The Missing Tupolev TB-3 (ANT-6) "Aviaarktika" of 1937
On August 12th 1937, a specially modified TB-3 bomber took off from Moscow in an attempt to fly non-stop over the North Pole to the USA. It never arrived.
Aboard URSS-N209 were six crewmembers who along with the aircraft all disappeared without a trace. A international search effort yielded no clues.
The brightly painted red and silver TB-3 was equipped with supercharged AM-34RVN engines for artic duty. It also had skis, a heated cabin, brake parachutes for short field landings and extra rescue and emergency equipment.
The bomber most likely ran into bad weather and was forced down into the frigid artic ocean. Sadly, another TB-3 was lost during the search although this one has since been found:
"The partially snow-covered wreck of specially-modified Arctic variant of the Tupolev TB-3 four-engine bomber was located at Teplitz Bay, Rudolf Island in Franz Josef Land. From data gathered, the wreck was subsequently identified as TB-3 (ANT-6) No. 210. This aircraft was piloted by Boris Chukhnovsky during a failed search for another TB-3 (ANT-6), No. 209, which had been lost in August 1937 during an attempt to fly from Moscow over the north pole to the United States. The Teplitz TB-3 (ANT-6) wreck represents both the primary aeronautical archaeology of the triumphs and disasters of the Soviet Union's air expeditions to the pole in 1937–1938 and, at 81°47.5'N, is the northernmost aircraft wreck yet identified.
P.J. Capelotti Dec 2006"
Some excellent video of the TB-3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVRUwx1NIPk&NR=1
On August 12th 1937, a specially modified TB-3 bomber took off from Moscow in an attempt to fly non-stop over the North Pole to the USA. It never arrived.
Aboard URSS-N209 were six crewmembers who along with the aircraft all disappeared without a trace. A international search effort yielded no clues.
The brightly painted red and silver TB-3 was equipped with supercharged AM-34RVN engines for artic duty. It also had skis, a heated cabin, brake parachutes for short field landings and extra rescue and emergency equipment.
The bomber most likely ran into bad weather and was forced down into the frigid artic ocean. Sadly, another TB-3 was lost during the search although this one has since been found:
"The partially snow-covered wreck of specially-modified Arctic variant of the Tupolev TB-3 four-engine bomber was located at Teplitz Bay, Rudolf Island in Franz Josef Land. From data gathered, the wreck was subsequently identified as TB-3 (ANT-6) No. 210. This aircraft was piloted by Boris Chukhnovsky during a failed search for another TB-3 (ANT-6), No. 209, which had been lost in August 1937 during an attempt to fly from Moscow over the north pole to the United States. The Teplitz TB-3 (ANT-6) wreck represents both the primary aeronautical archaeology of the triumphs and disasters of the Soviet Union's air expeditions to the pole in 1937–1938 and, at 81°47.5'N, is the northernmost aircraft wreck yet identified.
P.J. Capelotti Dec 2006"
Some excellent video of the TB-3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVRUwx1NIPk&NR=1