Tupolev Tu-70
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · airliner
The Tupolev Tu-70 was a Soviet passenger variant of the Tu-4 bomber, which was an unlicensed copy of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pressurised fuselage, the first in the Soviet Union, with tricycle landing gear |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing four-engined airliner derived from the Tu-4
- Four Shvetsov ASh-73TK radial engines
- Pressurised fuselage, the first in the Soviet Union, with tricycle landing gear
The new pressurised fuselage changed the wing position from mid to low, and the windscreen was changed to a more conventional stepped layout.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-70 has a length of 35.4 m (116 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 44.25 m (145 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 568 km/h (353 mph).
- Typical crew: 7-8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It used components from B-29s that had made emergency landings in the Soviet Union, including the outer wing panels, engine cowlings, flaps, undercarriage and tail assembly. Its first flight was on 27 November 1946.
Variants
A military cargo version was the Tu-75.
Where you'll see it
It was successfully tested and recommended for series production, but was not produced because of more pressing military orders and because Aeroflot had no requirement for it. An engine fire on the fourth flight caused a crash-landing.
Related aircraft
- Tupolev Tu-1
- Tupolev Tu-12
- Tupolev Tu-4
- Tupolev Tu-80
- Convair 110
- Convair CV-110
- Douglas DC-6
- Grumman G-73 Mallard
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