Russian Aviation Museum

In 1953 P.V.Tsibin started development of heavy jet-propelled missile (later term 'cruise' or 'winged' missile will emerge) RSS (S-30), intended for long-range strategic bombers. As a result, several project of supersonic heavy bombers emerged in
mid-50s. Of course, revolutionary-thinking R.L.Bartini could not stay away of the contest, and in 1955 he presented his concept of... supersonic tailless high-swept wing flying boat, on which he was working since 1952.
Typical aircraft projects at the time were based only on basic calculation, while final choice of aircraft configuration was determined after wind tunnel experiments. A brilliant mathematician, Bartini performed enormous amount of calculations. Among the
results was compound-sweep (S-shaped) 'self-balancing' wing of variable airfoil section, providing minimal inductive and wave-induced drag. Later S.P.Korolev helped to check those calculations in a wind tunnel.
Integration of the aircraft is very high even for 90's - it was practically impossible to draw a line marking border of the wing and fuselage. Five afterburning turbojet engines were installed between twin inward-tilted fins, providing up to 130,000kg of
thrust. Wheel gear was missing completely. For landing on the water (or ice) retractable ski was planned. For takeoff from land bases special dropable 'cart' was designed.

All services of the aircraft were routed to the upper surface, allowing service and refueling at open sea. The flying boat concept allowed to omit huge, expensive (and vulnerable in wartime) concrete-paved airfield. Operating in conjunction with tanker
submarines (like A.N.Tupolev '504'), A-57 could be dispatched anywhere in the world. Complete set of naval equipment was planned.

Planned navigation and avionics equipment was state-of-the art for mid-50's: SVR-1 radar system, 'Roza' and 'Venik' ('Rose' and 'Broom') active jammers, TRS-45 foil dispenser, navigation system 'Veter' ('Wind'), communication system 'Planet' and hydro
gyro for communication with 'Okhotsk'-class submarines.

In addition to the RSS missile, A-57 had internal bomb bay capable to accommodate 3,000kg thermo-nuclear (fusion) bomb. Amusingly, to control this wealth of equipment in long-lasting missions crew of 3 was found sufficient.

In April 1957 Bartini was delegated from SibNIA (Novosibirsk) to OKBS MAI (Moscow). TsIAM and TsAGI teams joined the project. Takeoff and landing on water surface were studied in details, as well as continuous operation in the 'ship' regime. Expert
group, including V.M.Myasichev (one of competitors!) produced a positive conclusion on A-57 and submitted it to government, but no decision followed 'from the top'.

During 1952... 1961 period R.L.Bartini presented several projects based on A-57 (supersonic flying boat of integrated design), different in size and function. Designs were (and are now!) too futuristic, and none of them were built.


Type A-57
Function Supersonic strategic bomber
Year (1957)
Crew 3
Engines 5*26,000kg NK-10B
   or / 5*22,500kg NK-6
Loaded weight 250,000kg
Thrust to Weight 0.45 to 0.52
Maximum Speed 2500km/h
Range 15,000km
Ceiling 18,000m to 23,000m
Bombs 1*3000kg fusion bomb
Rockets 1*RSS cruise missile