Tupolev Tu-120 and Tu-127 bombers

[hesham]

Hi,

here is the Tu-120 experimental bomber and Tu-127
jet bomber projects.

http://www.ussr-airspace.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=28_39_38_100

 

[Triton]

Three-view drawing of Tupolev Tu-120.

Source: http://www.sergib.agava.ru/russia/tupolev/120/120.htm

 

[Triton]

Model of Tupolev Tu-120.

Source: http://www.ussr-airspace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28_39_38_100&products_id=2484&zenid=2ee3a854698f88b4815480ede697b6d1

 

[Triton]

Model of Tupolev Tu-127.

Source: http://www.ussr-airspace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28_39_38_100&products_id=2413

 

[Triton]

Three-view drawing of Tupolev Tu-127.

Sources:
http://crimso.msk.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft20967.htm
http://www.testpilots.ru/tp/russia/tupolev/127/127.htm

 

[Grey Havoc]

I'm somewhat surprised that they didn't build the Tu-120 as a test bird.

 

[taildragger]

The vertical fin and rudder on the Tu-120 are the most out-of-proportion surfaces on any aircraft I can think of. These are often sized to maintain control during after an engine loss during takeoff, but the inboard location of the engines here would make that a relatively undemanding situation and there's no unusually large surface area forward of the wing to compensate for. I suspect that the drawing and model are reconstructions that got the tail height wrong.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

I'm somewhat surprised that they didn't build the Tu-120 as a test bird.

The '120' bomber project was to be nuclear-powered, but never left the drawing board because of the environmental dangers posed by a nuclear-powered aircraft crash. This was the same reason the WS-125 and Tu-119 did not leave the drawing board.