Tupolev Tu-22
The Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder was the Soviet Union’s first supersonic bomber, built with a slender fuselage and two engines mounted high on the rear fuselage. Its performance was impressive, but the aircraft was difficult to fly and had a notoriously cramped crew arrangement. The Tu-22 served as a bomber, reconnaissance platform, and missile carrier before being replaced by the very different Tu-22M. Its rear-mounted engine layout makes it immediately distinguishable from most Cold War bombers.
Did you know?
The Tu-22 Blinder was the Soviet Union's first supersonic bomber, notoriously difficult to fly with a cramped crew arrangement.
Specifications
| Length | 41.6 m (136 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 23.2 m (76 ft) |
| Height | 10.1 m (33 ft) |
| Persons on board | 7 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 85 t |
| Range | 2,600 NM (4,815 km) |
| Maximum speed | 820 kt (1,519 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 43,000 ft (13,106 m) |
| Take-off distance | 2,200 m (7,218 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 40,800 l |
| Engines | 2x Dobrynin VD-7M |
| Units built | 311 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Tupolev Tu-22 starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
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