M-50 / M-52, Myasishchev 'Bounder' - Western Views
The 'Bounder," which was first seen by Western intelligence in August 1958, was considered to be a prototype of an aircraft which may be comparable to the B-58. In the West, the plane made an impression, it was awarded the NATO code Bounder and there was even talk about mass production. For a long time surprisingly little was known in the West about the Bounder, though one writer later commented that it was "an outstanding failure which revealed an embarassing lack of understanding of the problems of high-speed flight."
A bounder is a person of lower class who is trying to present themselves as someone above their station. A bounder is an informal word (especially in British English) to mean a dishonourable man, whereas a cad is a man who behaves dishonourably (especially towards a woman). A rotter is a particular type of person who's a middle-aged untrustworthy cad. The shadow of the English public school - and the English class system - falls across many of these terms. A bounder is a low-life who uses his charm to pretend he is more of a gent than he is, while a cad is a high-status rascal who ought to know better. Or, to put it another way, a bounder is a pseudo-gent while a cad is a crypto-gent.
The Oxford English Dictionary definition of bounder is “an ill-bred person; a cad”. Its definition of cad is “a vulgar, ill-bred person; a person guilty or capable of ungentlemanly behaviour; a blackguard”. The principal problem with suggesting that the words have different meanings is that they are commonly paired in descriptions of men as “a cad and a bounder”. Both cad and bounder had connotations of low-status individuals aiming high. Bounder probably comes from the notion of someone who strays outside the bounds of behaviour expected in polite society, although it has also been attributed to a person attempting to bound into a higher social circle.
In 1919 Webster defined a bounder as 'an apparently prosperous and inherently vulgar person of obtrusive manners.' But these words hardly cover all the ground; the bounder is not always apparently prosperous, nor need he be inherently vulgar. No culture, no training, can ever eliminate the trouble; a bounder is, in fact, born, not made. He takes himself too seriously and other people not seriously enough. Royal princes have been very great bounders — indeed, the blue-blooded bounder is an object within the experience of most people; a genius may also be a bounder, and often is. Harold Macmillan, when once asked to explain the difference between a cad and a bounder, said, "In war a bounder is a chap who goes to the Front, wins the VC, then seduces his colonel's wife. But a cad seduces his colonel's wife and never goes near the Front".
The 01 December 1958 issue of Aviation Week featured the article "Soviets Flight Testing Nuclear Bomber" which claimed that the Soviets had already made great progress in their nuclear aircraft program. The article was accompanied by an editorial on the topic as well. The magazine claimed that the Soviet aircraft was real, stating that "A nuclear-powered bomber is being flight tested in the Soviet Union. ... It has been observed both in flight and on the ground by a wide variety of foreign observers from Communist and non-Communist countries." In reality, the aircraft in the artwork was the M-50, and not a nuclear-powered plane. The Avitiaon Week artwork was generally accurate, as were the dimensions [length of 195 feet, versus 190 feet actual]. In the meantime, the Myasishchev Design Bureau, under the code of M-60, was actually developing an aircraft with a nuclear power plant, but this remained a paper project.
On 02 December 1958 the CIA Board of National Estimates produced a memo on "Views on the BOUNDER", signed by Sherman Kent, the Assistance Director for National Estimates. "Recent evidence of Soviet aircraft development efforts includes the observation on the ground, at Moscow of a new bomber, designated BOUNDER. It is of large size and heavy weight, with a modited delta-wing configuration -- apparently designed for supersonic flight. With the limited information availible, it has not beca possible to determine the BOUNDER's intended mission, but we believe it could represent a significant step forward in Soviet bomber design. Preliminary analysis indicates it to be powered by four turbojet engines using coaventional fuels, which would give it medium range, possibly with supersonic "dash". The possibility for development of BOUNDER with a more advanced propulsion syatem existe. However, present information is inadequate to permit an estimate of BOUNDER's probable development.
2. The portion of the BOUNDER's fuselage forward of the wing appears to be undesirably long for a conventionally fueled bomber. As one possible explanation for this characteristic, we have considered the applicability of various types of nuclear propulsion systems to the BOUNDER design. In our opinion, all known types of aircraft nuclear propulsion systems present shortcomings in their application to the BOUNDER in its present configuration. Further, no connection has been established between BOUNDER and the Sovlet atomic energy program. If, however, the BOUNDER is a developmental model intended for eventual use with nuclear propulsion, we believe that extensive modification and a long period of further development would be required prior to operational availabllity.
3. The BOUNDER apart, we have estimated and continue to estimate that within the next few years the USSR could fly an airborne nuclear testbed with at least one a nuclear power unit providing useful thrust during some portion of the flight."
"NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE NUMBER 11-4-58 (Supersedes NIE 11-4-57) MAIN TRENDS IN SOVIET CAPABILITIES AND POLICIES, 198-1963" of 23 December 1958 noted that "Recent evidence of Soviet developmental efforts includes the observation at Moscow of a new bomber, designated BOUNDER, of large size and heavy weight, with a modified delta-wing configuration apparently designed for supersonic flight. With the limited in formation available, it has not been possible to determine the BOUNDER's intended mission, but we believe it could represent a significant step forward in Soviet bomber design. Preliminary analysis indicates BOUNDER to be powered by four turbojet engines. The use of conventional fuels would give it a range marginal for in tercontinental bombing. The possibility for development of BOUNDER with a more advanced propulsion system exists, and the design intent for a nuclear-powered vehicle cannot be excluded at this time. However, present information is inadequate to permit an estimate of BOUNDER's probable development. "
In late May 1961, after the termination of the DB-23 design bureau and its M-50 product, the decision was made to demonstrate the M-50 in the air parade in Tushino. The plane stood on the ground for almost a year while the demonstration flight crew prepared under the direction of Ya.B.Nodelmana. Pilots and N.I.Goryaynov A.S.Lipko, after four training flights, on July 9 showed the public the aircraft, not only for the first time in its history, but also in the activities of DB-23. During the tests, the plane had side number "023", but before the first public demonstration of the room was changed to "12". At Tushino airfield, the M-50, piloted by H Goryaynova, accompanied by two MiG-21 performed a spectacular flight.
