Myasishchev VM-T Atlant

After directing CAHI (TsAGI) from 1960, Myasishchev returned to OKB No 23 in early 1978 in order to study how a 3M strategic bomber might be modified to convey large space launchers and similar payloads. In particular an aircraft was needed to transport to the Baikonur launch site four kinds of load: the nose of the Energiya launcher; the second portion of Energiya; the Energiya tank; and the Buran spacecraft, with vertical tail and engines removed. These loads typically weighed 40 tonnes and had a diameter of 8m. Myasishchev had previously calculated that such loads could be flown mounted above a modified 3M bomber. He died on 14th October 1978, the programme being continued by V Fedotov. While design went ahead, three 3M tanker aircraft were taken to SibNIA (the Siberian State Research Instiutute named for S.A.Chaplygin) and put through a detailed structural audit preparatory to grafting on a new rear fuselage and tail, and mountings for the external payload. The modified aircraft were designated 3M-T. All were rebuilt with zero-life airframes and new engines, but initially without payload attachments. One was static-tested at CAHI while the other two were completed and flown, tne first on 29th April 1981. After a brief flight-test programme they were equipped to carry pick-a-back payloads, and in Myasishchev's honour redesignated VM-T Atlant. The first flight with a payload was made by A.Kucherenko and crew on 6th January 1982. Subsequently the two Atlant aircraft carried more than 150 payloads to Baikonur.

The most obvious modification of these aircraft was that the rear fuselage was replaced by a new structure 7m longer and with an upward tilt, carrying a completely new tail. This comprised modified tailplanes and elevators with pronounced dihedral carrying inward- sloping fins and rudders of almost perfectly rectangular shape, with increased total area and outside the turbulent wake from any of the envisaged payloads. Less obvious was the fact that, even though the maximum take-off weight was less than that for the bomber versions, the airframe was strengthened throughout. As time between overhauls was not of great importance the original four VD-7B engines were replaced by the VD-7M. These were RD-7M-2 engines, originally built for the Tu-22 supersonic bomber with afterburners and variable nozzles, which had had the afterburner replaced by a plain jetpipe and fixed-area nozzle. Thrust was 11,000kg. These were in turn replaced by the VD-7D, rated at 10,750kg. Each aircraft was fitted with 14 attachment points above the fuselage and on lateral rear-fuselage blisters for the four different kinds of supporting structure, each being specially tailored to its payload. They were also equipped with a modified flight-control and autopilot system. The forward fuselage was furnished with work stations for a crew of six. The aircraft were given civilian paint schemes, one being registered RF-01502 and the other being RF-01402 and fitted with a flight-refuelling probe. To support their missions the PKU-50 loading and unloading facility was constructed at spacecraft factories, including NPO Energiya at Moscow Khimki, and at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. These incorporated a giant gantry for carefully placing the payloads on the carrier aircraft. Despite the turbulent aerodynamics downstream of the external payloads, this dramatic reconstruction proved completely successful. In the USA a 747 was used to airlift Shuttle Orbiters, but no other aircraft could have carried the sections of Energiya.

Yefim Gordon and Bill Gunston "Soviet X-Planes", 2000