This Soviet Bomber Was Powered By… Vodka?

In the 1950s, an aircraft was designed with a peculiar onboard feature: a cooling system fueled by 52 gallons of vodka. Whatever vodka wasn’t consumed during the flight was later shared between the flight and ground crews. While this might sound like fiction, it’s a true story of Soviet engineering ingenuity.

The Need for Speed

By the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union and the United States had developed their first supersonic fighters: the MiG-19 and F-102, respectively. This advancement left the Soviet Tu-16 bomber vulnerable, as subsonic flight was no match for supersonic interceptors and the emerging threat of surface-to-air missiles. In response to the U.S.’s first supersonic bomber, the B-58 Hustler, the Soviets set out to develop their own: the Tu-22.

Developing the Tu-22

Andrei Tupolev led the project to transform the subsonic Tu-16 into a supersonic bomber, initially planning to double the number of engines from two to four. However, making a plane supersonic required more than just adding extra jets. The engines were eventually mounted at the rear, flanking the vertical stabilizer, to counteract the nose-up pitching that occurred at high speeds.

Placing the engines at the back had consequences. The aircraft’s center of gravity shifted rearward, requiring it to maintain high speeds to stay level. If it slowed down, the nose would pitch up, leading to a dangerous stall. This flaw necessitated a landing speed of approximately 220 mph, which added another layer of difficulty for pilots.

Early Crashes and Cover-ups

Before mass production, the Tu-22 experienced a catastrophic crash that was shrouded in secrecy. During a flight test, the aircraft vibrated violently as it approached supersonic speeds.

Eventually, a loud snap was heard, prompting orders for the crew to eject. The pilot attempted to save the aircraft but couldn’t. Subsequent investigations revealed that the stabilizers were prone to flutter at supersonic speeds. Despite this fatal flaw, the Tu-22 still entered production.

The “Man-Eater”

By 1962, about 20 Tu-22s were already operational, though they were technically still undergoing testing. Over its production run, 311 Tu-22s were built, with around 70 lost to accidents.

The aircraft earned the grim nickname “Man-Eater” due to its poor design and high casualty rate. Theories suggest that having only one pilot might have contributed to the mishaps. During its 30-plus years in service, over 40 crew members died in accidents.

Vodka-Powered Cooling

The Tu-22’s cooling system is one of its most notorious features. To keep the crew comfortable, the aircraft had a simple air-conditioning system. Hot engine air was cooled by running it through a tank filled with a 60% distilled water and 40% ethanol mixture.

The alcohol evaporated, absorbing heat at a rate of 10 gallons per flight hour. Upon landing, any leftover vodka was drained and shared among the crew!