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Soviet Petlyakov Pe-8 bomber1
Petlyakov Pe-8 bomber1:
Petlyakov Pe-8 bomber:
Design
The design team headed by Vladmir Petlyakov at the Tupolev design bureau developed the Petlyakov Pe-8.1 It originally was designated the ANT-42.1
Engines
The engines were to be four engines mounted in the wings that were boosted by a supercharger engine that was mounted in the fuselage.1 These were only in the prototypes as the production aircraft had just the four wing mounted engines.1
The AM-35 engine that was initially used in the production aircraft was found to be disappointing.1 The M-30B was a diesel engine that resulted in longer range.1 The ASh-82 engine came next as the M-30B was a failure.1 Around 48 of the Pe-8s were fitted with the ASh-82 after production ended in October 1941.1
Prototype
The Pe-8 prototype first flew on December 27, 1936.1 The second prototype flew in July 1938.1
Production
The Pe-8 was initially designated the TB-7 and was ordered into production in 1939.1 Production ended in October 1941.1
- Prototypes: 21
- Pe-8: 791
- Deliveries began in May 1940.1
- Total: 811
Variants
- Prototype: Had Mikulin M-105 engines (1,100 HP).1
- Pe-8: Named changed from TB-7 in 1940.1
Usage
In conjunction with the Ilyushin Il-4, the Pe-8 was used for close support bombing.1
Big Bombs
Starting in 1943 the Pe-8 was equipped with a 11,023 lb / 5,000 kg bomb for special, short ranged, missions.1
Berlin
The Pe-8 bombed Berlin in August 1941.1
Special Assignment
Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov used a Pe-8 to fly him to Britain and the United States in 1942.1
| Petlyakov Pe-81 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Heavy bomber1 | ||
| Crew | 9 - 111 | ||
| Engine (Type) | 4: Mikulin AM-35A1 | 4: Charomski M-30B diesel1 | 4: Shvetsov Ash-82FN1 |
| Cylinders | V 121 | V 121 | Radial 141 |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 1,350 each1 | 1,475 each1 | 1,700 each1 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1 | 3 each1 | 3 each1 |
| Fuel capacity | |||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 131' 0.5"1 39.94 m1 |
||
| Length | 73' 8.75"1 22.47 m1 |
||
| Height | 20'1 6.09 m1 |
||
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 40,609 lb1 18,420 kg1 |
||
| Loaded | 63,052 - 79,366 lb1 28,600 - 36,000 kg1 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed | 276 mph1 444 kph1 |
272 mph1 438 kph1 |
280 mph1 450 kph1 |
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
|||
| Cruising speed | |||
| Climb | |||
| Service ceiling | 22,965'1 7,000 m1 |
29,035'1 8,850 m1 |
|
| Range with maximum bomb load | 2,320 miles1 3,735 km1 |
3,000 miles1 4,828 km1 |
2,920 miles1 4,700 km1 |
| Armament | |||
| Nose turret | 2: 7.62 mm MG1 | ||
| Dorsal turret | 1: 20 mm1 | ||
| Tail turret | 1: 20 mm1 | ||
| Inner rear nacelle | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 | ||
| Bombs | 8,818 lb1 4,000 kg1 |
||
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