CIA's "CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY" of 13 July 1961 commented that " During the Aviation Day air show of 9 July, the first significant air show since 1956, a number of aircraft were publicly displayed for the first time, as well as air-to-air missiles (AAMs) and air-to-suface missiles (ASMs). Despite Khrushchev's disparaging remarks about aircraft in recent years, Marshal of Aviation Sergey Rudenko, deputy commander in chief of the Soviet Air Force, said the main object of the display was to. "demonstrate the might of Soviet aviation." The existence of most of these aircraft has been known for some time. Among those shown for the first time were: a four-jet, modified delta-wing aircraft of heavy bomber size and weight designated Bounder and first seen on the ground at Moscow/Fili in 1958; ... "
On 20 July 1961, Herbert Scoville, CIA Assistant Director for Intelligence, wrote to Jerome Wisner, the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, concerning the 09 July Moscow Air Show, "One aircraft flew in the parade. The aircraft appears to be essentially the aame as when first aeen in 1958 except that the inboard engines have afterburners. Basic engines are in the 27,000 lb. thrust class augmented to 40,000 lbs. thruat with afterburning. Although the aircraft is very large, it appears to have a subsonic range of only 3,000 n.m. With the present engine installations the speed is most likely limited to about MACH 1.5. With modified air inlets and afterburners on all engines, the speed could be on the order of MACH 2- 2.25 but range will continue to be limited. In addition to the Bounder displayed there is another large aircraft, partially assembled on Fili airfield, where Bounder was built. This new aircraft is most likely a modification or variant of the Bounder. The continued efforts on aircraft of this type show a continued interest of the Soviets in developing long range supersonic bombers."
| specs | AF Magazine 1961 | actual |
|---|---|---|
| length | 200 feet | 190 feet |
| weight | 400,000 lbs | 260,000 lbs |
| engine thrust | 4 x 30,000 to 40,000 | 2 @ 24,250 lbst + 2 @ 32,000 lbst |
| speed | Mach 1.7 | Mach .99 |
"NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE NUMBER 11-4-61 MAIN TRENDS IN SOVIET CAPABILITIES AND POLICIES, 1961 - 1966" of 24 August 1961 stated that "Research and development in new heavy bombers continues, but it apparently does not enjoy a high priority. The BOUNDER displayed at the air show was clearly a prototype with an experimental installation of engines. At least one other similar prototype is in a state of partial assembly at the BISON plant. This aircraft type, first observed at the BISON plant in Moscow in 1958, is unsatisfactory for operational use in the form displayed. Its configuration appears designed for intercontinental missions and a maximum "dash" speed in excess of Mach 2. However, with present power plants its maximum "dash" speed is probably less than Mach 1.5 and its operating radius would be inferior to that of the BADGER medium bomber. While some improvements can be made through installation of better jet engines, we believe it extremely unlikely that the BOUNDER could achieve a refueled intercontinental capability with supersonic "dash." "
In a dissent from "NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE NUMBER 11-4-63 - "Soviet Military Capabilities and Policies" of 22 March 1963, the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, USAF, estimated that "a follow-on heavy bomber will probably be introduced in about 1964. The continued development of large aircraft capable of supersonic speed, and research in applicable materials, structures, and other components substantiate the Soviets interest in large supersonic vehicles and suggest an intent to increase their strategic attack capability by such means. The BOUNDER probably has served a most useful purpose as a test bed for many components, aerodynamic advancements, and a structural design which are directly applicable to a follow-on heavy bomber capable of supersonic speeds."
| specs | CIA 1966 | actual |
|---|---|---|
| length | 200 feet | 190 feet |
| span | 78 feet | 88.7 feet |
| radius | 1,500 n.m. | 850 n.m |
| speed | 920 knots | 590 knots |
| ceiling | 38,000 feet | 16,400 feet |
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE NUMBER 11-67 "Soviet Military Research and Development" of 01 June 1967 noted that "Soviet military displays are sources of information on new weapons of certain types. These displays, of course, are matters of Soviet discretion and policy. In recent years the Soviets, in order to project their image as a military power, have displayed a number of advanced weapons which were either in service or in late stages of development. But they have withheld some major weapons from display, and some of the weapons displayed have been prototypes which never reached the production stage (e.g.,the Bounder bomber). Indeed, the Soviets may bave attempted to mislead us on occasion, by displaying prototypes or mockups which they never intended to deploy."
A TOP SECRET cable to DIRNSA from NPIC report dated 07 October 1967, and decassified 17 November 2006, reported that "At airframe Plan No 23, Moscow, the BOUNDER was not observered on good clear photography. A checke of the Ramenskoye Flight Test Center reveals that the only other known BOUNDER has been mved from its normal parking position to the nearly Assembly and Repair hangar."
A basic Imagery Interpretation Report on Ramenskoye Flight Test Center [Approved for Release 2010/01/05 : CIA-RDP81T00618R000100040001-4] of May 2918 reported "The BOUNDER normally seen in the Myasishchev area has been disassembled. By March 1980 the engines had been removed, and by disassembly was complete."
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