What was the name of the first Russian bomber aircraft? The best bombers in the world
Cold weather and a hangover after Christmas are not a problem for Soviet scientists. Therefore, on January 17, 1970, they sent a modernized thunderstorm on its first flight Russian bombers- Su-24.
It was on this day that they decided to test a new aircraft technology - a variable sweep wing. The experiment ended successfully. The result is improved takeoff and landing characteristics (modification T6-2I). But not without flaws - such a complex design made the plane significantly heavier. Although, this did not prevent the Su-24 from becoming one of the best front-line bombers not only in Russia.
In honor of the first flight of the Soviet monster, men's magazine MPORT decided to recall ten more cool bombers in the world. These killers are the real masters of the sky.
Boeing B-17
The Boeing B-17 is the first serial American all-metal heavy four-engine bomber. This 30-ton monster with full ammunition (up to 8 tons of bombs with 13 defensive machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber) is capable of accelerating to 515 kilometers per hour. It is distinguished by its particular accuracy, as it is equipped with the Norden system, which allows it to aim directly at the target from a height of seven kilometers.
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Handley-Page 0/400
Why not remember the Hardley Page 0/400 - one of the fathers of modern bombers. It was hard for the pilots on board this old man: he climbed to an altitude of 1500 meters for 23 minutes, accelerating to only 160 km/h. And its armament is not the best - only 907 kilograms of bomb load and 5 defensive machine guns of 7.7 mm caliber. Although, if not for Ilya Muromets (Russian plane), Hardley Page would have become the best bomber of the First World War.
Source: nationalmuseum.af.mil
Junkers Yu-88
The Germans have always been inventive. Their opponents especially felt this during World War II: the poor fellows had to face fascist firepower not only on the ground (the legendary Tiger and Panther tanks), but also in the air. The Junkers Ju-88 is not just a flying horror of the Luftwaffe, but one of the most versatile aircraft of this war. It was used as a high-speed bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo bomber, night fighter and as a flying bomb unit. This monster was significantly ahead of its time, for which it became one of the famous aircraft in the world and entered our chart.
Source: historyofwar.org
The Tu-95 has many advantages. The main ones are that it became the first mass-produced turboprop bomber to be put into service; can at any time of the day and at any time weather conditions hit the target with cruise missiles. Combat payload - 12 tons.
On July 30, 2010, a world record was set: this bomber flew 30 thousand kilometers over three oceans in 43 hours without a single landing. Refueled four times.
Source: airlines.net
Boeing B-47
In the 1940s, the American aviation corporation Boeing developed a special aerodynamic design, which subsequently began to be used on all passenger planes- placement of engines in pylons under the wing. The first airliner to use the scheme was the Boeing B-47 jet bomber. The vehicle accelerates to 975 km/h, has a combat load of 11 tons, and has a defensive tail mount with two 20 mm cannons.
Source: crash-aerien.aero
Avro Lancaster
Recently, the men's magazine MPORT already wrote about the Avro Lancaster, whose first test flight took place on January 9, 1941. In addition to four super-powerful engines, it has one more advantage - the aircraft can be armed with a special bomb weighing 10 tons, or placed on board 6350 kilograms of conventional bombs and 8 defensive rifle-caliber machine guns.
Source: diracdelta.co.uk
Boeing B-52
Well, how can we not remember the B-52, which has been in service with the US Air Force since 1955 to this day. At a speed of over a thousand kilometers and an altitude of up to 15 kilometers, the aircraft can carry up to 31 tons of weapons (including nuclear weapons), and is equipped with one automatic six-barrel 20 mm caliber cannon.
The B-52, like the Tu-95, holds the record for longest flight range among combat aircraft. Not surprising, since both bombers were designed to deliver nuclear bombs to other continents (the arms race during the Cold War).
We present to our readers the 5 best bombers in the world
No. 1 - Northrop B-2 Spirit- heavy American bomber. Primarily intended for breaking through dense air defense and delivering nuclear weapons to the destination. Stealth technologies are used for camouflage. The aircraft's skin is covered with radio-absorbing materials. The B-2 Spirit is the most expensive aircraft in the world. In 1998, the cost of one B-2, excluding R&D, was $1.157 billion. The cost of the entire B-2 program was estimated at nearly $45 billion in 1997; Thus, taking into account R&D, the cost of one car at that time reached 2.1 billion dollars. High price became main reason reduction of its purchases by the US Air Force. Due to the collapse of the USSR, out of the originally planned 132 bombers, only 20 units were purchased during the entire production period.
No. 2 - Tu-160- a supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber with a variable geometry wing, developed at the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1970-1980s.
The largest and most powerful bomber in history military aviation. A supersonic aircraft with variable wing geometry, as well as the heaviest aircraft in the world, having the highest maximum take-off weight. Among military experts it was called the “White Swan”. It’s surprising that with its enormous parameters it is also the fastest
No. 3 - Rockwell B-1 Lancer- American supersonic strategic bomber with variable sweep wings.
Development of this project was started back in the 70s and completed only in the mid-80s. The aircraft was designed by the well-known company Rockwell International. In 1985, the aircraft entered service armed forces USA where it was supposed to replace the already obsolete B-52 as a carrier of nuclear weapons. However, in the early 90s, conversion of B-1 aircraft to equip them with conventional weapons began. The final version of the bomber (B-1B) implements the concept of low-altitude air defense penetration by flying at ultra-low altitudes while following the terrain.
No. 4 - Boeing B-52 Stratofortress- American multifunctional heavy ultra-long-range intercontinental strategic bomber-missile carrier of the second generation from Boeing, which has been in service with the US Air Force since 1955. This bomber replaced the famous B-36 and B-47. The main task of this bomber is to deliver high-power dual-thermonuclear bombs to any point globe, at one time primarily before the USSR. The B-52, along with the Tu-95, is the absolute record holder for the longest range among combat aircraft. It is also one of the few military aircraft to have been in continuous service for more than half a century. Despite the fact that the B-52 was developed in the 50s to meet the requirements of the Cold War, it still remains the main long-range bomber aircraft of the US Air Force and will remain so at least until 2040.
No. 5 - Tu-95- Soviet/Russian turboprop strategic missile-carrying bomber, one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, which became one of the symbols of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR. The world's last adopted and mass-produced turboprop bomber. It had many modifications in accordance with current tasks. Along with the American B-52 strategic bomber, the Tu-95 is one of the few military aircraft that have been in continuous service for more than half a century.
Bombers are special military aircraft whose main purpose is to destroy ground, underground, surface and underwater targets using bombs or missiles. IN Russian Air Force Today, bomber aviation is represented by the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers, the Tu-22M3 long-range bomber and the Su-24 and Su-34 front-line bombers, which are tactical aircraft.
It is worth noting that in modern tactical aviation the difference between tactical (front-line) bombers, fighter-bombers and attack aircraft is very blurred. Many combat aircraft, designed for air strikes, although similar to fighters, have limited capabilities for air combat. It is obvious that those characteristics that allow aircraft to effectively strike from low altitudes are poorly suited to an air superiority fighter. At the same time, many modern fighters, despite the fact that they were created for maneuverable air combat, they can also be used as bombers. Against this background, the main differences between bombers continue to be their long range and limited opportunities air combat.
At the moment, many in the Air Force developed countries there are simply no tactical bombers left in the world that replaced multi-role fighters(fighter-bombers). For example, in the United States, the last specialized bomber Lockheed F-117 was withdrawn from service on April 22, 2008. Bombing missions in the US Air Force at the tactical level are assigned to the F-15E and F-16 fighter-bombers, and in the Navy - F/A-18. Against this background, Russia currently stands apart. Our Air Force is armed with two front-line bombers: Su-24 and Su-34. We'll talk about them in a little more detail.
Su-24 front-line bomber
Officially, the development of this aircraft was set by a government decree of August 24, 1965. In the Sukhoi Design Bureau this topic received a working code T-6. In March 1966, the draft design and mock-up of the future front-line bomber were defended, and the detailed design was completed at the end of the same year. At the same time, two options were initially created, one of them with a variable-sweep wing. Development of this model began at the Sukhoi Design Bureau in mid-1967. And the detailed design of the T-6 with a variable-sweep wing was carried out in 1968-1969. Construction of the first two prototypes The bomber was completed by the fall of 1969. On January 17, 1970, under the control of test pilot V.S. Ilyushin, the aircraft took to the skies for the first time. State tests of the front-line bomber lasted for 4 years: from January 1970 to July 1974. This testing period was explained by the great complexity and novelty of the tasks that the military had to solve together with employees of the Sukhoi Design Bureau during the development of the aircraft.
It is worth noting that the T-6 became the first tactical aviation strike aircraft in the Soviet Union, which could provide all-weather and round-the-clock use. His distinctive feature There was a variable sweep wing, which provided the vehicle with acceptable takeoff and landing characteristics, as well as a high level of flight performance in various flight modes. In terms of design and technology, an important feature of the new bomber was the widespread use of long milled panels in its design. Also, for the first time in domestic practice, a two-seater aircraft of this class used a scheme for placing pilots next to each other “shoulder to shoulder”, as well as new unified ejection seats of the K-36D type, which ensured the rescue of the crew in all speed ranges and altitudes of the bomber, including evacuation during takeoff and landing.
By decree of the Soviet government of February 4, 1975, the T-6 front-line bomber was put into service under the designation Su-24. At the same time, work was assigned to further modernize the vehicle to expand its combat capabilities. Serial production of the Su-24 was launched in 1971 in cooperation between two aircraft manufacturing plants: the Far Eastern Plant named after Yu. A. Gagarin (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) and the Novosibirsk Plant named after V. P. Chkalov. In Komsomolsk-on-Amur they were assembling the rear fuselage of the bomber, the empennage and the wing console, and in Novosibirsk - the head and middle parts fuselage together with the center section and final assembly of the aircraft. The chief designer of the machine in the period from 1965 to 1985 was E. S. Felsner, and since 1985, work on the Su-24 at the Sukhoi Design Bureau was headed by L. A. Logvinov.
The Su-24 front-line bomber is a twin-engine high-wing aircraft with a variable sweep wing. Depending on the flight mode, the front parts of the wing (console) can be set to one of four positions: 16° - during takeoff and landing, 35° - during cruising flight at subsonic speed, 45° - during combat maneuvering, 69° - during flight at transonic or supersonic speeds. The fuselage of the aircraft is of semi-monocoque design, retractable three-post landing gear, two-seater cabin (pilot and navigator), dual controls.
The aircraft was used in combat operations by the USSR Air Force and the Russian Air Force. IN Afghan war From 1979 to 1989, front-line bombers were used to a limited extent. These vehicles were involved in combat work only during the Panjshir operation in 1984 and covering the withdrawal Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1988-1989. Moreover, these aircraft were never based on the territory of Afghanistan, making flights from Soviet air bases located in Central Asia, there were no combat losses among these aircraft. The aircraft was used most intensively within both Chechen wars. In total, three Su-24 front-line bombers were shot down or crashed in the North Caucasus, and three more vehicles burned out at the airfield while preparing for a combat mission. In August 2008, during the war in South Ossetia, two more Su-24 front-line bombers were lost, while both losses were not officially recognized, but were confirmed by the pilots themselves. The first plane was shot down on August 9, 2008, pilot Igor Zinov was captured (released on August 19), navigator Igor Rzhavitin died (Hero of Russia posthumously). In 2012, four years after the war, Vladimir Bogodukhov, a lieutenant colonel of the Russian Air Force, who received the title of Hero of Russia, in an interview with Arguments and Facts, said that his Su-24 was shot down on August 11, 2008, and also mentioned the fact of the loss of Zinov’s plane.
