Tupolev ANT-37 / DB-2

Developed from the uncompleted Tupolev ANT-36 (DB-1), a sihgle-engined long-range bomber based on the ANT-25, the Tupolev ANT-37 (DB-2) long-range bomber was developed by Sukhoi's design brigade under Tupolev's overall control. Powered by two 597kW Gnome-Rhone 14K radial engines, the prototype flew on 16 June 1935 but crashed in the following month. The DB-2D was a redesign with particular attention paid to rectifying faults in the tail unit. It was followed in turn by the DB-2B or ANT-37bis, of which only three were built as record breakers/research aircraft after rejection of the design in favour of the llyushin DB-3.

The first DB-2B, named Rodina (motherland) was flown to a long-distance women's record by an all-female crew, covering 5908km on 24/25 September 1938 before making an emergency landing. Examples survived well into the wartime period, flying for Aeroflot or on research projects.

3-View

A three-view drawing (592 x 560)