T S Y B I N RSR, R-020 / RSR D E R I V A T I V E S
Tsybin RSR Derivatives RSR as proposed by CAHI (TsAGI)
A-57
RGSR
192
For interest, drawings are reproduced here of various projects which stemmed from the RSR. The first shows the way CAHI (TsAGI) wanted it. The purist aerodynamicists in that establishment were convinced that this supersonic-cruise aircraft ought to have true supersonic wings, with sharp edges and a trapezoidal (parallel double wedge) profile instead of a traditional curved aerofoil. As this would have meant a very long take-off run they proposed to add substantial wings outboard of the engines, giving a span of 14.5m (47ft 6%in), requiring total redesign and a dramatically inferior aircraft. The next drawing shows the awesome A-57, proposed in 1957 by R L Bartini, who featured on previous pages. There were several versions of this and the considerably smaller Ye-57. The A-57 shown would have been powered by five Kuznetsov NK-10 engines, each of 25,000kg (55,115 Ib) thrust. This 320 tonne (705,467 Ib) vehicle, with a length of 69.5m (228ft) and wing area of 755m2 (8,127ft 2 ), was to have been water-based for operational flexibility and to avoid having to use vulnerable airfields (though it also had skids for airfield landings if necessary). It would have carried a 244N thermonuclear bomb internally, as well as a 2RS (later RSR) carried pick-a-back to the target at 2,500km/h (l,553mph, Mach 2.35) to serve as an accompanying reconnaissance aircraft. Together they could cover targets within a radius of 5,000km (3,107 miles), the Tsybin 2RS reconnaissance vehicle using its fuel only on the return flight. The final drawing shows the Tsybin RGSP, also dating from 1957. This too would have been water-based, with a planing bottom, engines moved above the wings to avoid the spray (minimised by the down-angled water fins), and with the external tanks serving as wingtip buoyancy bodies. This version was not equipped for airfield landings.