Despite its advantages, the Su-24 aircraft was considered quite difficult to pilot and had high level accident rate. During flight testing alone, 14 Su-24 and Su-24M aircraft were lost, and 13 test pilots and navigators were killed. After the bomber was put into service, up to 5-6 accidents and disasters involving this aircraft occurred every year. Speaking at the State Duma in 1998, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Viktor Kot called the Su-24 the most dangerous aircraft in the country's Air Force.
The total serial production of front-line bombers and reconnaissance aircraft of the Su-24 type was about 1,400 aircraft. Currently, the aircraft is still in service with the Russian Air Force, as well as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Since 1999, the Sukhoi Design Bureau, together with representatives of the Russian Air Force, has been implementing a program to modernize combat aircraft. As of 2012, the Russian Air Force operated 124 Su-24 aircraft. As new Su-34 front-line bombers enter combat units, Su-24 are removed from service and should be completely withdrawn from the Russian Air Force by 2020; the aircraft were removed from service with the Belarusian Air Force in February 2012.
Flight performance Su-24:
Overall dimensions: variable sweep wingspan - 17.64 m (10.37 m), wing area 55.16 m2 (51 m2), length - 24.53 m, height - 6.19 m.
Take-off weight: normal - 38,040 kg, maximum - 43,755 kg.
Powerplant - 2 AL-21F-3A turbofan engines, afterburner thrust 2x11200 kgf.
Maximum speed - 1600 km/h (M=1.35M).
Practical ceiling - 11,000 m.
Ferry range: 2775 km with 2xPTB-3000.
Combat range - 600 km.
Maximum operational overload - 6g.
Crew - 2 people.
Armament: one 23-mm six-barreled gun GSh-6-23M (ammunition 500 rounds), combat load 8000 kg (normal 3000 kg) on 8 hardpoints.
Su-34 front-line bomber
The Su-34 front-line bomber should form the basis striking power Russian front-line aviation, it is able to use the entire available range of high-precision air-to-surface weapons. This aircraft is a worthy replacement round-the-clock front-line bomber Su-24M. Currently, the development and serial production of the Su-34 bomber is among the priority programs for the Sukhoi company, the official website of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) tells us. It’s hard to disagree with this today. Back in August 2008, during the armed conflict in South Ossetia, the Russian Air Force used only two such aircraft, and as of May 29, 2015, there are already 69 such aircraft in service. Only in the air part of the military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015, 14 Su-34 front-line bombers took part, and the total number of them in the Russian Air Force is planned to be increased to 150-200 units.
Work on the creation of the T-10B aircraft began in the Soviet Union on June 19, 1986. The prototype Su-34 (Su-27IB “fighter-bomber”) - T-10V-1 made its first flight on April 13, 1990. The aircraft was piloted by Honored Test Pilot of the USSR A. A. Ivanov. The T-10V-1 aircraft was the result of a deep modernization of the well-known Su-27 fighter. The vehicle was created to replace the Su-24 and was intended primarily for the destruction of ground and surface targets, including mobile and subtle ones, both in tactical and operational depth enemy defense, at any time of the day and in any weather conditions.
The aircraft, created by domestic designers, is designed to carry out missile and bomb strikes against ground and surface targets, and can also hit air targets enemy. The chief designer of the aircraft is Rollan Matrirosov. The Su-34 prototype made its first flight on April 13, 1990. However, the path from the first flight to the adoption of the vehicle for service was very long. State tests of the new front-line bomber ended only in November 2010. By decision of the Russian government on March 20, 2014, the aircraft was officially adopted by the Russian Air Force. At the same time, the aircraft has been mass-produced since 2006. Its production is carried out by the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V.P. Chkalov, which is part of the Sukhoi holding. Deliveries of the aircraft to the troops are carried out within the framework of contracts concluded in 2008 (32 aircraft) and 2012 (92 aircraft) with the Ministry of Defense. Starting from 2015, it is planned to collect 18-20 aircraft data per year. In 2014, 18 such front-line bombers were manufactured in Russia (according to the plan there should have been 16).
Compared to the Su-27 fighter, the Su-34 bomber retained almost unchanged the shape of the cantilever parts of the wing and tail, but the wing flaps of the fuselage were extended to the forward part of the fuselage, which has an elliptical cross-section. Bow the aircraft was lengthened due to the installation of a radar antenna there. The nose cone of a front-line bomber has a flattened shape with developed side bulges and pointed edges. Inside this radome there is a radar with a small antenna. The aircraft does not have ventral ridges.
The aircraft cabin became double, closed and sealed. It was made in the form of a welded titanium armored capsule with a wall thickness of up to 17 mm (for the first time in the world on aircraft of this class), the cabin glazing was also armored. When creating the aircraft, the designers took into account the experience of using combat aircraft at low altitudes. The cockpit is equipped with an air conditioning and heating system. The crew members' workstations are placed side by side "shoulder to shoulder", which significantly reduces their fatigue and improves interaction during the flight. On the left is the pilot's seat, on the right is the navigator-operator. The cabin is comfortable and spacious. When committing long flight It is possible to stand behind the chairs at full height or sleep in the aisle between the chairs. There is a microwave oven for hot meals for the crew and a bathroom. The entrance to the cabin is made through the nose landing gear using a folding ladder.
In terms of its combat capabilities, the Su-34 belongs to generation 4+ aircraft. The presence of an active safety system on a front-line bomber, along with the use of the latest computers, made it possible to create additional features for the pilot and navigator to carry out targeted bombing and maneuver under enemy fire. Excellent aerodynamic characteristics, large capacity of internal fuel tanks, the presence of an in-flight refueling system, highly economical bypass turbojet engines, as well as the possibility of installing additional fuel tanks, along with a comfortable flight deck implemented in practice, provide the ability to make a non-stop bomber flight lasting up to 10 hours without loss pilot performance. The digital avionics of the Su-34 was built on the principle of open architecture, which allows for the rapid replacement of components and systems with newly created ones.
