16
$\begingroup$

From this page about nuclear bombers:

enter image description here

It seems out of Wild Wild West. What is this (Russian?) aircraft from another era? and what has been its use?

Update:We know now the image has been created using CG software, based on a real aircraft, that seems interesting and is by itself quite a mystery and technical feat that deserve explanations.

Why this design? gondolas, size, holes in wings, angular panels...? for apparently not so many people on-board.

Images of actual aircraft are found in answers. Also this one:

enter image description here
Source.

Thanks to @user52723a and @RonBeyer for providing details.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
6
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ If you look close, you can see the people are computer generated... Here is an article on Snopes.com, not that Snopes is a great reference, but the computer-generated-ness is a lot more apparent. $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Commented Mar 1, 2017 at 23:37
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @RonBeyer That's not "an article on Snopes" -- it's a post on Snopes's discussion forums. (But I agree that it's more obvious there that the images are CGI.) $\endgroup$
    – David Richerby
    Commented Mar 1, 2017 at 23:43
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @DavidRicherby Article, post, rant, not a lot of difference on the 'net these days... $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Commented Mar 2, 2017 at 2:49
  • 21
    $\begingroup$ @RonBeyer No, there's a huge difference. The articles on Snopes are reasonably well researched and are OK as sources; the discussion forums are just random people posting random stuff. You wouldn't, I hope, say "According to an article on some respected news organization's website" if what you actually meant was "According to the comments posted under that article." Same thing here. $\endgroup$
    – David Richerby
    Commented Mar 2, 2017 at 8:25
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ It's also similar to the ANT-20 and other aircrafts from that era $\endgroup$
    – user189035
    Commented Mar 2, 2017 at 19:11

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
33
$\begingroup$

It is in fact fake but its most likely loosely based on a real plane. The Russian Kalinin K-7 contains a lot of the same design elements.

enter image description here (source)

It appears that the real plane was also boarded from the landing gear area.

enter image description here (source)

On a bit of a funny note this article mis-uses the photo you have linked in reference to the Kalinin K-7

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Interestingly, the picture in the article is not exactly the same as in the question. The one in the article does not have this "cage" over the cockpit, but has additional cannons. A strange case of manipulation, IMHO ... $\endgroup$
    – Marco13
    Commented Mar 2, 2017 at 13:29
11
$\begingroup$

It's a fake -- somebody having fun with computer graphics. Never existed in real life, sorry.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ That picture has been around the internet for several years, but it's pure vaporware. The thing would be way larger than the Spruce Goose if it were real, and probably even more badly under-powered. All CGI, nothing more. $\endgroup$
    – Ralph J ♦
    Commented Mar 1, 2017 at 23:24
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ It is supposedly based on the Kalinin K-7, but much bigger $\endgroup$
    – Fiddlesticks
    Commented Mar 1, 2017 at 23:31
  • $\begingroup$ @user52723a: Thanks for providing this clue, good find. $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Commented Mar 2, 2017 at 6:39

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .