Tu-4 (Russian B-29 variants)

[Michel Lemieux]

Tu-4 (Russian B-29 variants)

In the realms of unknown......I am impressed by how many variations were tried out and tested!!!!

First the original which I hope one day a book will be written on: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-4

Now have a look at some of these: https://ruslet.webnode.cz/technika/ruska-technika/letecka-technika/a-n-tupolev/tu-4-bull/

Disassembly of the General H. Hap Arnold


Tu-4 with Tu-91 engine / airframe testbed: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234998856-bull-and-boot-tu-4-bull-with-tu-91-boot-attached-soviet-engine-testbed/


TU-70 passenger variant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-70




Tu-75 military transport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-75




Tu-80 long range bomber: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-80



Tu-85 another long range version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-85





Some cool pics:



Contra rotating and engine test beds:
https://oldmachinepress.com/2015/05/28/dobrynin-m-250-vd-3tk-and-vd-4k-aircraft-engines/

[quemerford]

There already is a book on the Tu-4: in the Aerofile series IIRC.

[Michel Lemieux]

thank you quemerford!!!

Just ordered this one. There are 2 versions but I got the hardcover.

https://www.amazon.com/Tupolev-Tu-4-Soviet-Strategic-Bomber/dp/0764347977

[JohnB]

We seem to always see the same photos of the TU-75.
I wonder if there are any more?
I'm surprised they didn't make a variant with the Stratocruiser/C-97 fuselage. Seems like a no-brainer to make a roll-on - roll off transport.
Aldo, more the '85 has a B-50-size vertical stabilizer.

[sandiego89]

Very interesting windows on the Tu-75. May I assume pressurized sections with the round windows, and unpressurised sections with the square windows? I note different natural metal sheens on the different sections often indicating a different type of skin. Were there tunnel(s) between the sections like the B-29/Tu-4?

[lucky52]

That copy sure has a long serial number.

[Vzlet]

Gotta say, this thread is the biggest collection of Bull I've ever seen!

[LysanderUK]

Don't forget the turbo-prop conversions done by the Chinese including at least one AWACS version with dish on top, one of which is preserved at Datangshan.

https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/abpi ... -large.jpg

There was a story doing the rounds a few years ago that Beijing had made enquiries with Moscow about whether the Russians had any Tu-4 spares available, prompting lots of speculation about whether the PLAAF still had some in service!

[Michel Lemieux]

Nice new pic of the Chinese AWACS version LysanderUK! Thank you for sharing.

Must be an interesting story on how the airframe ended up in China and who and how the engines swap was made! Must be worthwhile of a good story also!

Makes me think that the moving ahead of the engines with nacelle extensions must be related to the CG change due to the radar array! Must have been fun to fly!!!!!

[Matt Gunsch]

Nice new pic of the Chinese AWACS version LysanderUK! Thank you for sharing.

Must be an interesting story on how the airframe ended up in China and who and how the engines swap was made! Must be worthwhile of a good story also!

Makes me think that the moving ahead of the engines with nacelle extensions must be related to the CG change due to the radar array! Must have been fun to fly!!!!!

Nothing to do with the radar, it was to keep the same CG with turbine engines installed, which are lighter than the radial engines, the B-17F that had the turbines fitted to it did the same thing.

[Michel Lemieux]

Tks Matt!

So a typical HP to weight ratio is a lot higher on a turbine! Including new tech material props!

Makes a lot of sense!

[JohnB]

Nothing to do with the radar, it was to keep the same CG with turbine engines installed, which are lighter than the radial engines, the B-17F that had the turbines fitted to it did the same thing.

You see it on almost all piston designs that have been converted to turbines...DC-3s, AG ships, Otters, Bonanzas...