Myasishchev M-55 geophysica

lomcovak · by **lomcovak** » 25 Apr 2020, 04:11

M-55 was created the Geophysica-EEIG, European group of Economic Interest, based in Italy, in Florence (2002-2007). On behalf of the European scientific community, he has carried out scientific missions in the Arctic, Antarctica, Europe, South America, Australia and Africa since November 1997. The base of operations in Russia was in Zhukowsky. It is currently based at the Russian Aviation Experimental Center in Akhtubinsk. All plans relating to its military use are interrupted or canceled, also because its military effectiveness today would be rather doubtful. In fact, despite the high altitude of tangency, the plane, in addition to not having stealth characteristics, is devoid of modern anti-missile and avionics systems: it would therefore be rather vulnerable to modern fighters.

However, it appears that the Russian Air Force issued a completion order for two M-55s that were incomplete after the program was suspended. However, there are no other specimens built.

In April 2016, a specimen (which should be the only one existing) was again sighted in the skies of Scandinavia, when it was considered unused for years. According to the Finnish radars that identified it, the plane flew at an altitude of 19,000 meters and proceeded at a speed of 350-380 km/h

juretrn · by **juretrn** » 25 Apr 2020, 13:59

It's an interesting aircraft, that's for sure. While you write "its military effectiveness today would be rather doubtful" I see no reason why it could not be used in a manner like the U-2, especially for communications like U-2 with its latest commo gear upgrades. The biggest issue is that only 5 exist.

h-bomb · by **h-bomb** » 26 Apr 2020, 00:03

Well four, one is a trainer...

Anyone know the actual payload of the M-55?? It carries less fuel then the U-2, but the MTOW is almost 6 tons (US) higher? The empty weight is around 7.5 tons more then the U-2 as well.

The M-55 is 21 years newer then the U-2R/S, it appears to have a way lower payload fraction then the U-2R family.

milosh · by **milosh** » 26 Apr 2020, 07:56

h-bomb wrote:Well four, one is a trainer...

Anyone know the actual payload of the M-55?? It carries less fuel then the U-2, but the MTOW is almost 6 tons (US) higher? The empty weight is around 7.5 tons more then the U-2 as well.

The M-55 is 21 years newer then the U-2R/S, it appears to have a way lower payload fraction then the U-2R family.

Because it doesn't have similar role. Early role of M-17 was intercepting US spy balloons, but because usage of balloons was ending it was converted in high altitude research aircraft. M-55 was based on M-17.

Both have two big engines. M-55 can have bigger crew (up to five) and more equipment. Here is info about equipment it can carry:

h-bomb · by **h-bomb** » 27 Apr 2020, 00:40

milosh wrote:
h-bomb wrote:Well four, one is a trainer...

Anyone know the actual payload of the M-55?? It carries less fuel then the U-2, but the MTOW is almost 6 tons (US) higher? The empty weight is around 7.5 tons more then the U-2 as well.

The M-55 is 21 years newer then the U-2R/S, it appears to have a way lower payload fraction then the U-2R family.

Because it doesn't have similar role. Early role of M-17 was intercepting US spy balloons, but because usage of balloons was ending it was converted in high altitude research aircraft. M-55 was based on M-17.

Both have two big engines. M-55 can have bigger crew (up to five) and more equipment. Here is info about equipment it can carry:

Yeah I am going to need to see a picture of the seating for 5 people in this....

huggy · by **huggy** » 28 Jan 2021, 20:31

h-bomb wrote:The M-55 is 21 years newer then the U-2R/S...

According to the M-55 info I found on the internet, the M-55 first flew in 1988.

But the last U-2 was delivered to the USAF in Oct 1989, making that airframe (and a few other U-2's) newer than the M-55.