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M-50 Myasishchev
M-50, M-52
ASCC codename: Bounder
Strategic Bomber Prototypes

DESCRIPTION:
Though it never entered service, the Myasishchev M-50 was a highly advanced design for a large, supersonic intercontinental bomber. The M-50 was considered top secret by Soviet leadership and very little is known about the project even today.
The Myasishchev design bureau began work on the M-50 concept in 1956. The M-50 was designed to carry the long-range M-61 cruise missile also under development by Myasishchev at the time. A key element of the M-50 design was its engines, originally intended to be advanced powerful turbojets built by Zubets. Development problems delayed these engines, so the first M-50 prototype was instead equiped with less powerful VD-7 turbojets mounted two beneath the wing and one at each tip of the large cropped-delta wing. The long-slender fuselage provided accomodation for two or three crew members and a large weapons bay. The fuselage also incoporated the area-rule to reduce transonic drag. The first M-50 prototype, with its substitute engine installation, served as a technology demonstrator and was capable of a maximum speed of Mach 0.99.
The second prototype, redesignated the M-52, was equipped with the more advanced engines that doubled the maximum speed to Mach 1.83. Despite this progress, the M-52 program failed to impress Soviet leaders who had become convinced that manned bombers were obsolescent following the development of ballistic missiles. As a result, the M-50/M-52 project was cancelled and the Myasishchev design bureau closed in 1960. A surviving example of the impressive M-50 is now on display at the Monino Aviation Museum in Moscow.
Last modified 19 September 2009

HISTORY:

First Flight 27 October 1959

Service Entry

did not enter service

CREW: two or three

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 188.46 ft (57.48 m)

Wingspan 82.29 ft (25.10 m)

Height 27.05 ft (8.25 m)

Wing Area 3,125 ft² (290.6 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 187,390 lb (85,000 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 462,970 lb (210,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

44,090 lb (20,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant four Dobrynin VD-7B afterburning turbojets

Thrust 83,700 lb (372.33 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,215 mph (1,950 km/h), Mach 1.83 [M-52]
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 935 mph (1,500 km/h)

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 54,100 ft (16,500 m)

Range 3,995 nm (7,400 km)

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun none (?)

Stations one internal weapons bay

Air-to-Surface Missile designed to carry the M-61 cruise missile

Bomb various nuclear and conventional bombs

Other none

KNOWN VARIANTS:

M-50 First prototype used as a technology demonstrator

M-52 Second prototype equipped with more powerful engines and a new tailplane arrangement

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

M-50

SOURCES:

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 672, Myasishchev M-50/M-52.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 260-261, M-50, M-52.

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	Myasishchev M-50, M-52 ASCC codename: Bounder Strategic Bomber Prototypes

DESCRIPTION: Though it never entered service, the Myasishchev M-50 was a highly advanced design for a large, supersonic intercontinental bomber. The M-50 was considered top secret by Soviet leadership and very little is known about the project even today. The Myasishchev design bureau began work on the M-50 concept in 1956. The M-50 was designed to carry the long-range M-61 cruise missile also under development by Myasishchev at the time. A key element of the M-50 design was its engines, originally intended to be advanced powerful turbojets built by Zubets. Development problems delayed these engines, so the first M-50 prototype was instead equiped with less powerful VD-7 turbojets mounted two beneath the wing and one at each tip of the large cropped-delta wing. The long-slender fuselage provided accomodation for two or three crew members and a large weapons bay. The fuselage also incoporated the area-rule to reduce transonic drag. The first M-50 prototype, with its substitute engine installation, served as a technology demonstrator and was capable of a maximum speed of Mach 0.99. The second prototype, redesignated the M-52, was equipped with the more advanced engines that doubled the maximum speed to Mach 1.83. Despite this progress, the M-52 program failed to impress Soviet leaders who had become convinced that manned bombers were obsolescent following the development of ballistic missiles. As a result, the M-50/M-52 project was cancelled and the Myasishchev design bureau closed in 1960. A surviving example of the impressive M-50 is now on display at the Monino Aviation Museum in Moscow. Last modified 19 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	27 October 1959
Service Entry	did not enter service
CREW:	two or three
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	188.46 ft (57.48 m)
Wingspan	82.29 ft (25.10 m)
Height	27.05 ft (8.25 m)
Wing Area	3,125 ft² (290.6 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	187,390 lb (85,000 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	462,970 lb (210,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	44,090 lb (20,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four Dobrynin VD-7B afterburning turbojets
Thrust	83,700 lb (372.33 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,215 mph (1,950 km/h), Mach 1.83 [M-52] at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 935 mph (1,500 km/h)
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	54,100 ft (16,500 m)
Range	3,995 nm (7,400 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none (?)
Stations	one internal weapons bay
Air-to-Surface Missile	designed to carry the M-61 cruise missile
Bomb	various nuclear and conventional bombs
Other	none
KNOWN VARIANTS:
M-50	First prototype used as a technology demonstrator
M-52	Second prototype equipped with more powerful engines and a new tailplane arrangement
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 672, Myasishchev M-50/M-52. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 260-261, M-50, M-52.