|
AUTHOR: Gordon, Y
FORMAT: 128pp 193 col/Bw 280x215 Pb
The full story of how the Soviet Union's most potent strategic bomber was designed, built and put into operational service. The author reveals many unknown aspects of the story, including the development tender in which many Soviet design companies participated, and why the competing aircraft mostly never reached the hardware stage. Comparison is made between the Tu-160 and the Sukhoi T-4, the variable-geometry "Aircraft 200" and the Myasishchev M-18 and M-20. Included are copies of original factory drawings of the Tu-160, M-18, M-20 and several other intriguing projects. The book is richly illustrated with 193 colour and black and white photographs, many taken at Long-Range Aviation's Engels base, plus line drawings and colour side views. Russia is now resuming production of the Tu-160 to bolster its strategic potential, and to offset ballistic missile reduction.
|
