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Tupolev Tu-80

1949 COLD WAR X-PLANE

History of the Tupolev Tu-80

In order to provide bomber units with a long-range weapons delivery platform, Soviet engineers set out to develop the new Tupolev Tu-80. The Tu-80 is a development of the Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO codename "Bull"), which itself is nothing more than a direct, unlicensed replica of the highly technical Boeing B-29 Superfortress. The Soviet Union acquired this technology after raiding the Japanese mainland during World War II (1939-1945), capturing three complete B-29s that were forced to land on Soviet soil.

While the crew was eventually sent back to U.S. authorities, the plane was detained and extensively inspected. Under Stalin's direct order, the B-29 was reverse engineered to the last bolt and became the Soviet Tu-4 product.

Some 847 Tu-4s were eventually produced from 1949 to 1952, still faithful to the original American design.

The Tu-80 was born with endurance in mind, as the Soviet Air Force at the time lacked long-range, high-altitude bombers to compete with the growing US/Western stockpile - especially in the supply arena of nuclear weapons. Forced into hand-to-hand combat with Germany during World War II, few ideas and resources were devoted to developing long-range heavy platforms. Instead, the Soviet aircraft family revolved around fighter jets, twin-engine light bomber/strike types, and the only four-engine bomber of the war of Soviet origin - the Petlyakov Pe-8.

One of the main targets of the Soviet Union during the Cold War was land some distance from the United States, and the current collection is not enough, and ICBM technology is still decades away.

Several other heavy bomber programs of this period failed, and the Tu-80 gained significant traction. Compared to the original Tu-4, the aircraft is equipped with engines better suited for the role, with more power, range and transportability. Dimensions have been increased to increase internal volume. Overall, the B-29's influence is still evident in the Tu-80's profile - a large area of ??a single vertical tail, tubular fuselage, and straight main wing attachments, each with two engines mounted on the leading edge. The most notable difference to the new design is the stepped cockpit, which, unlike the B-29 and Tu-4, features an extended nose assembly for the bomber crew.

The landing gear has also been modified to encourage a slight "nose up" attitude when the aircraft is stationary.

Structurally, the Tu-80 has a barrel length of 112.6 feet, a wingspan of 142.5 feet, and a height of 29.2 feet. When empty, the aircraft weighs 83,445 pounds and has a maximum takeoff weight of 133,600 pounds. Power is provided by 4 Shvetsov ASh-73FN 18-cylinder twin-row radial engines with 2,650 hp each. That gives the plane a top speed of 340 mph, a range of 5,100 miles, and a service ceiling of nearly 36,680 feet. The operations team consisted of 11 men, including two pilots.

The airframe has a reported bomb carrying capacity of 26,500 pounds.

Design work began in February 1948 and construction continued until the end of the year. On December 1, 1949, the Tu-80 prototype ("Aircraft 80") flew for the first time. However, this is where the history of the Tu-80 basically ended, as the type was abandoned in favor of the more promising Tu-85 Venture - itself a descendant of the famous Cold War-era Tu-95 "Bear" direct predecessor. Come.

The Tu-85 was faster, had a higher bomb load, and had a higher bomb load, killing the Tu-80's initiative. Soviet authorities then canceled the Tu-80 ahead of its maiden flight in September 1949 in order to move forward with the Tu-85 program.

As such, the Tu-80 was used for the rest of the time as an engine and aircraft test bed before being handed over to the Soviet weapons zone as a target. This is the end of the history of the Soviet Tu-80 heavy bomber.