Myasishchev M-50

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-50

The Myasishchev M-50 (Russian:-50; NATO reporting name Bounder) is a Soviet
prototype four-jet engine supersonic strategic bomber which never attained
service. Only one flightworthy prototype was built, which was first flown in
October 1959. The M-50 was constructed by the Myasishchev design bureau.

Design and development

The M-50 was a fast jet bomber with four engines: two Dobrynin VD-7
non-afterburning turbojet engines at the outer and two VD-7F afterburning
turbojet engines at the inner positions. The two inner engines were located
under the wing and the two outer on the wingtips of its shoulder-mounted,
truncated delta wings.

The second aircraft was designated M-52 and carried Zubets 16-17 turbofans,
around which the aircraft had been designed. The engine installation was
modified, and a second tailplane added to the top of the fin. The fore-end of
the M-52 has been redesigned, in place of the tandem cockpit of the M-50 with
seats in a row, the M-52 had a wider cockpit with the two pilots sitting side by
side. The M-50 participated in a Soviet Aviation Day flyby in 1961. The M-52 was
completed but was not flight tested.

An unmanned M-51 intercontinental cruise missile variant was developed, would
have delivered multiple warheads on targets in the contiguous United States.

Like most of the early 1960s supersonic strategic bomber projects, the M-50/52
program was terminated due to the development of the intercontinental ballistic
missiles and the priority assigned to the Soviet space program.

Role
Supersonic strategic bomber

Manufacturer
Myasishchev

First flight
27 October 1959

Status
Retired

Primary user
Soviet Union

Number built
1 (+1 static test airframe), 1 M-52)

Nuclear bomber hoax

The 1 December 1958 issue of Aviation Week included an article Soviets Flight
Testing Nuclear Bomber claiming that the Soviets had made great progress in
their own nuclear aircraft program. This was accompanied by an editorial on the
topic as well. The magazine claimed that the aircraft was real beyond a doubt,
stating that "A nuclear-powered bomber is being flight tested in the Soviet
Union. ... It has been observed both in flight and on the ground by a wide
variety of foreign observers from Communist and non-Communist countries." In
reality, however, the article was based on a hoax. The aircraft in the
photographs was later revealed to be a M-50 and not a nuclear-powered plane at
all.

In reality, in the early 1960s Soviet Union did test a technology demonstrator
for a nuclear-powered strategic bomber, Tupolev Tu-95LAL, similar to the
somewhat earlier American Convair NB-36H project, but, being based on the
turboprop Tu-95, it was never supersonic, it never flew under nuclear power (its
main goal was to test the nuclear reactor shielding efficiency), and, moreover,
it was developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau, as Myasischev company had lost
the competition to develop the prototype. It was deemed successful, but further
development dragged because of environmental concerns. When the functional ICBMs
appeared, the majority of funding and development effort was shifted into that
field, and in the late 1960s the project was stopped.

Specifications (M-50A)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 57.48 m (188 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 25.10 m (82 ft 4 in)
Height: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 290.6 m2 (3,128 sq ft)
Empty weight: 85,000 kg (187,393 lb)
Gross weight: 175,000 kg (385,809 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 200,000 kg (440,925 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Dobrynin VD-7F afterburning turbojet, 137.29 kN (30,865 lbf)
thrust each wet
Powerplant: 2 × Dobrynin VD-7 non-afterburning turbojet, 110 kN (24,000 lbf)
thrust each

Performance
Maximum speed: 1,950 km/h (1,210 mph, 1,050 kn)
Cruise speed: 1,500 km/h (930 mph, 810 kn)
Range: 7,400 km (4,600 mi, 4,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 16,500 m (54,100 ft)
Wing loading: 602 kg/m2 (123 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.29

Armament

30,000 kg (66,000 lb) of bombs or missiles carried in internal bays, including
M-59 and M-61 long-range cruise missiles



*