Tupolev A-3 Aerosledge

The Tupolev A-3 Aerosledge is an all-metal amphibious aerosledge, designed to transport passengers and light freight in remote areas of the Soviet Union. Officially known as the A-3 "Hope" ("Nadezhda" in Russian), it uses a single pusher propeller mounted behind the enclosed cabin to propel the craft over snow or water.[1]

Survivors

  • A 1978 A-3, registered N007 (possibly the only one imported to the U.S.), was offered at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2007.[2] The craft had a non-standard nine-cylinder engine, and two counter-rotating propellers. This A-3 was sold at Barrett-Jackson's 2015 Scottsdale auction for $220,000[3] and again at the 2020 edition of the same auction for $143,000.[4]

See also

  • Aerosani
  • Airboat
  • KRISTI snowcat

References

  1. McLeavy, Roy, (1982). "Jane's Surface Skimmers", London, England: Jane's Publishing Company Limited, pp 65–67. ISBN 0-86720-614-4^
  2. Mike Hanlon. The remarkable part boat, part sled, part ground-effect Tupelov aerosled New Atlas, 2006-11-06, retrieved 2020-01-16^
  3. 1978 TUPOLEV N007 GULLWING BOAT - Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions www.barrett-jackson.com, retrieved 2020-01-16^
  4. 1978 TUPOLEV A-3 AEROSLEDGE GULLWING BOAT - Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions www.barrett-jackson.com, retrieved 2020-01-20^