Vehicle Description
In the late 1960s, the space race between the USA and USSR had
reached a fever pitch. Both nations poured untold resources into
exploration of the final frontier, and technology rapidly evolved
through all aspects of the programs, not only in rocketry, but in
computers, guidance systems, and even support vehicles and training
equipment. In the interest of secrecy, Soviets guided their
capsules toward Siberia for their return to earth. The remote
environment was the ideal landing site for its seclusion, but the
hostile climate made for challenging rescues of the cosmonauts.
Enter Andrei Tupolev, the USSR's foremost aircraft designer. In
1961, he had designed the top-secret N007, a high-performance
vessel designed to skim over water, ice, and marshland by means of
its wing-shaped profile and massive rear-facing prop (some sources
credit his son, Aleksey for the design). The government wanted to
use Tupolev's machine to retrieve the cosmonauts, but the narrow
3-person cockpit couldn't accommodate an additional man in a bulky
space suit, and it couldn't be expanded without compromising the
design or its ability to be transported by helicopter. So Tupolev
devised a method to strap the suited cosmonauts to the outside of
the machine! After surviving a trip back to earth in a space
capsule, what was another few minutes of discomfort being lashed to
the outside of an 85 mile-per-hour radial-powered air boat? Offered
here is one of the few known surviving and functional examples of
the Tupolev A-3 007 Aerosledge. It was liberated from Russia by a
German businessman during perestroika and once in Germany, was
painstakingly restored in silver with red and black graphics. The
original 260 hp engine was updated with a massive 10-litre,
9-cylinder Vedeneyev M14P radial developing 360 horsepower. The
Vedeneyev M14P is a robust and proven engine and is used in other
aeronautical applications like the Pitts Model 12 stunt plane. In
the Tupolev, the radial utilizes twin parallel-rotating props and
compressed air starting (as batteries and electrics would freeze in
the harsh Siberian winter), with twin air tanks mounted on the
custom trailer. The hull is constructed of riveted alloy and
features low-friction polyethylene pads on the bottom to protect it
and help it skim over ice and terrain. The cockpit allows room for
four, with additional space for gear or a small passenger at the
rear bulkhead. Instruments and controls are restored original
items, and from the pilot's seat, it feels very much like a blend
of airplane and boat - as it should. A captivating machine, the
Tupolev A-3 007 is not only historically significant but is a
positively fascinating piece of Soviet-era engineering and a highly
collectible relic from the Cold War era Space Race. Sold on Bill of
Sale Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details
please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7504-1970-tupolev-a-3-aerosledge/
