Anigrand 4094 Sukhoi T-4 Sotka Soviet Supersonic Bomber 1:144

Sukhoi T-4 Sotka Soviet supersonic bomber In 1963, the Soviet government issues a requirement for developing an aircraft analogous to the North-American XB-70 Valkyrie. Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev competed with the T-4, Tu-135 and Yak-33. The Sukhoi design, with its high cruise speed of 3,200 km/h was favored over the other two designs. In 1964, the building of a prototype was authorized. The first T-4, designated '101', first flew in 1972. Testing continued to 1974. The T-4 flew only ten times for a total 10 hours and 20 minutes. It is believed to have reached at least Mach 1.3 at an altitude of 12,000 meters. Construction on the second T-4 aircraft "102" began in 1969 and completed in 1973. The first flight for 102 was scheduled for the end of 1 973. In the end, the Soviet Air Force decided to go with an improved version of the TU-22 Blinder, which became the TU-22M Backfire. It was felt that a modification of the Blinder was easier to do than to build a new T-4 aircaft. The project was abandoned.