Jim Doyle wrote:

Just yesterday a friend asked me if there were stability issues during the
design of the Tu-20. This was on account of its extremely long and slender
fuselage which obviously presents a huge mmt arm. I though maybe cruise/drag
considerations or structure limitations may have been the rationale behind
it. The engines are quite close inboard, so I guess the large arm is not
based on yaw requirements for an engine-out/wind case.

I've not been able to find anything on this, does anyone know what the deal
is?

I can't answer your question about the length of the Tu-95 - but the slender
fuselage is because it is a direct lineal descendant of the Boeing B-29 !!

The B-29 was reverse-engineered into the Tu-4 Bull.

The Bull spawned the Tu-80 & Tu-85.

The Tu-95 evolved from them.

They all have the same diameter fuselage.

A good starting point on the Tu-95 is the Aerofax book on the 'Tupolev
Tu-95/-142 Bear' by Yefim Gordon & Vladimir Rigmant.

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Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
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