The Su-34 front-line bomber is distinguished by high maneuverability and flight performance characteristics, long-range sighting systems, and modern on-board system information exchange and communication with ground control points, ground forces And surface ships, as well as by plane. The aircraft is distinguished by the fact that it can use all modern highly efficient systems guided weapons air-to-surface and air-to-air long range ensuring multi-channel application. In addition to passive safety, the vehicle was equipped with a highly intelligent radar countermeasures and defense system. The aircraft is distinguished by a developed combat survivability system, including the installation of an armored cockpit. Currently ongoing scheduled work by extension combat potential Su-34 due to the inclusion of new weapons in its armament aviation assets defeats.
The Su-34 aircraft managed to take part in hostilities. In 2008, two frontline bombers were used during the war in South Ossetia. The vehicles were used to cover the actions of Russian strike aircraft, leading electronic warfare with elements of Georgian air defense. To suppress radio-electronic means(RES) enemy Su-34 aircraft interfered with the battle formations. The planes attacked the most dangerous electronic zones of the S-125 and Buk complexes with anti-radar missiles. During combat use in August 2008, they destroyed the key Georgian 36D6-M radar located near the village of Shavshvebi near Gori.
Flight characteristics of the Su-34:
Overall dimensions: wing span - 14.7 m, wing area 62 m2, length - 22 m, height - 5.93 m.
Take-off weight: normal - 39,000 kg, maximum - 44,360 kg.
Powerplant - 2 AL-31F turbofan engines, afterburner thrust 2x13500 kgf.
Maximum speed - 1900 km/h (M=1.6M).
Practical flight range - 4500 km.
Practical ceiling - 17,000 m.
Combat range - 1100 km.
Maximum operational overload - 9g.
Crew - 2 people (pilot and navigator-operator).
Armament: one 30-mm GSh-301 cannon (ammunition 180 rounds), combat load 8000 kg (normal 4000 kg) on 12 hardpoints, CREP: Khibiny electronic countermeasures complex (product L-175V).
Sources of information:
http://www.uacrussia.ru
http://www.sukhoi.org
http://www.airwar.ru
http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/2051410
Open source materials
Aviation brings death from the skies. Unexpected and inevitable. “Heavenly Slugs” and “Flying Fortresses” - they are the main ones in the air. All other aircraft and ground missile systems, fighters and anti-aircraft guns - all this was created to ensure successful operations of bombers or counter enemy bomb carriers.
TV channel " Military Channel" compiled a ranking of the 10 best bombers of all time - and, as always, it turned out to be a hell of a mixture of cars different classes and time periods. I believe it is necessary to rethink some aspects of the American program in order to avoid the emergence of panic among some morally fragile members Russian society.
It is worth noting that many of the accusations against the Military Channel seem unfounded - unlike Russian television with its endless “comedy clubs”, “Discovery” makes a truly bright, interesting program for the mass audience. He does the best he can, often making ridiculous mistakes and frankly delusional statements. At the same time, journalists are by no means devoid of objectivity - every Discovery rating contains truly outstanding examples of technology. The whole problem with the numbering of seats, if I were the journalists, I would completely cancel it.
10th place – B-17 “Flying Fortress” and B-24 “Liberator”
Strategic bomber. Max. take-off weight 30 tons. Maximum speed 515 km/h. Combat radius: 3200 km with two tons of bombs. Ceiling 11,000 m.
Armament: up to 8 tons of bombs, 13 defensive machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber.
Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" and Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" in flight
Henry Ford was repeatedly asked why his Willow Run aircraft plant had such a strange L-shape: in the midst of production, the conveyor unexpectedly turned at a right angle. The answer was simple: the giant assembly complex abutted the territory of another state, where the land tax was higher. The American capitalist counted everything down to the last cent and decided that it was cheaper to open factory floors than to pay extra taxes.
Willow Run Main Assembly Line
Built in 1941-1942. On the site of Ford's former parent farm, the Willow Run plant assembled four-engine B-24 Liberator bombers. Paradoxically, this aircraft remained virtually unknown, losing all the laurels to the “Flying Fortress”. Both strategic bombers carried the same bomb load, performed similar tasks and were very similar in design, while the B-17 produced 12 thousand aircraft, and the production volume of the B-24, thanks to the talent of businessman Henry Ford, exceeded 18 thousand aircraft.
Heavy bombers actively fought on all fronts of World War II, covered Arctic convoys, and were used as transport aircraft, tankers, photo reconnaissance aircraft. There were projects " heavy fighter"(!) and even an unmanned projectile aircraft.
But the “Fortresses” and “Liberators” gained particular fame during their raids on Germany. Strategic bombing was not an American invention - the Germans first used this tactic when they bombed the Dutch Rodderdam on May 4, 1940. The British liked the idea - the very next day the planes Royal Air Force destroyed the Ruhr industrial area. But the real madness began in 1943 - with the advent of four-engine bombers among the Allies, the life of the German population turned into a hellish disco.
Boeings in the skies of Europe
There are various interpretations combat effectiveness of strategic bombing. The most common opinion is that the bombs did not cause any harm to the Reich industry - despite all the attempts of the Allies, the volume of German military production in 1944 was continuously increasing! However, there is the following caveat: military production continuously increased in all warring countries, but in Germany the growth rate was noticeably lower - this is clearly visible in the production figures for new models of armored vehicles (“ Royal Tigers", "Jagdpanthers" - only a few hundred units) or difficulties with launching a series of jet aircraft. Moreover, this “growth” was bought at a high price: in 1944, the civilian production sector in Germany was completely curtailed. The Germans had no time for furniture and gramophones - all their strength was thrown into the war.
9th place – Handley Page 0/400
Heavy bomber. Max. take-off weight 6 tons. Maximum speed 160 km/h. Flight range 1100 km. The ceiling is 2600 m. Interesting fact: the “super bomber” needed as much as 23 minutes to climb to a height of 1500 m.
Armament: 2,000 lb (907 kg) bomb load, 5 7.7 mm defensive machine guns.
Handley Page 0/400
Discovery probably meant the best bomber of the First World War. Well, I will disappoint the esteemed experts. The Handley Page 0/400 was, of course, a magnificent aircraft, but in those years there was a much more formidable bomber - the Ilya Muromets.
