Myasishchev M-50 – Newsreel from Russian Aviation Day 1961

It also had an interesting undercarriage – a ‘bicycle’ arrangement with two four-wheel bogies for and aft of the large weapons bay.

The outrigger wheels retracted into bulged wingtips just inboard of the wingtip engines.

To provide the necessary angle of attack, the front undercarriage leg is much longer than the rear – and on takeoff the whole front bogie pivots about the leg so that only the rearmost pair of front wheels is actually on the runway – thereby further increasing the angle of attack.

The undercarriage system was tested on a converted Tu-4 (B-29) bomber.

The entire fin was ‘all moving’ – a single structure pivotted in the centre.

Allthough the crew claimed it went supersonic – the ground-based recording equipment said it didn’t.

It was cancelled – due to Kruschev’s fascination with strategic missiles.

Ken

Thanks for posting! Quite a looker! Shame about the fuselage, though! (and the entry/exit hatch arrangement, now I’ve seen it!)

Successful or not that is still an amazing aeroplane. And if i had been in the crowd i think i’d be clapping too (voluntarily) :).

Thanks for posting the links.

Nice, Flanker Man. BTW, I take it you were pleased to see an IL2 in the air? 🙂

Absolutely – but I wish it could stay in Russia………

Ken

Nice, Flanker Man. BTW, I take it you were pleased to see an IL2 in the air? 🙂

And, once on the ground, the pilots had to get out…..

My model….

… and the real thing – imagine one slip on those ladders….. 😮

Ken