Myasishchev M-50

Myasishchev Design Bureau · Soviet Union · first flew 1959 · bomber

The Myasishchev M-50 (NATO: Bounder) was a large Soviet supersonic strategic bomber prototype featuring a delta wing with four turbojet engines, two under the wing and two on the wingtips. It was designed to reach Mach 2 over intercontinental ranges.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, delta
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	57.48 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Soviet supersonic strategic bomber prototype with delta wing and four jet engines
Two engine pods under the wing and two on the wingtips — distinctive twin-engine wingtips
Enormous delta-wing design intended to replace the M-4 Bison

The wingtip-mounted engine pods combined with the two underwing pods create a unique four-engine arrangement on a very large delta wing — no other aircraft shares this configuration. The pointed nose and large delta plan are immediately striking.

Specifications

The Myasishchev M-50 has a length of 57.48 m (189 ft).
It has a wingspan of 25.1 m (82 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1950 km/h (1212 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed in the late 1950s, the M-50 first flew in October 1959 and made its only public appearance at the 1961 Tushino air display. The programme was cancelled shortly after when Nikita Khrushchev directed resources toward ballistic missiles and the Myasishchev design bureau was dissolved. Only one prototype flew.

Variants

The M-52 was a proposed improved version with different engine arrangement. Neither variant entered production.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service. The sole prototype made only a handful of flights before the programme ended.

Related aircraft

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