The four-engine Russian monster was created as a car for a peaceful sky: with a comfortable passenger compartment with heating and electric lighting, sleeping compartments and even a bathroom! The fantastic winged ship made its first flight in 1913 - 5 years earlier than the British Handley Page; there was nothing like it in any country in the world at that time!
Promenade deck of the Ilya Muromets. Ladies and gentlemen could go out fresh air right during the flight
But world war quickly set her priorities - 800 kg of bomb load and 5 machine-gun points - this became the lot of “Ilya Muromets”. 60 bombers of this type were continuously used on the fronts of the First World War, while the Germans managed to shoot down only 3 vehicles with tremendous effort. The Muromets were also used after the war - the planes returned to their peaceful duties, serving the first passenger and postal airline Moscow - Kharkov in the RSFSR.
It is a pity that the creator of this amazing machine left Russia in 1918. He was none other than Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky - genius designer helicopters and founder of the world-famous Sikorsky Aircraft corporation.
As for the Handley Page 0/400 twin-engine bomber that Discovery admired, it was just an airplane of its time. Despite more advanced engines and equipment, its characteristics corresponded to the Ilya Muromets, created 5 years earlier. The only difference is that the British were able to launch large-scale production of bombers; as a result, in the fall of 1918, about 600 of these “air fortresses” plied the skies over Europe.
8th place – Junkers Ju-88
Fast bomber. Maximum take-off weight 14 tons. Speed (at an altitude of 5300 m) 490 km/h. Flight range 2400 km. Ceiling 9000 m.
Armament: 4-5 defensive machine guns of 7.92 mm caliber, up to 3000 kg of combat load.
(the figures given correspond to the Ju.88A4 modification)
According to Discovery, aircraft with black crosses on the wings performed well in Europe, but were completely unsuitable for striking industrial facilities in the Urals and Siberia. Hmm...the statement is, of course, fair, but the Ju.88 was originally created as a front-line aircraft, and not as a strategic bomber.
The Schnellbomber became the main attack aircraft of the Luftwaffe - any mission at any altitude was available for the Ju.88, and its speed often exceeded the speed of enemy fighters. The aircraft was used as a high-speed bomber, torpedo bomber, night fighter, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, attack aircraft, and “hunter” for ground targets. At the end of the war, Ju.88 mastered a new exotic specialty, becoming the world's first missile carrier: in addition to guided bombs"Fritz-X" and "Henschel-293", "Junkers" periodically attacked London with air-launched V-1 cruise missiles.
The most interesting thing is the ammunition under the belly of the Yu-88
Such outstanding abilities are explained, first of all, not by any outstanding technical characteristics, but through the competent use of the Ju.88 and the zealous attitude of the Germans to technology. The Junkers was not without its shortcomings - the main one being weak defensive weapons. Despite the presence of 7 to 9 firing points, they were all controlled in best case scenario, 4 crew members, which made it impossible to conduct defensive fire simultaneously from all barrels. Also, due to the small dimensions of the cockpit, there was no possibility of replacing small-caliber machine guns with more powerful ones. The pilots noted the insufficient size of the internal bomb bay, and with bombs on the external sling, the combat radius of the Junkers was rapidly decreasing. It is fair to say that these problems were typical for many front-line bombers of World War II, and the Ju.88 was no exception.
Returning to the previously stated statement that the Ju.88 was unsuitable for bombing targets deep behind enemy lines, the Fritz had another vehicle for such tasks - the Heinkel-177 Griffon. Twin-screw (but four-engine!) German long-range bomber in a number of parameters (speed, defensive weapons) it even surpassed the American “Air Fortresses”, however, it was extremely unreliable and fire hazardous, receiving the nickname “flying fireworks” - what was its strange cost? power point when two engines rotated one propeller!
The relatively small number of Griffins produced (about 1000 units) made it impossible to carry out large punitive operations. The heavy He.177 appeared on the Eastern Front only once - as a military transport aircraft for supply German troops surrounded at Stalingrad. Basically, the "Griffin" was used in the Kriegsmarine for long-range reconnaissance in the vast Atlantic Ocean.
If we are talking about the Luftwaffe, it is very strange that the Junkers Ju.87 was not included in the list of the best bombers. “Laptezhnik” has more rights to be called “the best” than many of the aircraft present here; it received all its awards not at an air show, but in fierce battles.
The disgusting flight characteristics of the Ju.87 were offset by its main advantage - the ability to dive vertically. At a speed of 600...650 km/h, the bomb literally “shot” at the target, and usually hit a circle with a radius of 15-20 m. The standard armament of the Ju.87 were large aerial bombs (weighing from 250 kg to 1 ton), so such targets like bridges, ships, command posts, artillery batteries destroyed in one go. Upon careful analysis, it becomes obvious that the Ju.87 was not so bad; instead of a slow-moving, clumsy “laptezhnik”, we see a completely balanced aircraft, formidable weapon in capable hands, which the Germans proved to the whole of Europe.
7th place – Tu-95 (according to NATO classification – “Bear”)
Strategic turboprop bomber - missile carrier. Maximum take-off weight 190 tons. Maximum speed 830 km/h. Flight range 11 thousand km. The ceiling is 12,000 m. Interesting fact: during a 17-hour flight, a bomber consumes 96 tons of aviation kerosene!
Armament: multi-position drum launcher for launching cruise missiles, underwing holders. Up to 20 tons of combat load in various combinations. Stern defensive installation: 2 GSh-23 cannons.
(the figures given correspond to the modern modification of the Tu-95MS)
February 2008. Pacific Ocean south of the coast of Japan. Two Russian strategic bombers Tu-95MS approached the aircraft carrier strike force The US Navy, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz, flew over the deck of the giant ship at an altitude of 600 meters. In response, four F/A-18 fighters were lifted from the aircraft carrier...
