a civil airliner. Earlier Soviet civil aviation depended on TB-1 cargo conversions or imported Junkers F.13 / G.24s. The ANT-9 demonstrated Soviet domestic role to design and manufacture a dedicated civil airliner at production scale, seeding subsequent Tupolev civil designs through the ANT-14, ANT-20 Maxim Gorky, ANT-35, and the postwar Tu-104 / Tu-114 / Tu-134 / Tu-154 lineage.

What engines did the ANT-9 use?

Three radial engines arranged tractor-style (one in the nose + one on each wing). Initial production used imported French Gnome-Rhône Titan Major 9-cylinder radials. Later production switched to American Wright J-6 Whirlwind or its Soviet-built M-26 copy. The engine evolution reflects the gradual Soviet effort to substitute domestic powerplants for imports through the 1930s.

How many ANT-9s were built?

About 75 airframes between 1930 and 1932 at Moscow Plant No. 22.

Are any ANT-9s preserved?

No complete airframe survives. The type was retired by 1945 and no preserved example exists. The Russian Aviation Museum (Monino) holds component recovery from crashed airframes.

Sources

See Also