Airplane Pe-8, created before the Great Patriotic War, in its main purpose was high-speed high-altitude heavy bombers. At the same time it was used for military transport purposes, as could carry 50 soldiers with full equipment for distances up to 2000 km. The design of this four-engine all-metal cantilever monoplane with an average position of the wing. The whole plane has a smooth metal plating. Airframe is made collapsible: wing consists of a central plane and detachable parts, fuselage – from the nose, tail and rear parts. The middle part of the fuselage and center section are performed as a whole.

The central form two parallel-mounted truss spar, longitudinal stringer kit, two power and intermediate ribs, to which is attached sheathing. Fore and aft of the center-removable and attached with bolts. Each spar has a center-belt, made of three powerful hromansilevyh pipes. Bracing truss spars are made as of hromansilevyh Pipe Welding cheeks on both ends, which means cone bolts attached to the monolithic steel nodes, worn on the belt longerons. The same braces are interconnected both longerons along the diagonals in the plane of power ribs. Belts ribs riveted from duralumin and have box-section. Major ribs are located on the connector on the wing and fuselage, between them – two strong ribs, which are suspended from the center-section fuel tanks. Longitudinal range between spars center-consists of duralumin profile box section, which is attached to the shelves smooth plating.

In the steel belts of the spar are nodes with “ears” that are intended for mounting fore and aft fuselage, landing gear and podmotornyh trails. At the ends of the belts longerons vklepany special glasses for attaching detachable parts of the wing.

Riveting plating center-open to the side members, by means of intermediate shaped duralumin tapes, pre-attached to their belts tubular rivets.

Top and bottom center section has a superstructure, forming the middle part of the fuselage, the lower superstructure – is the average of the bomb bay.

Detachable segment wing consists of two shaped side members of ribs and longitudinal set a smooth lining. End of the spar belts – two tubes at the top and bottom – made of hromansilevoy steel, and the subsequent parts are telescopically connected duralumin tubes. Bracing truss spars and duralumin. They are riveted to the chassis. Belts ribs riveted (from duralumin profile box section), on belts spars are cut and attached thereto a welded steel nodes. Fuel tanks are suspended from ribbons to the top of the main rib belts. On the upper surface of the wing, directly from the detachable rib, made a big hole. Through him, taken out one by one all the tanks, including located in the central plane. Docking detachable part of the wing from the central plane is carried out through four pairs of special glasses, attached to the ends of the belt and center-wing spars. In addition, between the spars on the surface of the wing and center-plane connector riveted profiles of the angular cross section, connecting bolts.

The bow of the wing, located between the motor units, made removable, as well as the tail, located in the zone plates. The design of the shield – type “Schrenk, it consists of a tubular spar, ribs and set sail on the outside.

Fuselage – semi-monocoque design, its frame is composed of four tubular spars, longitudinal stringer set (duralumin profile box and the angular cross-section), as well as power and intermediate frames. At the top of the front fuselage is half cockpit, their chairs are one after another. To pass through the fuselage and placing mechanic floor slightly shifted to the left side. Valves of the lantern above the cockpit moved back, forming exit on the wing. Directly underneath the pilots on the port side, is airborne radio operator cabin with all the equipment. The mechanic is placed on the same level at the starboard side. Board with the devices that control the engines, located in such a way that they are clearly visible to both pilots and flight engineer.

Ahead of pilot’s compartment is cabin mate, I separated the front from behind solid partitions with doors for passage. In the nose fuselage is spherical gunner mount, rotating about a vertical axis.

The space under the floor of a radio operator and mechanic with the lower superstructure and the center-aft fuselage form the bomb bay, indoor common doors. Part of the fuselage above the bomb bay is occupied room for the upper hand gun installation. Behind him on both sides are doors, the floor is much lower, to freely enter the fuselage, the tail of this compartment separated by a partition with a door. In the rear of the fuselage are two powerful frame, which are attached directly to the keel and the stabilizer, and tail landing gear.

At the very end located aft cabin with a rotating on the vertical axis of the rifle tower.

Tail. Kiel, and both halves of the stabilizer are the same design – a framework (two tubular spar, stringer set, ribs), covered with a smooth duraluminum plating. At the root of the fin and stabilizer to the ends of the spar riveted belt mountings of the fuselage.

