31.08.2009, 11:11
Tupolev Tu-4 'Bull', heavy bomber, USSR:
This was a reverse-engineered copy of B-29.
http://www.moninoaviation.com/40a.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu-4
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bomber/tu4.html
[quote]...Stalin ordered Tupolev and his design bureau to copy the B-29s down to their smallest details, and produce a design ready for quantity production as soon as possible. Tupolev duly copied the B-29s bolt-by-bolt where possible, reverse engineering the design where necessary.
The Soviets used a different engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73, which had some parts in common with the Superfortress' Wright R-3350 but was not identical. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also redesigned to accommodate Soviet 23 mm cannons.
The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus 1/16th inch (1.6 mm) thick sheet aluminum and proper rivet lengths were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was thicker; as a result, the Tu-4 weighed about 3,100 lb (1,400 kg) more than the B-29, with a corresponding decrease in range and payload.
The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947 piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko. Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large scale service in 1949.
General characteristics
* Crew: 11
* Length: 30.18 m (99 ft)
* Wingspan: 43.05 m (141 ft)
* Height: 8.46 m (27 ft)
* Wing area: 161.7 m
This was a reverse-engineered copy of B-29.
http://www.moninoaviation.com/40a.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu-4
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bomber/tu4.html
[quote]...Stalin ordered Tupolev and his design bureau to copy the B-29s down to their smallest details, and produce a design ready for quantity production as soon as possible. Tupolev duly copied the B-29s bolt-by-bolt where possible, reverse engineering the design where necessary.
The Soviets used a different engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73, which had some parts in common with the Superfortress' Wright R-3350 but was not identical. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also redesigned to accommodate Soviet 23 mm cannons.
The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus 1/16th inch (1.6 mm) thick sheet aluminum and proper rivet lengths were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was thicker; as a result, the Tu-4 weighed about 3,100 lb (1,400 kg) more than the B-29, with a corresponding decrease in range and payload.
The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947 piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko. Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large scale service in 1949.
General characteristics
* Crew: 11
* Length: 30.18 m (99 ft)
* Wingspan: 43.05 m (141 ft)
* Height: 8.46 m (27 ft)
* Wing area: 161.7 m