Soviet Bomber Projects

[overscan]

In the quest to achieve the very high performance required, the T-4MS had a very unconventional layout. In the bomber competition it placed first, above Myashishchev's M-20/M-18 (2nd) and Tupolev's Tu-160 (3rd) but was considered a high risk.

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This is thought to be the final revision of the T-4MS design. It is rarely seen because it is related to the still secret T-60S bomber design.

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The newly reformed Myashishchev OKB built on their M56 experience and tested a wide variety of configurations under the M-20 and M-18 designations.

M-20

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The M-18 was the final design submitted

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Meanwhile, Tupolev were convinced their Tu-144 layout was perfect for a bomber... the Soviet AF was unimpressed, and weren't decieved by the quick "camo" paint job.

[overscan]

Despite placing last, Tupolev was given the task of creating a new strategic bomber. Sukhoi's entry was too risky, plus they were hard at work on the T-10. Myashishchev's entry was good but they hadn't built a bomber recently. Tupolev was given all the documentation for both the T-4MS and the M-18. Their initial design showed clear Tu-22M and M-18 influence:

[Shasper]

Well, you've lived up to your namesake! Goodshow chap


Ves B)  

[Tophe]

Great!  If this had been a book, I would have bought a copy!  but... are you allowed to show all that ? without Copyright ?  

[lancer]

Damm, there are some seriously good designs there as well as some beautiful looking aircraft.  

[overscan]

Well most of the pics and drawings are official ones from the OKBs concerned, and as such the copyright resides with them.

Many (most?) of them come from Russian language websites, and I really have no idea where they were from. Some of the sites credit their sources, others don't.

Where someone has taken a photograph, or created a drawing, I agree that they should be rewarded financially for that. The internet represents something of a grey area. You can't always know where an image came from, or whether you are allowed to download it.

Some of the pics are scanned from "Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack" by Yefim Gordon but I wouldn't like to place money on them actually being his work, as other books by him allegedly stole liberally from Russian language authors.

Anything I have scanned myself, I have posted only in a relatively low resolution.
It isn't my intention to stop people buying books- I know that the images I downloaded from Tony Buttler's books only increased my interest in buying them!
The unfortunate thing is, there really isn't a book to buy unless you speak Russian.

If anyone disagrees, I'll gladly remove some or all of the pictures.

Anyway- heres a quick bibliography for those who are interested:

"Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack" Yefim Gordon. Midland Publishing, Red Star Volume 9

http://www.testpilot.ru/hard.htm

http://legion.wplus.net/guide/air/index.shtml

http://www.butovo.com/~CEM/Myasishev.htm

http://cherry-m.chat.ru/air_08r.htm

[overscan]

If only Tony Buttler would do Russian Secret Projects...

I'd buy all the volumes

[Martin H]

More than enought info there to keep the old little grey cells working overtime

[Captain Canada]

Awesome awesome awesome awesome..........( echo )



Man, them Soviets sure had some neat ideas !

Looks like the M-60 would be a fairly easy kitbash using a 72nd scale F-104 and the wing of a 48th scale F-5 !

Can also see allot of 'Firefox' in some of them !

Cheers and Thanks !

Toadman