A Mystery from the Rottydaddy Archives (part 1)

[beaky]

This oddball is pretty famous, but definitely a rarity...can you guess the mfr. and name?

Yes, those are in fact men walking around on top of the fuselage (there were actually rope or cable handrails up there)... my source does not explain why. One can see the full-down elevator being applied to compensate for their weight...

[SilverFox441]

Sikorsky S-22 Ilya Mourometz?

[beaky]

Sikorsky S-22 Ilya Mourometz?

Bingo! World's first 4-engine aircraft; 75 were built between 1914-18; 3-ton payload; crew of 5; machine guns for protection. They had a 60% accuracy record in very slow bombing raids on E. Prussia and German Lithuainia...
I can't find info. anywhere about the walkway on the top... maybe it was for scouting, navigation or target acquisition...? What's kind of crazy is that this photo shows a Mourometz coming in for a landing! No "fasten seat belts" light, I guess...