1930 with Mikhail Gromov at the controls and with ski landing gear. Despite almost crashing owing to vibration causing the throttles to close, the test flight was a success. On 20 February 1931, the Soviet Air Force approved mass production of the ANT-6 with M-17 engines.

The prototype was refitted with 730 PS BMW VIz 500 engines, larger radiators, and wooden fixed-pitch propellers of TsAGI design. The single-wheel landing gear was deemed too weak and was