Myasishchev M-17/M-55 Geofizika Originally identified in 1982 by US recon- naissance satellites as the ‘Ram-M’ single-seathigh-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, and latercodenamed ‘Mystic’ by NATO, the twin-boom straight-wing jet, currently publicised as a high-altitude re- search aircraft able to carry around 1500kg (3,305 Ib) of sensors, is now known to exist in two versions. The first of two prototype aircraft, designated M-17 Stratosfera (‘Mystic-A’), first flew in 1988 and are powered by a single 68.6kN ( 1 5 , 4 3 0 l b) thrust Rybins k RD-36-51V turbojet developed from the Tu-144 SST powerplant. The M-55 Geofizika (‘Mystic-B’) , has two 49 kN (11,025 hp) thrust Perm/Soloviev PS-30-V12 turbojets mounted side-by- side behind a raised cockpit installed in a longer nose, together with a reduced span wing. The role of the ‘Mystic-B’ is described as environmental sampling missions or high-altitude research and endurance in this role is claimed as over 4 hours loiter capability at 20000 m (65,600 ft). A further variant of the M-55 i s reported to be under development with wingroot mounted engines in- The M-55 ‘Mystic-B’ differs from the first M-17 Stratosfera in having a longer jetpipe, shorter engine intakes, a reprofiled nose and an undernose FLIR turret. A subsequent version of the Geofizika is twin-engined. stalled in a conventional fuselage carry- ing a sweptback tail unit . Two ‘Mystic-A’ prototypes, followed by two ‘Mystic-B’ and two pre-production ‘Mystic-Bs’ were flying by 1992.
Sign In
October 15, 2003 at 11:20 pm