Tupolev Tu-85
Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1951 · bomber
The Tupolev Tu-85 was the Soviet Union's largest piston-engine bomber, developed in the early 1950s to provide intercontinental reach capable of striking the continental United States. It was ultimately superseded by turboprop power before entering service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 39.31 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet intercontinental piston bomber prototype of the early 1950s
- Largest piston-engine bomber built by the Soviet Union
- Predecessor to the turboprop Tu-95 Bear
Very large swept-wing four-engine bomber with a distinctive long fuselage; the swept wing differentiates it immediately from the straight-wing Tu-4 and the turboprop engine nacelles of the Tu-95.
Specifications
- The Tupolev Tu-85 has a length of 39.31 m (129 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 55.96 m (184 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 638 km/h (396 mph).
- Typical crew: 12.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in January 1951, the Tu-85 was an enlarged and swept-wing development of the Tu-4 (Soviet B-29 copy). While it demonstrated the range and payload Tupolev required, the rapid development of turboprop engines led the Soviet leadership to opt for the turboprop-powered Tu-95, and the Tu-85 was cancelled after a small number of prototypes.
Variants
A small number of prototype and pre-series aircraft were built; no operational production followed.
Where you'll see it
The Tu-85 did not enter operational Soviet Air Force service, being superseded by the Tu-95.
Related aircraft
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