Aerosani An aerosani ( , literally ' aerosled ' ) is a type of propeller - driven snowmobile , running on skis , used for communications , mail deliveries , medical aid , emergency recovery and border patrolling in northern Russia , as well as for recreation . Aerosanis were used by the Soviet Red Army during the Winter War and World War II . The first aerosanis may have been built in 1903 - 05 by Sergei Nezhdanovsky . In 1909 – 10 young Igor Sikorsky tested self designed aerosani , before he built multi - engine airplanes and helicopters . They were very light plywood vehicles on skis , propelled by old airplane engines and propellers . Military usage . Military use of the aerosani goes back to at least the 1910s . During WWI , aerosanis were found to be useful for reconnaissance , communicating and light raiding in northern areas . During the 1939 – 40 Winter War against Finland , some were equipped with a machine - gun ring mount on the roof . They could carry four to five men , and tow four more on skis . The aerosanis were initially used for transport , liaison , and medical evacuation in deep snow , and mostly used in open country and on frozen lakes and rivers because of their poor hill - climbing ability and limited maneuverability on winding forest roads . During WWII , aerosanis were found to be useful for reconnaissance and light raiding in northern areas , thanks to their high mobility in deep snow ( 25 – 35 km / h , where many vehicles couldn ' t move at all ) . Responsibility for aerosanis was transferred to the Soviet Armoured Forces ( GABTU ) and orders were submitted for design and fabrication of lightly armoured versions , protected by ten millimetres of steel plate on front . They were organized into transport or combat battalion s of 45 vehicles , in three companies , often employed in co - operation with ski infantry . Troops were usually carried or towed by transport aerosanis , while fire support was provided by the heavier machine gun - armed , armoured models . Aerosanis were not used for direct assault because of their vulnerability to explosives such as mortar rounds . The ANT - I through ANT - V were a successful series of aerosanis of the 1920s and ’ 30s , designed by aircraft engineer Andrei Tupolev . However , there is reason to believe that in 1924 the Soviets obtained plans and specifications for ' air sleighs ' from Chester B . Wing , an aviator , automobile dealer and former mayor of St . Ignace , Michigan , U . S . A . He had built practical aerosleds to aid transportation across the ice between St . Ignace and Mackinac Island , and for use by fishermen . The Spring 1943 issue of the magazine " Science and Mechanics " states that " from his aerosleds the Russians developed their present battle sled . " The claim though has to be viewed in the context of a picture of an Igor Sikorsky machine in Kiev pre - WWI . The first military aerosanis used in Finland , the KM - 5 and OSGA - 6 ( later called NKL - 6 ) , were initially built at the Narkomles Factory in Moscow . During WWII , improved NKL - 16 / 41 and NKL - 16 / 42 models were built , and production started at the ZiS and GAZ car factories , and at smaller industries such as the Stalingrad Bekietovskiy Wood Works . In 1941 the armoured NKL - 26 , designed by M . Andreyev , started production at Narkomles . The following year , Gorki Narkorechflota developed the smaller , unarmoured GAZ - 98 , or RF - 8 , powered by a GAZ - M1 truck engine and durable metal propeller . There was also an ASD - 400 heavy assault sled used in WWII .