[ACE-OF-ACES]

All the more reason why a fully loaded TU-4 could not be an atomic bomber like the B-29 SilverPlate.. At least not a long range one! Which is why the combo SAS version makes no real since IMHO

if anyone reallllly wants to fly a TU-4 there's a secret to doing that: pick B-29, go to countries and pick USSR and BOOM... a TU-4 :wink:

No not a TU-4, The Russians liked their Defensive guns a bit bigger...Hmm Maybe 20mm.

Well they may have like them bigger..

But in the case of the Tu-4 they could not have made them bigger and still been able to deliver an ABOMB long distance..

Why you ask?

Because the US had to remove all of the 'smaller' .50cals positions cept the rear guns to lighten the B29 enough to carry the ABOMB to target..

Considering the FACT that the Tu-4 was heavier due to thicker skin..

A Tu-4 would probally have had to remove ALL the guns to carry an ABOMB that distance..

Thus the SAS mod of a ATOMIC capable Tu-4 with fully loaded gun positions and heavier guns and heavier plane is nothing more than a dream plane like the Learch, Ta-183, etc.. (read the doodle on napkin it was scribbled on looks good, but it could never actully fly)

In that in real life such a configuration probally could not even get off the ground with an ABOMB let alone diliver it to a distant target.