Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Tupolev Tu 1

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Top speed
  
641 km/h

Length
  
14 m

Manufacturer
  
Tupolev

Wingspan
  
19 m

First flight
  
March 22, 1947

Tupolev Tu-1 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb5


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The Tupolev Tu-1 was a prototype Soviet night fighter variant of the Tupolev Tu-2 medium bomber that first flew after the end of World War II. It was cancelled when its experimental Mikulin AM-43V engines reached the end of their service life.

Contents

Development

Impressed by the performance of the de Havilland Mosquito the Soviets asked Tupolev to modify a Tu-2 as a high-speed day bomber with a reduced crew as the ANT-63. The second prototype of this project was ordered to be converted in February 1946 for use as a three-seat long-range interceptor capable of carrying an airborne radar set with the internal designation of ANT-63P and the official designation of Tu-1. It was given prototype Mikulin AM-43V engines driving four-bladed propellers, and fitted with new radio equipment. It reverted to the standard Tu-2S undercarriage. Two 45 mm (1.8 in) Nudelman-Suranov NS-45 guns with 50 rounds each were fitted on the underside of the nose, two 23 mm (0.91 in) Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 or Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannon were fitted in the wing roots with 130 rounds per gun. The dorsal gunner was given a 12.7 mm (0.50 in) UBT machine gun with 200 rounds and the ventral gunner received a UBT with 350 rounds of ammunition. It retained the internal bomb bay which could carry up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs.

The Tu-1 first flew on 22 March 1947 and underwent manufacturer's tests until 3 October or 3 November 1947. Sources disagree about the mounting of radar during these tests. Bill Gunston says that a Soviet derivative of the German FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 was tested, however Yefim Gordon believes that no radar was fitted at all and the short service life of the AM-43V prototype engines curtailed the planned tests and development. At any rate, the aircraft was not selected for production because its AM-43V engines were not ready for production.

Specifications

Data from Gordon, OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft

General characteristics

  • Crew: three
  • Length: 13.6 m (44 ft 7½ in)
  • Wingspan: 18.86 m (61 ft 10½ in)
  • Height: 3.32 m (ft in)
  • Wing area: 48.8 m² (525 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 9,460 kg (20,855 lb)
  • Useful load: kg (lb)
  • Loaded weight: 12,755 kg (28,119 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 14,460 kg (31,878 lb)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 641 km/h (345.8 knots, 398 mph)
  • Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
  • Range: 2250 km (1215 nm, 1400 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,090 ft)
  • Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 261.37kg/m² (53.56lb/ft²)
  • Armament

  • 2 × 45 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-45 cannon
  • 2 × 23 mm Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 cannon
  • 2 × 12.7 mm UBT machine guns
  • up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs
  • Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
  • Junkers Ju 88
  • Dornier Do 17
  • Dornier Do 217
  • Focke-Wulf Ta 154
  • A-20 Havoc
  • Petlyakov Pe-3
  • References

    Tupolev Tu-1 Wikipedia