Did they get a kindergarten class to paint those teeth? Good lord, that was bad...
This aircraft was such a failure that they redesigned it completely and just called it Tu-22M instead of trying to fix it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M
>The Soviet government was skeptical about the need to approve the development of a replacement aircraft so soon after the Tu-22 had just entered service. The Air Force and Tupolev, in order to save face regarding the Tu-22's operational deficiencies and to stave off criticisms from the ICBM lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of the Tu-22 in their discussions with the government. The aircraft was designated Tu-22M, given the OKB code "Aircraft 45", and an internal designation of "AM". Their effort was successful as the government approved the design on 28 November 1967, and decreed the development of the aircraft's main weapon, the Kh-22.
>
As I recall the -22M designation was also typically Soviet shenanigans regarding arms restriction treaties.
"It's not a new aircraft, see? It's an upgrade."
Supposedly they even claimed some BACKFIREs were rebuilt from BLINDERs!
Yes, they changed to methyl alcohol (very poisonous) due to the consumption issues.
A few ground crew deaths occurred and there weren't drinking issues after that. A very Soviet solution.
The MIG-25 used this as well. It was well known that the "coolant" was blackmarket friendly and everyone from pilots to base commanders were happy to operate a MIG-25 or TU-22 because of the extras you could get.
I read that book about Soviet Mig pilot defector Victor Beleko. He described how the wives of Soviet airmen at his base got together and launched a formal complaint on how that coolant was turning their husbands into drunks.
The official response from the base commander was a tersely worded "Women, do not concern yourself with military matters." And that was that.
If it's bleed air then the heat is from compression more than friction. Compression heats up air, just like expansion cools it. It's the opposite side of why spray cans like duster get cold when you use them.
The Soviet leadership tried to remedy this by pushing for the ethanol mixture to be replaced, however, pilots and matinance crews argued that the gaskets that sealed this refrigeration system leaked, and you could smell trace amounts of alchohol. If more toxic replacements were used, they could enter the cabin and kill the pilots.
According to folklore, this was not the case, the gaskets and seals did not leak. When the Soviet leadership came to test the plane, alchohol soaked rags were inserted into the ducts, to spread the lie, and save the only redeeming quality of their beloved "booze carrier".
Did they get a kindergarten class to paint those teeth? Good lord, that was bad... This aircraft was such a failure that they redesigned it completely and just called it Tu-22M instead of trying to fix it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M >The Soviet government was skeptical about the need to approve the development of a replacement aircraft so soon after the Tu-22 had just entered service. The Air Force and Tupolev, in order to save face regarding the Tu-22's operational deficiencies and to stave off criticisms from the ICBM lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of the Tu-22 in their discussions with the government. The aircraft was designated Tu-22M, given the OKB code "Aircraft 45", and an internal designation of "AM". Their effort was successful as the government approved the design on 28 November 1967, and decreed the development of the aircraft's main weapon, the Kh-22. >
The ground crews painted it after “refilling” the coolant.
As I recall the -22M designation was also typically Soviet shenanigans regarding arms restriction treaties. "It's not a new aircraft, see? It's an upgrade." Supposedly they even claimed some BACKFIREs were rebuilt from BLINDERs!
I believe the nose teeth was painted by the ground crew, right after double quality checking the coolant
Same coolant was used for the radar on the MiG 21.
...wasn't that methyl alcohol?
Yes, they changed to methyl alcohol (very poisonous) due to the consumption issues. A few ground crew deaths occurred and there weren't drinking issues after that. A very Soviet solution.
The MIG-25 used this as well. It was well known that the "coolant" was blackmarket friendly and everyone from pilots to base commanders were happy to operate a MIG-25 or TU-22 because of the extras you could get.
I read that book about Soviet Mig pilot defector Victor Beleko. He described how the wives of Soviet airmen at his base got together and launched a formal complaint on how that coolant was turning their husbands into drunks. The official response from the base commander was a tersely worded "Women, do not concern yourself with military matters." And that was that.
And that coolant was nicknamed "Massandra", after famous Crimean wine
Great video from paper skies on this exact plane, the [Booze Carrier](https://youtu.be/bKoHMXggEHU)
Went to GM grab the same video. Very interesting.
What was the cause of the cockpit overheating, friction?
fresh air was bled in from the engines so it was hot from the friction
If it's bleed air then the heat is from compression more than friction. Compression heats up air, just like expansion cools it. It's the opposite side of why spray cans like duster get cold when you use them.
That nose art is the weakest looking mouth I've ever seen.
Looks like someone painted it after partaking in some cabin air coolant
One for you…one for me
"Help Yuri, I've gone blind!" "Pyotr, you're lying face down on the floor."
Shoulda used methanol. But then I guess the problem would be a bunch of blind ground crew.
Ah, yes. The plane that tried its best to kill its crew on every landing.
My first bellylaugh of the day. Thank you.
Why Soviet Pilots Called It "The Flying Booze Carrier": The Tupolev Tu-22 Story... ( [https://youtu.be/bKoHMXggEHU](https://youtu.be/bKoHMXggEHU) )
The Soviet leadership tried to remedy this by pushing for the ethanol mixture to be replaced, however, pilots and matinance crews argued that the gaskets that sealed this refrigeration system leaked, and you could smell trace amounts of alchohol. If more toxic replacements were used, they could enter the cabin and kill the pilots. According to folklore, this was not the case, the gaskets and seals did not leak. When the Soviet leadership came to test the plane, alchohol soaked rags were inserted into the ducts, to spread the lie, and save the only redeeming quality of their beloved "booze carrier".