Antonov A-40

The Antonov A-40, known as Krylya Tanka or tank wings, was a Soviet attempt in 1942 to let a tank glide onto a battlefield. The Soviet Air Force had asked Oleg Antonov for a glider that could land tanks, and he went further: instead of a glider that carried a tank inside, he fitted a T-60 light tank with a detachable cradle carrying large wood and fabric biplane wings and a twin tail. Once down, the crew would drop the wings and be ready to fight within minutes. The tank was lightened by removing its armament, ammunition and headlights. The single flight, towed by a TB-3 bomber on 2 September 1942 with Sergei Anokhin as pilot, ended with the glider released early because of the tank's drag. The T-60 landed safely, but no tow aircraft was powerful enough, and the project was abandoned. It is sometimes called the A-40T or KT.