Vladimir M. Myasishchev was responsible for contributions to a number of Soviet aircraft designs from 1924, but is best known for the Myasishchev M-4 which was the nation's first four-engine turbojet-powered strategic bomber to become operational. Following its maiden flight in late 1953, the type was first displayed in a fly-past over Moscow on 1 May 1954. A mid-wing cantilever monoplane with a deep section swept wing, the M-4 has a tail unit with all-swept surfaces, and retractable landing gear comprising two main units in tandem on the fuselage centreline, each with a four-wheel bogie, plus twin-wheel outrigger balancing units which retract into the wingtips. The circular-section fuselage incorporates a pressurised nose compartment and tail turret for the crew, and a large internal weapons bay in the lower fuselage between the main landing gear units. The powerplant comprises four turbojets buried in the wing roots, these being initially Mikulin AM-3Ds each of 8700kg thrust. Designed to carry thermonuclear weapons over intercontinental ranges, the initial bomber version, which has the NATO codename 'Bison-A', is believed to have entered service initially in early 1956, and production probably totalled about 200 aircraft. Subsequent modified versions have included the maritime reconnaissance 'Bison-B', first identified during 1964, which had a radome in a solid nose replacing the glazed nose of 'Bison-A', and the even later 'Bison-C', which was also for maritime reconnaissance and introduced a larger radar installation in a lengthened nose. A number of 'Bison-A' bombers have been equipped to serve as inflight-refuelling tankers, with a hose-reel unit mounted in the bomb bay. One other version is known, a test-bed aircraft powered by four D-15 turbojet engines each of 13000kg thrust and designated 201-M This was used in September 1959 to establish a number of payload-to-height records. About 40 tanker/transport versions of the M-4 were estimated to remain in service in 1992. These are to be replaced by II-78 'Midas' tankers.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1000 x 626)