The Antonov A-40: The Soviet Union's Flying Tank Experiment
Explore the Antonov A-40, the Soviet Union's audacious WWII experiment to give a T-60 light tank wings to solve tactical bottlenecks on the Eastern Front.
Best quote from The Antonov A-40: The Soviet Union's Flying Tank Experiment
The A-40 was a technical success in the sense that it flew and landed, but it was a total failure as a weapon system. It's a classic case of an engineering solution that creates three new problems for every one it solves.
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The Antonov A-40 Krylya Tank: a comprehensive deep dive into its design, engineering story, WWII context, technical specifications, and flight testing history.
![Antonov A-40 / KT-40 Krylya Tanka [Flying Tank]](https://d1y2du6z1jfm9e.cloudfront.net/assets/podcast/yellow.png)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Antonov A-40, also known as the Krylya Tanka or 'Tank Wings,' was an audacious Soviet engineering project during the Second World War. It was designed to solve the 'teeth' problem faced by paratroopers behind enemy lines by attaching a sixty-foot biplane wing assembly to a five-and-a-half-ton T-60 light tank. This experimental flying tank was intended to bridge the gap between airborne mobility and heavy ground firepower.
The Soviet Union developed the Antonov A-40 to address a classic tactical bottleneck where light infantry dropped behind German lines lacked the heavy armor needed to face Panzer divisions. By blurring the line between a tank and a glider, they hoped to create a vehicle that could glide silently into a battlefield. The goal was for the tank to shed its wings in seconds and begin firing immediately upon landing.
The experiment utilized a T-60 light tank, which weighed approximately five-and-a-half tons. Engineers bolted a massive wing assembly to the hull of the tank to transform it into the Antonov A-40. This 'mad science' approach represented the absolute limits of 1940s technology and the desperation of the Eastern Front, as the military sought ways to transport heavy armor at the speed of airborne units.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