The frame of the rudder and elevator consists of a riveted spars and ribs, the nose of the rudders, which creates weight compensation, clad duralumin, the rest of the skeleton – cloth. Steering wheels are equipped with trimmers, made of duralumin.

CHASSIS – three-wheeled, retractable in-flight in a special gondola, the front part of which serves as a fairing, water heaters, and rear – podkrylnoy infantry unit. Main landing gear consists of two oil-pneumatic shock absorbers, embodied in a single frame through the farm gear on the front longeron central plane, and folding rear strut with power hydraulic cylinder, with the help of which you are lifting and landing gear. Each wheel size 1600X500 mm equipped with a hydraulic block brake. The tail wheel is satisfied lean, with cable-operated from the pilot.

Control of the plane – a double, with the tandem. Rudder controlled by a column through a system of levers and rigid tubular rods, hingedly connected to each other and allow adjustment of its length. Rods are located on the left side of the fuselage and in the spans are supported by three rollers textolite covering traction on three sides. Steering column consists of a monolithic duraluminum heads fixed in her wheel axle, the connecting pipe and the lower node associated with the horizontal axis manual control. Rudder consists of hanging pedals and a system of levers, transmitting motion through traction on the leading arm of the rudder. Hard wiring foot control is also provided on the left side.

Aileron control – from the wheel by motorcycle gear, mounted on the axis of the wheel, and chain Gall through rollers and ropes. In the wing from the fuselage and to the aileron control is made of rigid rods. Shields controlled hydraulic power cylinder, the force of which is transmitted through rigid traction.

Management trimmers – stranded by screw mechanisms mounted on the handlebars and ailerons.

The power plant consists of four engines AM-35A. They are located on the frames, which are attached in turn to spar over intermediate motor frame. Podmotornye frame and motostaniny represent spatial truss, welded pipes from hromansilevyh. Tyagi frames adjustable in length. Frames internal and external engine similar in design. Engines equipped with adjustable pitch propellers with a range of rotation of the blades 28 – 48 °. The fuel system consists of 19-sealing fuel tanks, located in the fuselage, center section and the wing, the total capacity of 17,000 liters. Filling – centralized, through the neck, placed on each wing behind the pilot lamp, two flood-collector distribute fuel for tanks, depending on the flight mission. Fuel gasoline gauge is checked and further – benzinomernymi glass. Each wing has a device for accidental discharge of fuel. As the consumption of fuel tanks are filled with neutral gas coming from the exhaust manifold. Engine cooling water.

EQUIPMENT SPECIAL SERVICES placed in accordance with the location of the crew. All air navigation devices (compass, side slit, a sextant, manual projector) concentrated in a cabin mate. The main navigational aids installed on board a pilot.

Aircraft radio equipment includes long-range radio antenna with exhaust-driven winch from the cockpit radio operators, short-range radio station located in the cab and running mate rod antenna; radiopolukompas intended for purposes of air navigation. Through its antenna, encased in a radome, is located under the front part of the fuselage, and radio and remote control – in a cabin mate.

For long-term high-altitude flights provided for supply of oxygen: 20 vosmilitrovyh cylinders, 4 and 2 chetyrehlitrovyh portable two-liter.

Bomber Pe-8, along with high performance tactical data had very powerful weapons. The total weight of bomb load was 4000 kg. Most of it was placed in a compartment, inscribed in the fuselage, and the remaining bombs hung under the wing to the outside of the holders. Forty stokilogrammovyh bombs hung on special cassette holders, four on each. Six tapes were placed in the bomb bay (two to three rows), and four – under the wings (two, one after the other). “Dvuhsotpyatidesyatikilogrammovki” suspended on paired holders of 12 pieces, four “Sparky” placed in the bomb bay, and two – under the wings. The same procedure were suspended six bombs of 500 kg. Two bombs weighing 1000 kg were fastened on the holder in bombootseke, but two – under the wings. Bombs were dropped queues with different intervals or volleys.

Small Arms and cannons provided perimeter defense aircraft: front hemisphere defended nose turret, two guns and a top gun system, and the rear hemisphere defended by cannon fodder and the upper set and two podkrylnye installation with heavy machine guns. The same aircraft installations the attacks from the side.

Aircraft Pe-8 were active against important strategic targets of the fascist forces throughout the war and in peacetime has successfully flown on the polar routes.