The K-7 first flew on 11 August 1933

Kalinin K-7 was a heavy experimental aircraft designed and tested in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. K-7 was of unusual configuration with twin booms and large underwing pods housing fixed landing gear and machine gun turrets. In the passenger version, seats were arranged inside the 2.3 meter (7 ft 7 in) thick wings. The airframe was welded from KhMA chrome-molybdenum steel. The original design called for six engines in the wing leading edge but when the projected loaded weight was exceeded, two more engines were added to the trailing edges of each wing, one right and one left of the central passenger pod. However V.Nemecek states in his book "The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918" that there was only one further pusher engine added - this agrees with the specification supplied below.

K-7 first flew on 11 August 1933. Then on 21 November 1933 the aircraft crashed due to structural failure of one of the tail booms, killing 14 people aboard and one on the ground. Although two more prototypes were ordered in 1933, the project was canceled in 1935 before they could be completed

In 1930s the Russian army was obsessed with the idea of creating huge planes. At that time, they were proposed to have as many propellers as possible to help carry those huge flying fortresses into the air. Jet propulsion has not been implemented yet.

Specifications (K-7)

General characteristics

• Capacity: 120 passengers in civilian configuration
• Length: 28 m (91 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 53 m (173 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 454 m² (4,886.8 ft²)
• Empty weight: 24,400 kg (53,793 lb)
• Loaded weight: 38,000 kg (83,776 lb)
• Powerplant: 7× Mikulin AM-34F V-12 piston engines, 560 kW (750 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 225 km/h (121 knots, 140 mph)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
• Wing loading: 84 kg/m² (17 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 103 W/kg (0.06 hp/lb)

Not many photos were saved from that time, because of the high secrecy levels of such projects.

The weaponry carried by this behemoth is shown in the last two pics!

Manhole Art: 15 Creative Covers

A tradition in Japan, manhole covers come in a variety of designs attracting tourists and locals. Meet the wacky, wonderful world of japanese manhole art.

Ice Crystals

Bird of Lights


Earth's Belly Button



Flowery Pathway


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Porco Rosso's Secret Base (alluded to the 1992 Miyazaki 's animated feature film Porco Rosso)




Sea Shells



Misty Forest



Lenticular Cloud



The Marks of Wind



Rays of Dawn



Wave of Clouds



Yellow Stream



Dreamscape



Paradise



Blue Planet

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In selected locations across Toronto, a campaign from Travel Alberta puts transit riders onto chair lifts climbing high into the Rockies. By agency Venture Communications, Canada. (Link)


"Use only what you need" from Denver water. (Link)



Really clever and cheap ad for Nike in Argentina. Wet paint stickers placed on old benches to promote running. (Link)


Clever gym advertisement in India for Energy Fitness Unlimited. (Link)


A bench ad for the Emirates Today newspaper. (Link)


Companhia Athletica placed slanted benches in parks. Every time people try to sit down, they slide off. (Link)


Cool and funny Fedex bench ad for its Pack n' Ship service campaign. (Link)


For the campaign called "A Little Fabric Makes A Big Difference", Ikea covered everyday items such as benches with fabric. One result was this "cozy" sitting place. (Link)


Great feeling of warmth with a German coffee. By agency Young & Rubicam, Germany.
(Link)


Viral marketing for the movie "District 9": a bench ad in L.A. carrying the warning 'Bus bench for humans only'.
(Link)