May 18, 1935
The largest aircraft of its time in the USSR, the ANT-20, crashed over Moscow. "Maxim Gorky". 49 people died.
While exiting the loop-the-loop, pilot Blagin struck the wing of the Maxim Gorky. The Maxim Gorky began to disintegrate in mid-air, went into a nosedive, and fell in pieces to the ground in the village of Sokol. (TASS)
The pride of Soviet aircraft manufacturing lasted just over a year.
The idea to build a giant propaganda plane was born in October 1932, at the instigation of a publicist Mikhail Koltsov — on the day when a group of writers and journalists celebrated 40 years of literary activity Maxim Gorky. To raise money for construction, an All-Union Committee was organized; in a short period of time, Soviet citizens donated 6 million rubles.
The best specialists from many organizations were involved in the implementation of the idea. The work was led by a designer. Andrey Tupolev, who was then engaged in the development of heavy aircraft.
In April 1933, the preliminary design for the ANT-20 was ready—the aircraft could be used as a propaganda, passenger, transport, and bomber aircraft. It was a modification of the recently developed ANT-16 (or TB-4) heavy bomber. However, its payload was one and a half tons heavier, and it could take off from smaller airfields—its takeoff run was 300-400 meters instead of 800.
A new wing was designed for the Maxim Gorky—it was longer, had a larger surface area, and its surface was almost entirely corrugated. The power plant consisted of eight engines, each producing 900 hp.
The interior space was approximately 100 square meters and could accommodate up to 70 passengers. Bunk beds were provided for their relaxation. The cabin featured spacious armchairs with tables and table lamps. The floor was carpeted, and the portholes were curtained.
The ANT-20's flight and navigation equipment allowed it to operate both day and night (night landings in unprepared terrain were possible). It was equipped with an autopilot.
The propaganda plane was equipped with a "Voice from the Sky" loudspeaker, radio transmitters, a film projector, a photo lab, a printing press, a library, etc. A pneumatic mail system was also on board, allowing the crew and journalists to exchange notes.
Construction of the aircraft began on July 4, 1933, at the Voronezh aircraft plant. On June 17, 1934, test pilot Mikhail Gromov made its first flight.
During its first year of operation, the ANT-20 set two world records, lifting 10- and 15-ton loads to an altitude of 5000 meters. Antoine de Saint-Exupery during his visit to the USSR.
A demonstration flight was scheduled for May 18, 1935, after which the Maxim Gorky was planned to be transferred to the propaganda squadron of the same name. Family members of the ANT-20's builders were allowed to take the aircraft for a ride. Accompanying the giant in the sky were a two-seater R-5, from which a cameraman filmed the flight, and an I-5 fighter piloted by a test pilot. Nikolay Blagin.
The documentary filmmakers were tasked with capturing the difference in size. It's believed Blagin was tasked with performing a few aerobatic maneuvers for dramatic filming.
During the loop-the-loop, the fighter lost control and crashed into an ANT-20 flying below. The I-5 knocked out the Gorky's engine and became lodged in the wing. The wound would not have been fatal to the ANT-20, had the fighter's tail not been severed, destroying the controls.
No one survived. Six children were among the dead.
The urns containing the ashes were interred in the columbarium at Novodevichy Cemetery. A bas-relief depicting the crashed plane was placed on the memorial.
Pilot Blagin, who the Soviet press had tried to blame for the tragedy for allegedly violating discipline, was buried along with the other victims of the air crash.
Meanwhile, Blagin's widow and daughter were granted a survivor's pension, given a new apartment, and cared for in every way for a long time. This is likely indirect confirmation that the decision to engage in dangerous aerobatic maneuvers was not arbitrary.
