Tupolev Tu-73
| Tu-73 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Medium bomber |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Designer | Sergei Yeger |
| First flight | 29 December 1947 |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | Soviet Naval Aviation |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-72 |
| Developed into | Tupolev Tu-14 |
The Tupolev Tu-73 was a Soviet trijet medium bomber of the late 1940s. It lost out to the Ilyushin Il-28 'Beagle'.
Development
The Tupolev Tu-73 had its genesis in 1947 after the Soviet Air Force had deep reservations about whether the Tupolev Design Bureau's proposed Tu-72 naval bomber would achieve sufficient performance with Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines. To address those concerns, Tupolev decided to develop a variant of the Tu-72 with a Rolls-Royce Derwent jet engine buried in the rear fuselage, the Tu-73.[1]
The Tupolev Tu-73 conducted its first flight on December 29, 1947. Test results were stellar, with a top speed of 870km/h, a range of 2,800km, and a service ceiling of 11,500m. Consequently, the Soviet Air Force gave Tupolev the green light to develop a reconnaissance version of the Tu-73 with Soviet-built Nene and Derwent engines, the Tu-78. However, in early 1949, the Soviet Council of Ministers ordered Tupolev to cease further development of the Tu-73 and Tu-78.[2]
Variants
- Tu-73: Initial prototype, powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
- Tu-78: Reconnaissance version, powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
- Tu-79: Tu-78 powered by Soviet-built Rolls-Royce engines. Originally designated Tu-73R.
- Tu-81: Twin-engined development of Tu-73.