The nuclear “Bear,” as in the bad old days, still continues to fray the nerves of our Western allies. Although now they call it differently: as soon as they see the familiar silhouette of the Tu-95, American pilots joyfully shout “Bush-ka,” as if hinting at the considerable age of the car. The world's first and only turboprop bomber was put into service back in 1956. However, like its colleague B-52 - along with the American “strategist”, the Tu-95 became the longest-lived aircraft in the history of aviation.
In October 1961, it was from the Tu-95 that the monstrous “Tsar Bomb” with a capacity of 58 megatons was dropped. The carrier managed to fly 40 km from the epicenter of the explosion, but the blast wave quickly overtook the fugitive and for several minutes spun the intercontinental bomber randomly in air vortices incredible strength. It was noted that a fire broke out on board the Tupolev, and after landing the plane never took off again.
The Tu-95 became especially famous in the West thanks to its interesting modifications:
Tu-114 is a long-haul passenger airliner. The beautiful, fast aircraft created a sensation during its first flight to New York: for a long time the Americans could not believe that this was a civilian aircraft, and not a formidable combat “Bear” with a nuclear club. And realizing that this was really a passenger airliner, they were surprised by its capabilities: range, speed, payload. Military hardening was felt in everything.
Tu-142 - long-range anti-submarine aircraft, basis naval aviation our Fatherland.
And, perhaps, the most famous modification of the Tu-95RTs is the “eyes and ears” of our fleet, a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. It was these cars that followed the American aircraft carrier groups and participated in “joint maneuvers” with deck-based “Phantoms” raised on alarm.
Discovery experts took a rough look at the Russian plane and closely “assessed” the comfort of the cockpit. The Americans always laughed a lot at the bucket behind the seats of the Tu-95 pilots. Indeed, despite the tenacity of the Russian soldier, building an intercontinental bomber without a normal latrine looks stupid, to say the least. Strange problem they finally decided, and the Tu-95MS still remains in service, being an integral part of the Russian Nuclear Triad.
6th place – B-47 Stratojet
Strategic jet bomber. Max. take-off weight 100 tons. Maximum speed 975 km/h. Combat radius: 3200 km with a bomb load of 9 tons. Ceiling 10,000 m.
Armament: combat load weight up to 11 tons, defensive tail mount with two 20 mm cannons.
The most beautiful bomber according to Americans
...The first object was a large air base near Murmansk. As soon as the RB-47 turned on the cameras and began taking photographs, the pilots saw a spiral of predatory silver aircraft spinning over the airfield - the MiGs went to intercept the intruder.
Thus began the air battle over Kola Peninsula On May 8, 1954, the Soviet fighter regiment spent the entire day unsuccessfully chasing an American spy. The RB-47E photographed all the “objects” and, scaring off the MiGs from the rear gun mount, disappeared into the sky over Finland. In fact, the American pilots were not having fun at that moment - the MiG cannons tore open the wing, the reconnaissance aircraft barely made it to Great Britain on its last drops of fuel.
The Golden Era of Bomber Aviation! Reconnaissance flights of the RB-47 clearly showed that the fighter, without having missile weapons and speed advantages, unable to successfully intercept a jet bomber. There were no other methods of counteraction at that time - as a result, 1800 American B-47 Stratojet could be guaranteed to break through air defenses and inflict nuclear attack at any point on the Earth's surface.
Fortunately, the bombers' dominance was short-lived. On July 1, 1960, the US Air Force failed to repeat its favorite trick of flying over Soviet territory - the ERB-47H electronic reconnaissance aircraft was mercilessly sunk in the Barents Sea. For supersonic interceptors, the MiG-19 is the pride of the American strategic aviation became a slow-moving, clumsy target.
To be continued...
Aviation brings death from the skies. Unexpected and inevitable. “Sky Slugs” and “Flying Fortresses” - they are the main ones in the air. All other aircraft and ground-based missile systems, fighters and anti-aircraft guns - all this was created to ensure successful operations of bombers or counter enemy bomb carriers.
The Military Channel compiled a ranking of the 10 best bombers of all time - and, as always, the result was a hellish mixture of vehicles of different classes and time periods. I believe it is necessary to rethink some aspects of the American program in order to avoid the emergence of panic among some morally fragile members of Russian society.
It is worth noting that many of the reproaches against the Military Channel seem unfounded - unlike Russian television with its endless “comedy clubs,” Discovery makes a truly bright, interesting program for the mass audience. He does the best he can, often making ridiculous mistakes and frankly delusional statements. At the same time, journalists are by no means devoid of objectivity - every Discovery rating contains truly outstanding examples of technology. The whole problem with the numbering of seats; if I were the journalists, I would cancel it altogether.
10th place - B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
Heavy bombers actively fought on all fronts of World War II, covered Arctic convoys, and were used as transport aircraft, tankers, and photographic reconnaissance aircraft. There were projects for a “heavy fighter” (!) and even an unmanned projectile aircraft.
Characteristics correspond to the B-17G modification
Heavy four-engine bomber. Crew 10 people; Max. take-off weight 29,710 kg; Maximum speed 515 km/h; Combat radius 3219 km with 2277 kg bombs; Ceiling 10,850 m;
Armament: up to 7900 kg of bombs, almost rarely exceeded 2300 kg; 13 defensive machine guns M2 Browning machine gun Cal .50 (12.7 mm).
Characteristics correspond to the B-24J modification
Heavy four-engine bomber. Crew 7-10 people; Max. take-off weight 29,500 kg; Maximum speed 470 km/h; Combat radius 3,400 km; Ceiling 8,500 m;
Armament: from 1,200 kg to 3,600 kg of bombs; 10 defensive machine guns M2 Browning machine gun Cal .50 (12.7 mm).
Henry Ford was repeatedly asked why his Willow Run aircraft plant had such a strange L-shape: in the midst of production, the conveyor unexpectedly turned at a right angle. The answer was simple: the giant assembly complex abutted the territory of another state, where the land tax was higher. The American capitalist counted everything down to the last cent and decided that it was cheaper to open factory floors than to pay extra taxes.
