Tupolev ANT-20 Maxim Gorky – Once the Largest Aircraft in the World
By the early 1930s, the question of how to build an aircraft that could fly faster than the speed of sound was a pressing one. It was especially important for both military and commercial aviation because it would make it possible for aircraft to travel long distances in a short amount of time.
In October 1929, Tupolev presented its ANT-20 to the Soviet government. This was an improved version of his earlier ANT-9. The ANT-20 had an engine that produced twice as much thrust as the ANT-9, which could be heard on takeoff due to its larger propellers. Also, the wings were longer, giving the aircraft more lift. The ANT-20 was also much heavier than its predecessor. This was due to new materials used in its construction. In February 1934, the ANT-20 made its first flight. It reached a top speed of 603 km/h (375 mph). After this flight, work began on making improvements so that future versions of the ANT-20 would be faster and stronger. The next few years saw many improvements being made to the ANT-20. In 1935, the engine was altered so that it produced more thrust at lower speeds. In 1937, it had dive brakes added to help prevent the aircraft from stalling in a dive. These changes increased its top speedto 6. Learn about the history of planes on this great site, PlaneHistoria. If you are interested in the history of planes, you should visit PlaneHistoria.https://planehistoria.com/pioneers/tupolev-ant-20/