A-8

The A‑8 was a Soviet experimental bomber developed in the late 1920s by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). Conceived under the direction of Nikolai Zhukovsky’s research team, the aircraft was intended to evaluate new aerodynamic concepts, including a high‑aspect‑ratio wing and a fully enclosed monocoque fuselage. First flown in October 1929, the A‑8 featured an all‑metal construction, a twin‑engine layout powered by two 450‑horsepower liquid‑cooled V‑12 engines, and a retractable landing gear, a rarity for its era. Its wing design incorporated pronounced sweep and a thin airfoil that provided an unprecedented lift‑to‑drag ratio, allowing a maximum speed of 350 km/h and a service ceiling of 8 000 metres. Although only two prototypes were built and the program was canceled in 1932, the data gathered from the A‑8 directly influenced later TsAGI projects such as the ANT‑25 long‑range record‑setter and the early Tupolev bombers. The aircraft’s innovations in high‑speed aerodynamics, structural metal techniques, and systems integration marked a turning point for Soviet aviation, demonstrating that the USSR could produce advanced, technologically sophisticated airframes comparable to contemporary Western designs. Today a restored A‑8 example is displayed at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino, serving as a tangible reminder of TsAGI’s pioneering spirit.

Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute

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Design & Classification