Not a Pound for Air to Ground certainly comes up with interesting and informative material. Commentary is brisk factual and where appropriate dry humour is inserted. Excellent videos and pretty darn good research make you a must watch when I'm alerted.
Lavochkin had some really underrated jet designs, including the 174 which was the first soviet production jet to go past mach 1 in level flight. Greatly underrated designer
4:38 Good lord, it's like an alternate universe, dieselpunk MiG-15/17. I'm not sure if I love it or hate it, but my life is certainly improved by knowing that this...thing...existed
Love it! These late 1940s through 1950s and early 60s Soviet designs were often the case (for me anyway at least) a mixture of innovation and crudeness all rolled into one (like the tires!) Which is what makes them so cool! Great episode thank you!
It was a time of very rapid advancement on both sides of the pond, but the Soviets were willing to go places and turn things into steel that the Americans would have scrapped in the early design phase.
I am slowly realizing the late '50's and early '60's were probably the best time to fight kaijuu, especially flying kaijuu. Giant monster? No problem. We have jets with 300-lb warhead AAMs. Heck, we have NUCLEAR AAMs, if the critter doesn't stay in the remote Pacific!
Ok I have to say at first I thought your videos were a bit boring. However, as I have listened to them more and begun to pick up on your subtle and very dry humor, I must say they are really enjoyable. And the info you gather is second to none. Thanks for these, what a valuable archive of information to have.
I remain baffled by the fact that so many early missile-only interceptors carried *only 2 missiles.* Even if such missiles had been 100% reliable (and 1st-gen AAMs were far from that), it seems like 4 missiles should've been the *absolute minimum* acceptable load. *Especially* since the main role of these interceptors was to prevent nuclear-armed bombers from penetrating the homeland.
Look how big the missile only planes of this generation are. They're running near the maximum of the engines to carry the support equipment and two missiles. Add another ton plus drag for another pair of missiles and pylons, plus build your structure bigger to mount the things, and you start needing a trijet fighter.
That s actually a very good remark. As others have mentioned the technical limitations of the time explain it. One must however indeed be critical about how effective such an interceptor umbrella was. This might indeed have been a period in which the old saying that “the bomber will always get through” was actually quite factual. The military industrial complex on both sides always promises superweapons. The terrible state of present Russian air defences can however not simply be blamed on a dilapidated state of Russian defences and the so called drone technology revolution alone. Today’s more advanced drones are comparable to the old cruise-missile concept and thus hardly new. Ergo: Bombers and cruise-missiles probably had a much better chance getting through then advocated at the time.
I've got the A-Model kit of the Tu-128 in the stash. I taped up the kit's parts to compare it to a Phantom. It's HUGE. I'd love to see a video on its development and service history.
I absolutely love this channel! Any time there is information that he isn't 100% certain about, he weighs that information based (similarly to the way a case or facts are determined in non-criminal cases in the US and UK) on preponderance of the evidence; and he is very clear about that. The only 'HISTORICAL FACT' that remains true is: "As more evidence comes to light, facts change." A perfect example is the size and capabilities of the CCCP military. We know the complete facts now, but in 1985, those 'Facts' ,as we knew them, were totally different. It was believed that the issues facing the Soviets in Afghanistan were due to the USSR holding back its vast & powerful capacity/capability, so as to not escalate the situation into a larger war. The fact, as we know now, is that they throwing everything they had it.
All problems aside, its a beautiful, and even modern looking design. You could've told me this was some kind of Mirage prototype and I'd have believed it.
Thank you for another great video. You have single-handedly overhauled my knowledge of Soviet/Russian aircraft in much the same manner as Drachinifel has with my WWI/II naval knowledge. Thank you for that.
I enjoyed this video. I have watched a couple of your videos about the F102 Delta Dagger, but you don't have one about the F106 Delta Dart? I worked on the "Six" MA-1 Weapons Control System from 1972 - 1979 as the airframe went through its final operational updates that included the bubble canopy, and the 20mm gun pod in the weapons bay. During that time it was used as a supersonic aggressor aircraft in Red Flag Exercises and interservice dogfight training with the Navy due to its exceptional combat range, acceleration, and tight turning radius. The F106 pilots were upset that their flight envelope was significantly restricted during ACM training because the AF and Navy F4s couldn't turn with them. It was a sleek, beautiful bird.
@@Corey_Brandt From the defunct Dilbert comic strip. Elbonia is a fictitious communist country in the Balkans that Dilbert would have to visit every now and then.
Soviets and their strategic bomber size interceptors, this is about the time Americans were making the 102 so Soviets were not doing bad for the time actually...
Right at the start I noticed the lack of area rule and wondered how much it'd bite them on the ass in the end. Each AL-7 had 20000 lbf thrust; that's just a little less than what a single J-75 provided the area-ruled F-105, and it could break Mach 2. The whole story reminds me of F-102 and F-106. The predecessor plane is fascinating.
