07/09/2003. Remarks by Chris Pinn: "This is the prototype Bolkhovitinov DB-A. 'DB-A' is the abbreviation of 'Dalnij Bombardirowschik - Academija' which means 'Long-range bomber by the Academy' in Russian. It first flew in May 1935. On August 12, 1937 it set off on an attempt to fly from Moscow to the US over the North Pole. The aircraft never arrived. The pilot Lyapidevskiy, the crew and the aircraft were all lost without trace. A production run of 16 aircraft was started, but stopped when the 12th was completed."