Tupolev Tu-2

what is it?

The Tupolev Tu-2 (development names ANT-58 and 103; NATO reporting name Bat) is a twin-engined Soviet high-speed daylight and frontline bomber aircraft used during World War II. The Tu-2 was tailored to meet a requirement for a high-speed bomber or dive-bomber, with a large internal bomb load and speed similar to that of a single-seat fighter. Designed to challenge the German Junkers Ju 88, the Tu-2 proved comparable and was produced in torpedo, interceptor and reconnaissance versions. The Tu-2 was an effective combat aircraft and it played a key role in the final offensives of the Red Army.

🔎How to recognise it: 2 piston engines with propellers · retractable tailwheel (taildragger) · 18.9 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 528 km/htop speed
• range 2,020 kmwithout refuelling
• size 11.8 tmax take-off weight
• built 2,257made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 85 years ago, in 1941.
• 🏎️Top speed is 4.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 18.9 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 2,020 km: 11× Amsterdam to Brussels.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.0× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1941-01-29

introduced

1942

retired

1950

status

retired

number built

2,257

role

medium bomber

origin

🇷🇺 Soviet Union

makers

Tupolev

engines

2× Shvetsov ASh-82 / ASh-82

crew

4

length

13.8 m

wingspan

18.9 m

height

4.1 m

max take-off weight

11.8 t

top speed

528 km/h

range

2,020 km

ceiling

9,000 m

landing gear

retractable conventional landing gear

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.