The Sukhoi T-4, or "Aircraft 100", or "Project 100", or "Sotka" was a Soviet high-speed reconnaissance, anti-ship and strategic bomber aircraft that did not proceed beyond the prototype stage. It is sometimes called the Su-100.[1]
In 1963, the Soviet government held a request for proposal among the aircraft design bureaus, with the aim of developing an aircraft analogous to the North American XB-70 Valkyrie. The Sukhoi design, with its high cruise speed of 4,200 km/h (2,600 mph) was favored over the designs submitted by Yakovlev and Tupolev and after a preliminary design review in June 1964, the building of a prototype was authorized. Development of the T-4 required massive research efforts to develop the technologies necessary, including the manufacturing technologies to machine and weld the materials necessary to withstand sustained Mach 3 flight. Nearly 600 patents or inventions are attributed to the program.[2] The first flying prototype was finally completed in the autumn of 1971. Work continued on an additional three airframes (one for static testing) through 1975. In 1974, the Ministry of Aviation Industry ordered work suspended on the T-4 project, which was officially scrapped on 19 December 1975.
The aircraft's droop nose lowered to provide visibility during takeoff and landing. A periscope was used for forward viewing when the nose was retracted, and could be employed at speeds of up to 600 km/h (370 mph). Drogue parachutes were used in addition to conventional wheel brakes.[1]
Operational history
The first T-4, designated "101", first flew on 22August 1972. The test pilot was Vladimir Ilyushin, son of famed aircraft designer Sergei Ilyushin, and the navigator was Nikolai Alfyorov. Testing continued to 19January 1974. The T-4 flew only ten times for a total of 10 hours and 20 minutes.[citation needed].
Aircraft on display
One T-4 survives. Aircraft "101" is on display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino near Moscow. The serial numbers of the prototypes were "101" to "106". Only "101" and "102" were built, while other additional prototypes "103" and "104" were under construction, and "105" and "106" only existed on draft charts.[citation needed] Only the "101" completed all the test flights and flew the last test flight before the project was canceled on 22 January 1974. The rest of the prototypes were scrapped.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sukhoi T-4.
Sukhoi T-4 "Sotka" at the Russian Air Force Museum 2017-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
June 20, 2023
sukhoi, confused, with, sukhoi, superjet, aircraft, project, sotka, soviet, high, speed, reconnaissance, anti, ship, strategic, bomber, aircraft, that, proceed, beyond, prototype, stage, sometimes, called, 4sukhoi, central, force, museumrole, bomber, reconnais. Not to be confused with Sukhoi Superjet 100 The Sukhoi T 4 or Aircraft 100 or Project 100 or Sotka was a Soviet high speed reconnaissance anti ship and strategic bomber aircraft that did not proceed beyond the prototype stage It is sometimes called the Su 100 1 T 4Sukhoi T 4 at Central Air Force MuseumRole Bomber ReconnaissanceManufacturer SukhoiFirst flight 22 August 1972Status project cancelledPrimary user Soviet Air ForceNumber built 4 only 1 passed test flights Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Aircraft on display 4 Specifications 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development EditIn 1963 the Soviet government held a request for proposal among the aircraft design bureaus with the aim of developing an aircraft analogous to the North American XB 70 Valkyrie The Sukhoi design with its high cruise speed of 4 200 km h 2 600 mph was favored over the designs submitted by Yakovlev and Tupolev and after a preliminary design review in June 1964 the building of a prototype was authorized Development of the T 4 required massive research efforts to develop the technologies necessary including the manufacturing technologies to machine and weld the materials necessary to withstand sustained Mach 3 flight Nearly 600 patents or inventions are attributed to the program 2 The first flying prototype was finally completed in the autumn of 1971 Work continued on an additional three airframes one for static testing through 1975 In 1974 the Ministry of Aviation Industry ordered work suspended on the T 4 project which was officially scrapped on 19 December 1975 The aircraft s droop nose lowered to provide visibility during takeoff and landing A periscope was used for forward viewing when the nose was retracted and could be employed at speeds of up to 600 km h 370 mph Drogue parachutes were used in addition to conventional wheel brakes 1 Operational history EditThe first T 4 designated 101 first flew on 22 August 1972 The test pilot was Vladimir Ilyushin son of famed aircraft designer Sergei Ilyushin and the navigator was Nikolai Alfyorov Testing continued to 19 January 1974 The T 4 flew only ten times for a total of 10 hours and 20 minutes citation needed Aircraft on display EditOne T 4 survives Aircraft 101 is on display at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino near Moscow The serial numbers of the prototypes were 101 to 106 Only 101 and 102 were built while other additional prototypes 103 and 104 were under construction and 105 and 106 only existed on draft charts citation needed Only the 101 completed all the test flights and flew the last test flight before the project was canceled on 22 January 1974 The rest of the prototypes were scrapped Aircraft 101 at Central Air Force MuseumSpecifications EditData from citation needed General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 44 m 144 ft 4 in Wingspan 22 m 72 ft 2 in Height 11 2 m 36 ft 9 in Wing area 295 7 m2 3 183 sq ft Empty weight 55 600 kg 122 577 lb Gross weight 114 000 kg 251 327 lb Max takeoff weight 135 000 kg 297 624 lb Powerplant 4 Kolesov RD 36 41 afterburning turbojet engines 157 kN 35 000 lbf with afterburnerPerformance Maximum speed 3 200 km h 2 000 mph 1 700 kn Maximum speed Mach 3 claimed 1 3 actual Cruise speed 3 000 km h 1 900 mph 1 600 kn M2 8 Ferry range 7 000 km 4 300 mi 3 800 nmi Service ceiling 20 000 24 000 m 66 000 79 000 ft Gallery Edit T 4See also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Avro 730 North American XB 70 ValkyrieRelated lists List of bomber aircraft List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CISReferences Edit a b Sukhoi T 4 Sotka at the Russian Air Force Museum Monino Archived from the original on 2017 04 05 Retrieved 2005 01 24 T 4 on Sukhoi Company websiteExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sukhoi T 4 Sukhoi T 4 Sotka at the Russian Air Force Museum Archived 2017 04 05 at the Wayback Machine Sukhoi Company website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sukhoi T 4 amp oldid 1139090966, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
