| The Tu-12 was the last derivative of the Tu-2, but this
was not just another variant of a well-tried theme. It
was also, better perhaps, known as the Tu-77, really as
a follow-on of the ANT numbering sequence. The
VVS gave it the designation Tu-12.
The Tu-12 was the Soviet Union's first jet bomber.
Tupolev intended it as an interim measure to develop
later aircraft and to train crews in the handling of
larger jet aircraft. Sergei Yeger, working under
Tupolev's supervision, led the programme. He took
the basic Tu-2 fuselage, wings and tailplane, and
adapted them only for the higher speeds of a jet. It was
one of very few jets of the 1940s to feature a twin tail.
The undercarriage was changed from a tailwheeler to
a tricycle, and under the wings were fitted Rolls-Royce
Derwent engines; for several years after the war, the
British government allowed engines, and some other
aviation components, to be sold to the USSR.
Although Soviet designers were hurriedly developing
jet engines, by the time of the Tu-12 in 1947 even
MiG-15s were using either Rolls-Royce engines or
licence-built copies of them. Only Lyulka's jet engines
were of Soviet design and manufacture, and these at
that time had hardly half the power of the Nenes
fitted on the Tu-12, which gave a static thrust of
2,270kp/5,0041b.
The first Tu-12 was built at factory N156, the new
title for the former KOSOS TsAGI works attached to
the design offices. It was completed in May 1947, and
after transfer to Zhukovski and reassembly, Aleksei
Pereliot flew it on its first flight on 27 June. There were
no major difficulties found in the test programme. For
an interim aircraft its performance was reasonable:
maximum speed was 783kph/487mph, range
was 2,200km/l,367 miles, and its service ceiling was
ll,300m/37,075feet.
The VVS accepted the prototype Tu-12, and
production began at factory N23 in Moscow with an
order for five. However, only three were completed. These were completed by 1950, and were used by the
Air Force in a training role for a short while. One was
used as a flight test aircraft by the LII for experimental
work with rocket engines, which were mounted on a
pylon above the centre fuselage.
CREW | 4 |
ENGINE | 2 x Rolls-Royce 'Nene-1' |
WEIGHTS |
Take-off weight | 15720 kg | 34657 lb |
Empty weight | 8993 kg | 19826 lb |
DIMENSIONS |
Wingspan | 18.86 m | 62 ft 11 in |
Length | 15.75 m | 52 ft 8 in |
Height | 4.19 m | 14 ft 9 in |
Wing area | 48.8 m2 | 525.28 sq ft |
PERFORMANCE |
Max. speed | 783 km/h | 487 mph |
Ceiling | 11360 m | 37250 ft |
Range | 2200 km | 1367 miles |
 | A three-view drawing (900 x 618) |
Raju, e-mail, 02.03.2022 04:53 Raju reply |
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