Fascinating. As a teen in the 70s I got and still have a book entitled… the Soviet airforce . So much more information is available now. The book usually had a grant black and white photograph and about 1 paragraph of information on it. Of course I’m Sure the CIA and USAF knew much more but probably worked to reinforce the idea that we knew next to nothing but were sure at the same time that western aircraft were better. Also of note…. The air show circuit for several years had a mig 17 flying…. A very impressive aircraft fast and very maneuverable
It would be nice to get some videos on the cold war Sukhoi jets mentioned here. Such as Su-7 and Su-17 / 22. Especially since they would end up being the backbone of many nations' attack jet inventory for quite awhile.
The small wire guided ww2 german missle at Wright-Patt National Airforce Museum is a very interesting cutaway to study. Many wooden components and controlled with electric solenoids moving the tail flaps. Unarmed copies would be easy for modelers to build.
Hi @Notapound thanks for your amazing videos. Could you please do a video on the Yak-25, 26, 27 and 28? There is precious little stuff out there. Thank you.
You could probably make a decent length video on airframes that were capable or better than their contemporaries but were passed on because they weren't "pretty enough".
The i-250 looks to me like a 1950s Soviet F4 Phantom, same seating arrangement, and designed around missiles, rather purely guns like the other Russian planes of the time. It's quite a good looking plane
I didn't even know the Yak-25 existed, and a short mention has now informed me of it. All the soviet interceptors are quite odd compared to those of the west.
Wait, aren't tandem engines like one in front of the other? Like the Lighting is partly a tandem installation. That looks like a normal side by side mount.
But yet, interestingly the Sukhoi OKB probably took the general shape of the Anakonda and turned it into the Su-15 _Flagon_ , which was the mainstay of Soviet PVO Strany interceptor forces during the Cold War (the Su-15 was the plane that unfortunately shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983).
it really makes you wonder what compartmentalisation shenanigans were going on to stop the Lavochkin engineers from implementing the most basic advances in jet fighter design
I love your videos. I’m BEGGING you, can we get a video on the Sud Aviation Vautour II? It’s one of my favorite aircraft of its period and information on it is scarce despite some manuals I got my hands on, but they’re in French and about only the IIN. Pleeeease?
I guess the Anakonda was the Soviet Wish version of the F-101 Voodoo. I liked the Voodoo, it carried AIR-2B Genie tac-nuke missiles. They used to fly out of Selfridge ANGB in Chesterfield, Michigan.
I find it interesting that the La-250 didn't get a NATO reporting name. It isn't like a lot of other random prototypes that never got anywhere near useful operational service got names: for example Bounder, Clam or Felon
Would you care to do a video on the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo at some point? For whatever reason, it seems to be the least discussed Century Series fighter, and I'd love to learn more about it.
I've always thought that was a magnificent aeroplane, every bit as charismatic as the F-4. I suppose because it never saw combat (apart from the RF-101 on reconnaissance flights over Vietnam) it didn't lodge in the popular consciousness
The airplane was getting so long, that it was almost able to reach the enemy without ever leaving the runway. Its pilot most probably needed a bicycle to perform a pre-flight walkaround.
That were wild years in aviation world. Many new designs, and many failures too... Lack of computers and supersonic wind tunnels had something to do with that...
Outstanding and really interesting video mate 👍 i was wondering if you had considered sticking the audio for these videos on somewhere like spotify or googlepodcasts? I say that as you tube ties up the phone many people use to watch these videos, in a podcast format it would be much easier to listen too, so might increase your engagement. Just a wee idea not a criticism or anything. Please keep these videos going mate.
Impressive effort on their part considering they went from p47's jet cousin and beam riders to badly proportioned f4-ish looking plane with the course set for SA/A radar missiles in such short time.
Compared to the bomber interceptors of the west the Soviet interceptors were huge, the Tu-128 being even larger than the La-250 and Mig-25 and 31 were not small either.
Not a Pound for Air to Ground certainly comes up with interesting and informative material. Commentary is brisk factual and where appropriate dry humour is inserted. Excellent videos and pretty darn good research make you a must watch when I'm alerted.
Unlike another channel with cool graphics and everything Russian is automatically bad.
Is this chat GPT, or something else?
Here here! Well stated! 👍
And welcome back to the internets favorite game show! AI comment or Boomer comment?!
bot ass comment
Lavochkin had some really underrated jet designs, including the 174 which was the first soviet production jet to go past mach 1 in level flight.
Greatly underrated designer
Umm creo que fue en una "ligera zambullida"(picada)...Dic.1948!
It was the 176 that achieved Mach 1 flight, and it was in a dive. But very impressive though.
@askingstuff yeah you're right lol
I was thinking of aircraft #174
Tandem centrifugal flow engines, wild.
Good show as always, thank you.
4:38 Good lord, it's like an alternate universe, dieselpunk MiG-15/17. I'm not sure if I love it or hate it, but my life is certainly improved by knowing that this...thing...existed
The Long/THICCBOI version of the MiG-15 😂
It looks like a caricature version of F-86K
Ummm, Jetpunk? Is that a thing??
