Tupolev Tu-4 "Bull"
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1947 · bomber
The Tupolev Tu-4 was a Soviet strategic bomber developed as a near-exact reverse-engineered copy of the American Boeing B-29 Superfortress, providing the USSR with its first nuclear-capable long-range bomber.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pressurised fuselage with gun turrets in B-29 arrangement |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet reverse-engineered copy of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress
- Four large ASh-73TK radial engines in B-29-identical nacelles
- Pressurised fuselage with gun turrets in B-29 arrangement
Visually identical to the B-29 in virtually every external detail including the distinctive Plexiglas gun turrets, high mid-set wing, and four radial engines in identical nacelle shapes; only close inspection of markings and minor detail differences distinguishes it.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-4 has a length of 30.18 m (99 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 43.05 m (141 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 558 km/h (347 mph).
- Typical crew: 11.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Three B-29s that made emergency landings in Soviet territory during World War II were impounded and meticulously copied; the Tu-4 first flew in 1947. It delivered the USSR's first nuclear weapon test in 1951 and remained in service until the mid-1950s when jet bombers superseded it.
Variants
The Tu-4 was produced in standard bomber and electronic intelligence variants; the Tu-4A was the nuclear-capable version; China received a small number and operated them into the 1980s.
Where you'll see it
Served with Soviet Long Range Aviation from 1947 and with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force; the Tu-4 was the foundation of Soviet strategic bombing capability during the late 1940s.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev Tu-12
- Tupolev Tu-80
- Tupolev Tu-82
- Tupolev Tu-85
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet
- Boeing B-50 Superfortress
- Convair XB-46
- Ilyushin Il-22
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