# Would it have been possible for this plane to fly if constructed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201 "2009-07-25T05:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/1 "2009-07-25T05:06:27Z")
[Russian Flying Fortress](http://englishrussia.com/?p=2231) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/2 "2009-07-25T05:13:18Z")
I’m not sure what you mean. It was constructed, and it did fly. It’s a [Kalinin K-7](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinin_K-7), and it flew on August 11, 1933. On November 21 of that same year, it crashed and all 14 crew and passengers were killed as well as one additional person on the ground. But it did fly. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/3 "2009-07-25T05:28:08Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean. It was constructed, and it did fly. It’s a [Kalinin K-7](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinin_K-7), and it flew on August 11, 1933. On November 21 of that same year, it crashed and all 14 crew and passengers were killed as well as one additional person on the ground. But it did fly. Interesting… given the whimsical nature of the page I thought it just got to the planning stages. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/4 "2009-07-25T05:41:11Z")
Someone apparently made a scale model of it, which is seen in some of those photos along with the Nazi UFO (which, I presume, was never actually built.) For all of its faults, the Soviet Union was very innovative in the field of aviation. They developed all kinds of unique aircraft like the [Ekranoplan.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea_Monster) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/5 "2009-07-25T05:53:47Z")
That thing is an art deco masterpiece. Simply beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/6 "2009-07-25T06:02:20Z")
The K-7 was a real aeroplane, but that model is not a model of the K-7 it’s about 10 x the size, there was no real version of the model. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/7 "2009-07-25T07:08:25Z")
I would think you need a treadmill runway D&R ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/8 "2009-07-25T09:55:23Z")
That’s a seriously ugly plane. And being innovative, the Russians (not Soviets) built round battleships. They weren’t very successful. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/9 "2009-07-25T10:52:07Z")
I’ve seen these before on various aeroplane/flying forums. the K-7 was real the cgi pics are someones idea of a scaled up passenger liner version and a sky battleship version. Adding naval guns would add hundreds of tonnes of weight far beyong the capacity of any aircraft to carry. And the drag imposed by the postioning of the guns would also be considerable meaning the aircraft would be flying at just above stalling speed. Firing those guns would push the aircraft _backwards_ and see it come to a complete stop in mid air. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/10 "2009-07-25T11:52:52Z")
From the OP’s link, the drawing at the top and the picture below it are two different airplanes. From the drawing it appears that there are two sets of engines. Stacked so to say. And at least eight engines mounted low. And two more above the wing. Also, the ‘Cockpit’ is hugh compared to the real K-7. I’d say the artists conseption from the link did not fly. But a smaller version did. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/11 "2009-07-25T14:17:06Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > And being innovative, the Russians (not Soviets) built round battleships. They weren’t very successful. Ah, yes, the [_Novgorod_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_battleship_Novgorod) and _Rear Admiral Popov_. I suppose with modern computer controls, such ships might be somewhat more useable, but it’s a still a goofy idea. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/12 "2009-07-25T14:20:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Ah, yes, the [_Novgorod_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_battleship_Novgorod) and _Rear Admiral Popov_. Sounds like a scaled up version of one of [these](http://www.justdoindia.com/serviceprovider_image/Bumper%20boat%20rides.jpg), and about as maneuverable as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-possible-for-this-plane-to-fly-if-constructed/504201/13 "2009-07-25T17:23:16Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > That’s a seriously ugly plane. If you’re going to have my username, stop having views opposite of mine :p.