used extensively as a testbed for trials involving Soviet derivatives of the German V-1 flying bomb and it was designated as the Pe-8LL for prototype piston engine trials. It was also used as a mother ship for the experimental rocket-engined Bisnovat 5 in 1948–49. Aeroflot received several of the surviving Pe-8s for polar exploration. Their military equipment removed, they had additional fuel tanks installed, were painted orange, and had their engines upgraded to either ASh-82FNs or Shvetsov ASh-73s. One landed at the North Pole in 1954 and others helped to monitor the drift ice stations NP-2, NP-3 and NP-4 during the late 1950s. Operators Soviet Air Forces Specifications (Pe-8/AM-35A) See also References Notes Bibliography External links Pe-8 on www.airpages.ru Pe-8 at HeavyBomber.narod.ru, Original Pe-8 trial tests data, professional drawings & more (site at Russian) 1940s Soviet bomber aircraft World War II Soviet heavy bombers Pe-8 Four-engined tractor aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1936 Diesel-engined aircraft Four-engined piston aircraft