RED STAR No 7 TUPOLEV Tu-4 SOVIET SUPERFORTRESS

The Tu-4 was a case when the claimed Soviet custom of copying Western designs was true. At the end of World War II, three Boeing B-29s fell into Soviet hands. From these came a Soviet copy of this famous bomber in the form of the Tu-4. This book examines the evolution of the "Superfortresski" and its further development into the Tu-70 transport. It also covers the civil airliner version, the Tu-75, and Tu-85, the last of Tupolev's piston-engined bombers. Also described are various experimental versions, including the Burlaki towed fighter programme, flight refuelling tanker and missile carrier versions, and the Chinese turboprop-powered AWACs and drone launcher conversions. Operational details include use of these aircraft for transport and paradropping and civil polar research. Many hitherto unpublished photographs are included, as are drawings of the rival "102" and "103" bombers designed by Myasischchev.