Myasishchev M-50

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Myasishchev M-50

The Myasishchev M-50 (NATO reporting name Bounder) was a Soviet prototype four-engine supersonic bomber which never attained service. Only one prototype was built, which was believed to have first flown in 1957. The M-50 was constructed by the Myasishchev design bureau.

One writer commented on the M-50 that it was 'an outstanding failure which revealed an embarrassing lack of understanding of the problems of high-speed flight.' ^{[cite this quote]}. It was a fast jet bomber with four engines: two Dobrynin VD-7 and two VD-7F torbojets. Two engines were located under the wing and two on the tips of its shoulder-mounted, truncated delta wings.

The second M-50 was designated M-52 and carried Zubets 16-17 turbojets, around which the aircraft had been designed. The engine installation was modified, and a second tailplane added to the top of the fin. M-50 participated in a Soviet Aviation Day flyby in 1961. M-52 was completed but was not flight tested.

[edit] Specifications (M-50A)

General characteristics

Crew: Two
Length: 57.48 m (188 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 35.10 m (115 ft 2 in)
Height: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 290.6 m² (3,128 ft²)
Empty weight: 85,000 kg (187,000 lb)
Loaded weight: 175,000 kg (386,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 200,000 kg (440,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Dobrynin VD-7M afterburning turbojets, 156.9 kN (35,270 lb_f) each, and 2× VD-7B turbojets, 92.12 kN (20,710 lb_f) each