Russian Bomber not PE8

Yes – think the correct designation is DB-2A.
Only 12 built according to Gunston.

Thanks Robert – I’ll look that one up tonight.
I’ve never heard of it before !

The answer has been revealed it is a Bolkhovitinov’s DB-A2
here is a link to the quiz forum where the question was asked what do you chaps think?
regards robert

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=91987&start=270
just scroll down til you see the photo

I had a good browse through Bill Gunston’s excellent “Encyclopedia Of Russian Aircraft” last night and he notes against the Pe8 that it was the only Soviet ‘Heavy’ bomber developed during the Great Patriotic War (i.e. WW2) – which implies that if the above ISN’T a Pe8 then it was developed after WW2 (I think it looks too ‘modern’ to be pre-WW2 Soviet), or even that perhaps it isn’t Soviet at all.

Notwithstanding what I said in my previous reply, there are some very stark similarities here with some versions of the Pe8 illustrated (sleek, slim curved outer engine nacelles, general cockpit & front end shape, single fin) – which leads me to lean towards it probably being some possible experimental version of the Pe8 ? However the turrets (or whatever) beneath the outer nacelles are definitely unusual & non-standard.

robert.wright46 – what makes you say it isn’t a Pe8 ? Intrigued now!

There was a ‘cleaned up’ TB-3 – DBA I think.

It looks a bit like the a/c in the photo – but it had a large ‘trousered’ undercarriage – the one in the photo is retractable.

If no-one comes up with a definitive answer – I’ll check my refs at home tonight…

Ken

Could it be a ANT-42 or TB-7 which were the designations for the PE-8 before it became the PE-8.
I have had a look through Soviet Combat Aircraft of WWII and apart from the above mentioned the only other 4 engined Soviet bomber shown is the Tupolev TB-3 which it certainly isn’t.

Not a lot of help really!

Hmmmm – definitely has the look and feel of a Pe8 (the variant with no radiators beneath the outer engines), but there are some notable differences…..
Note how the main gear legs appear more or less vertical – whereas on the Pe8 there’s a distinctive rearward sweep.
Are those gun turrets under the outer nacelles?

I’m sure I’ve seen that pic, or one very like it, before but I’m b****** if I can remember what it is.