Built in 1941-1942. On the site of Ford's former parent farm, the Willow Run plant assembled four-engine B-24 Liberator bombers. Paradoxically, this aircraft remained virtually unknown, losing all the laurels to the “Flying Fortress”. Both strategic bombers carried the same bomb load, performed similar tasks and were very similar in design, while the B-17 produced 12 thousand aircraft, and the production volume of the B-24, thanks to the talent of businessman Henry Ford, exceeded 18 thousand aircraft.
But the “Fortresses” and “Liberators” gained particular fame during their raids on Germany. Strategic bombing was not an American invention - the Germans first used this tactic when they bombed the Dutch Rodderdam on May 4, 1940. The British liked the idea - the very next day Royal Air Force planes destroyed the Ruhr industrial area. But the real madness began in 1943 - with the advent of four-engine bombers among the Allies, the life of the German population turned into a hellish disco.
There are different interpretations of the combat effectiveness of strategic bombing. The most common opinion is that the bombs did not cause any harm to the Reich industry - despite all the attempts of the Allies, the volume of German military production in 1944 was continuously increasing! However, there is the following nuance: military production was continuously increasing in all the warring countries, but in Germany the growth rate was noticeably lower - this is clearly visible in the production figures for new models of armored vehicles (Royal Tigers, Jagdpanthers - only a few hundred units) or difficulties with the launch of a series of jet aircraft. Moreover, this “growth” was bought at a high price: in 1944, the civilian production sector in Germany was completely curtailed. The Germans had no time for furniture and gramophones - all their strength was thrown into the war.
9th place - Handley Page 0/400
Heavy bomber. Max. take-off weight 6 tons. Maximum speed 160 km/h. Flight range 1100 km. The ceiling is 2600 m. Interesting fact: the “super bomber” needed as much as 23 minutes to climb to a height of 1500 m.
Armament: 2,000 lb (907 kg) bomb load, 5 7.7 mm defensive machine guns.
Discovery probably meant the best bomber of the First World War. Well, I will disappoint the esteemed experts. The Handley Page 0/400 was, of course, a magnificent aircraft, but in those years there was a much more formidable bomber - the Ilya Muromets.
The four-engine Russian monster was created as a car for a peaceful sky: with a comfortable passenger compartment with heating and electric lighting, sleeping compartments and even a bathroom! The fantastic winged ship made its first flight in 1913 - 5 years earlier than the British Handley Page; there was nothing like it in any country in the world at that time!
But the world war quickly set its priorities - 800 kg of bomb load and 5 machine-gun points - this became the lot of “Ilya Muromets”. 60 bombers of this type were continuously used on the fronts of the First World War, while the Germans managed to shoot down only 3 vehicles with tremendous effort. The Muromets were also used after the war - the planes returned to their peaceful duties, serving the first Moscow-Kharkov passenger and postal airline in the RSFSR.
It is a pity that the creator of this amazing machine left Russia in 1918. He was none other than Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky, a brilliant helicopter designer and founder of the world-famous Sikorsky Aircraft corporation.
As for the Handley Page 0/400 twin-engine bomber that Discovery admired, it was just an airplane of its time. Despite more advanced engines and equipment, its characteristics corresponded to the Ilya Muromets, created 5 years earlier. The only difference is that the British were able to launch large-scale production of bombers; as a result, in the fall of 1918, about 600 of these “air fortresses” plied the skies over Europe.
8th place - Junkers Ju-88
Characteristics correspond to the Ju.88A4 modification
Fast bomber. Maximum take-off weight 14 tons. Speed (at an altitude of 5300 m) 490 km/h. Flight range 2400 km. Ceiling 9000 m.
Armament: 4-5 defensive machine guns MG-15 or MG-81 of 7.92 mm caliber, up to 3,000 kg of combat load.
According to Discovery, aircraft with black crosses on the wings performed well in Europe, but were completely unsuitable for striking industrial facilities in the Urals and Siberia. Hmm...the statement is, of course, fair, but the Ju.88 was originally created as a front-line aircraft, and not as a strategic bomber.
The Schnellbomber became the main attack aircraft of the Luftwaffe - any mission at any altitude was available for the Ju.88, and its speed often exceeded the speed of enemy fighters. The aircraft was used as a high-speed bomber, torpedo bomber, night fighter, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, attack aircraft, and “hunter” for ground targets. At the end of the war, the Ju.88 mastered a new exotic specialty, becoming the world's first missile carrier: in addition to the Fritz-X and Henschel-293 guided bombs, the Junkers periodically attacked London with air-launched V-1 cruise missiles.
In 1943, the already many-sided Ju.88 received a new face - an unmanned projectile with a powerful shaped charge in the nose, controlled from a single-seat fighter mounted above the fuselage of the projectile carrier. This composite design was designated Mistel. Mistel-1 to Mistel-3 were used various modifications Ju-88. The second aircraft in the team was the Bf.109F-4 or Fw.190A-8. Not all Mistels were intended for one-time use. Thus, a variant similar to “Mistel-Zb” was planned to be used as an ultra-long-range “hunter”. At the same time, the upper Fw.190 was used as an escort fighter, launched if necessary. The carrier was supposed to have a crew of three people.
Such outstanding abilities are explained, first of all, not by any outstanding technical characteristics, but by the competent use of the Ju.88 and the zealous attitude of the Germans to technology. The Junkers was not without its shortcomings - the main one being weak defensive weapons. Despite the presence of 7 to 9 firing points, all of them were controlled by, at best, 4 crew members, which made it impossible to conduct defensive fire simultaneously from all barrels. Also, due to the small dimensions of the cockpit, there was no opportunity to replace small-caliber machine guns with more powerful weapons. The pilots noted the insufficient size of the internal bomb bay, and with bombs on the external sling, the combat radius of the Junkers was rapidly decreasing. It is fair to say that these problems were typical for many front-line bombers of World War II, and the Ju.88 was no exception.
