In the past, seaplanes were the real kings of the sky and decide all urgent tasks of military and civilian character. In the postwar period, this technique began to give way to a new long-range aircraft and helicopters. But during this period there were projects of strategic bombers amphibians.
US created bomber Martin P6M Sea Master. Subsonic aircraft with combat radius 750 miles served not too long, and by the early sixties abandoned it. A similar project has been developed in the USSR. FROM 1955 g. OKB V.M. Myasishcheva worked on the project of a flying boat M-70.
M-70 was created as a strategic bomber with special features. He had to work at a great distance from the base: if necessary, it was possible to carry out the landing on the water, and to receive fuel from a specially equipped submarines. M-70 is proposed to equip the nuclear and conventional weapons to defeat a variety of purposes.
It is working on several versions of the aircraft M-70 with different characteristics. One of them could climb to a height of more 16 km, the other reached 21 km. Estimated top speed was up to standard 1500-1700 kmh. Such flight data allowed to break through the enemy's air defense, built on the technology of the fifties.
M-70 was never built and flew, but its shape is known. It was proposed to build a graceful, streamlined and extended aircraft with swept wings. Steam engine was placed over the wing - as in other seaplanes. Another two motors at the base of the keel. Fuselage equipped with gidrolyzhey for takeoff and landing. The crew offered to include three.
To work with M-70 should build a special submarine, capable of carrying a supply of fuel and perform refueling aircraft on the high seas.
Parallel to the M-70 seaplane in Myasishcheva Bureau created two other bombers to land aerodromes. In similar range performance, Amphibian behind them in the other parameters. Besides, there was no clear need for a flying boat bomber. Targets within 2 thousand. miles of Soviet territory would attack bombers and land-based ballistic missiles.
In May 1957 g. The Soviet Union tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7. These weapons, capable of hitting a target on another continent in minutes, It puts an end to several promising projects of aviation equipment. Further development of supersonic seaplane deemed unnecessary. The story of the project M-70 over.
