SW - Myasishchev M-50

In the middle 50's, company of V.M.Myasishchev along with the CAGI started to develop (as a conterweight of American B-70 Valkyrie) a prototype of fast jet bomber with four engines: two Dobrynin VD-7 non-afterburning turbojet engines at the outer and two VD-7F afterburning turbojet engines at the inner positions. First flight was provided 27. October 1959, a two years later the airplane was introduced on the airshow in Tushin. The machine was designate as long range launcher of nuclear bombs and missiles. Myasishchev company later developed a few next variants - an unmanned M-51 intercontinental cruise missile, an improved M-52 and even civilian supersonic transport variant with a bulkier fuselage. Like most of the early 1960s supersonic strategic bomber projects, the program was terminated, though, due to the development of the intercontinental ballistic missiles and the priority assigned to the Soviet space program. The prototype of "Staline's hammer" is now to be seen in aircraft museum of Monin near Moscow.