Returning to the previously stated statement that the Ju.88 was unsuitable for bombing targets deep behind enemy lines, the Fritz had another vehicle for such tasks - the Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin). The twin-screw (but four-engine!) German long-range bomber was even superior to the American “Air Fortresses” in a number of parameters (speed, defensive weapons), however, it was extremely unreliable and fire hazardous, receiving the nickname “flying fireworks” - what was its strange power plant worth when two engines rotated one propeller!
The relatively small number of Griffins produced (about 1000 units) made it impossible to carry out large punitive operations. The heavy He.177 appeared on the Eastern Front only once - as a military transport aircraft to supply German troops surrounded at Stalingrad. Basically, the "Griffin" was used in the Kriegsmarine for long-range reconnaissance in the vast Atlantic Ocean.
If we are talking about the Luftwaffe, it is very strange that the Junkers Ju.87 Stuka (Sturzkampfflugzeug - dive bomber) was not included in the list of the best bombers. “Laptezhnik” has more rights to be called “the best” than many of the aircraft present here; it received all its awards not at an air show, but in fierce battles.
The disgusting flight characteristics of the Ju.87 were offset by its main advantage - the ability to dive vertically. At a speed of 600...650 km/h, the bomb literally “shot” at the target, and usually hit a circle with a radius of 15-20 m. The standard armament of the Ju.87 were large aerial bombs (weighing from 250 kg to 1 ton), so such targets how bridges, ships, command posts, artillery batteries were destroyed in one go. Upon careful analysis, it becomes obvious that the Ju.87 was not so bad; instead of a slow-moving, clumsy “laptezhnik”, we see a completely balanced aircraft, a formidable weapon in capable hands, which the Germans proved to the whole of Europe.
7th place - Tu-95, according to NATO classification - Bear (Bear)
Strategic turboprop bomber - missile carrier. Maximum take-off weight 190 tons. Maximum speed 830 km/h. Flight range 11 thousand km. The ceiling is 12,000 m. Interesting fact: during a 17-hour flight, a bomber consumes 96 tons of aviation kerosene!
Armament: multi-position drum launcher for launching cruise missiles, underwing holders. Up to 20 tons of combat load in various combinations. Stern defensive installation: 2 GSh-23 cannons.
February 2008. The Pacific Ocean south of the coast of Japan. Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers approached the US Navy carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz, and one of them flew over the deck of the giant ship at an altitude of 600 meters. In response, four F/A-18 fighters were lifted from the aircraft carrier...
A Vought F-8J Crusader from VF-194 Red Lightnings pushes a Tu-95 away from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34). May 25, 1974
The nuclear “Bear,” as in the bad old days, still continues to fray the nerves of our Western allies. Although now they call it differently: as soon as they see the familiar silhouette of the Tu-95, American pilots joyfully shout “Bush-ka,” as if hinting at the considerable age of the car. The world's first and only turboprop bomber was put into service back in 1956. However, like its colleague B-52 - along with the American “strategist”, the Tu-95 became the longest-lived aircraft in the history of aviation.
In October 1961, it was from the Tu-95 that the monstrous “Tsar Bomb” with a capacity of 58 megatons was dropped. The carrier managed to fly 40 km from the epicenter of the explosion, but the blast wave quickly overtook the fugitive and for several minutes spun the intercontinental bomber randomly in air vortices of incredible strength. It was noted that a fire broke out on board the Tupolev, and after landing the plane never took off again.
The Tu-95 became especially famous in the West thanks to its interesting modifications:
Tu-114 is a long-haul passenger airliner. The beautiful, fast aircraft created a sensation during its first flight to New York: for a long time the Americans could not believe that this was a civilian aircraft, and not a formidable combat “Bear” with a nuclear club. And realizing that this was really a passenger airliner, they were surprised by its capabilities: range, speed, payload. Military hardening was felt in everything.
Tu-142 is a long-range anti-submarine aircraft, the basis of the naval aviation of our Fatherland.
And, perhaps, the most famous modification of the Tu-95RTs is the “eyes and ears” of our fleet, a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. It was these vehicles that monitored American aircraft carrier groups and participated in “joint maneuvers” with deck-based Phantoms raised on alert.
Discovery experts took a rough look at the Russian plane and closely “assessed” the comfort of the cockpit. The Americans always laughed a lot at the bucket behind the seats of the Tu-95 pilots. Indeed, despite the tenacity of the Russian soldier, building an intercontinental bomber without a normal latrine looks stupid, to say the least. The strange problem was finally solved, and the Tu-95MS still remains in service, being an integral part of the Russian Nuclear Triad.
6th place - Boeing B-47 Stratojet
Strategic jet bomber. Max. take-off weight 100 tons. Maximum speed 975 km/h. Combat radius: 3200 km with a bomb load of 9 tons. Ceiling 10,000 m.
Armament: combat load weight up to 11 tons, defensive tail mount with two 20 mm cannons.
...The first object was a large air base near Murmansk. As soon as the RB-47 turned on the cameras and began taking photographs, the pilots saw a spiral of predatory silver aircraft spinning over the airfield - the MiGs went to intercept the intruder.
Thus began the air battle over the Kola Peninsula on May 8, 1954; all day the Soviet fighter regiment unsuccessfully chased the American spy. The RB-47E photographed all the “objects” and, scaring off the MiGs from the rear gun mount, disappeared into the sky over Finland. In fact, the American pilots were not having fun at that moment - the MiG cannons tore open the wing, the reconnaissance aircraft barely made it to Great Britain on its last drops of fuel.
The Golden Era of Bomber Aviation! The RB-47 reconnaissance flights clearly showed that the fighter, lacking missile weapons and speed advantages, was unable to successfully intercept a jet bomber. There were no other methods of counteraction then - as a result, 1800 American B-47 Stratojet could be guaranteed to break through air defenses and deliver a nuclear strike to any point on the surface of the Earth.
Fortunately, the bombers' dominance was short-lived. On July 1, 1960, the US Air Force failed to repeat its favorite trick of flying over Soviet territory - the ERB-47H electronic reconnaissance aircraft was mercilessly sunk in the Barents Sea. For the MiG-19 supersonic interceptors, the pride of American strategic aviation has become a slow, clumsy target.