@@scottgiles7546 If it's not already a thing, it certainly needs to be!
'Tis a fugly looking beastie to be sure.
They called it "Anakonda" because it was big and long, and moved around on its belly.
😂😂
....viagra was not invented..he developed supersized dildo instead.
Love it! These late 1940s through 1950s and early 60s Soviet designs were often the case (for me anyway at least) a mixture of innovation and crudeness all rolled into one (like the tires!) Which is what makes them so cool!
Great episode thank you!
Best aviation channel by a country mile..
what type of mile? nautical? Imperial? Roman?
how many feet? what type of feet? whose feet?
Are they smelly?
@@simon199418 Alright, chill, no feet for you.
@@Unionthewizard but how will I get my inches?
I'll add Rex's Hanger and Greg's Airplanes & Automobiles to that list. Greg's done like 8 vids on the P-47 alone
@@simon199418a Baker's mile. 5281 feet
Love this channel! A video on the YF-12 and its GAR-9 missiles or the cancelled XF-108 Rapier would be amazing.
P
Fascinating to compare this with its (very) near contemporaries: the Avro Arrow and the Gloster Javelin.
The mighty Avro Arrow. Canada's last hurrah.
I work nights. I love that you release videos at 5am
I'm in the same position; between 2am and 3am is the best part of my day, or night, as it were!
East coast of USA? 6 pm for me in Queensland Australia
Me too, night brother.
@@xgford94 US West Coast, here, specifically the Pacific Northwest
Happens. Scotland.
I knew nothing of this aircraft.
Very interesting and rather entertaining.
Thank you.
☮
man they were all in - so many crazy designs from that time period
It was a time of very rapid advancement on both sides of the pond, but the Soviets were willing to go places and turn things into steel that the Americans would have scrapped in the early design phase.
I am slowly realizing the late '50's and early '60's were probably the best time to fight kaijuu, especially flying kaijuu. Giant monster? No problem. We have jets with 300-lb warhead AAMs. Heck, we have NUCLEAR AAMs, if the critter doesn't stay in the remote Pacific!
Ok I have to say at first I thought your videos were a bit boring. However, as I have listened to them more and begun to pick up on your subtle and very dry humor, I must say they are really enjoyable. And the info you gather is second to none. Thanks for these, what a valuable archive of information to have.
oh wow that looked fairly modern for 1954
I remain baffled by the fact that so many early missile-only interceptors carried *only 2 missiles.* Even if such missiles had been 100% reliable (and 1st-gen AAMs were far from that), it seems like 4 missiles should've been the *absolute minimum* acceptable load. *Especially* since the main role of these interceptors was to prevent nuclear-armed bombers from penetrating the homeland.
You might consider that more weapons mean more weigh and drag, which equates to less range, altitude, and speed.
Look how big the missile only planes of this generation are. They're running near the maximum of the engines to carry the support equipment and two missiles. Add another ton plus drag for another pair of missiles and pylons, plus build your structure bigger to mount the things, and you start needing a trijet fighter.
That s actually a very good remark. As others have mentioned the technical limitations of the time explain it. One must however indeed be critical about how effective such an interceptor umbrella was. This might indeed have been a period in which the old saying that “the bomber will always get through” was actually quite factual. The military industrial complex on both sides always promises superweapons. The terrible state of present Russian air defences can however not simply be blamed on a dilapidated state of Russian defences and the so called drone technology revolution alone. Today’s more advanced drones are comparable to the old cruise-missile concept and thus hardly new. Ergo: Bombers and cruise-missiles probably had a much better chance getting through then advocated at the time.
Boxy and yet slick looking plane. Like something from popular comics series in US.
I quite like it.
The La-250 looks as clean as a whistle. The lines are good.
I guess all that glitters isn't gold.
But a very attractive design.
I applaud your work - it is excellent and commentary is superb - and there is NO stupid, tasteless, annoying music!
Everyone: Its HUGE !
Tu-128: ...oh is it now ?
We need a video on that beast as well
and it looks surprisingly similar to the Tu-128...
I've got the A-Model kit of the Tu-128 in the stash. I taped up the kit's parts to compare it to a Phantom. It's HUGE. I'd love to see a video on its development and service history.
@@mikepette4422 it was huge, it's just the TU-128 was gargantuan.
Wonder how it compares to the mythical F-108.
I absolutely love this channel! Any time there is information that he isn't 100% certain about, he weighs that information based (similarly to the way a case or facts are determined in non-criminal cases in the US and UK) on preponderance of the evidence; and he is very clear about that. The only 'HISTORICAL FACT' that remains true is: "As more evidence comes to light, facts change." A perfect example is the size and capabilities of the CCCP military. We know the complete facts now, but in 1985, those 'Facts' ,as we knew them, were totally different. It was believed that the issues facing the Soviets in Afghanistan were due to the USSR holding back its vast & powerful capacity/capability, so as to not escalate the situation into a larger war. The fact, as we know now, is that they throwing everything they had it.
All problems aside, its a beautiful, and even modern looking design. You could've told me this was some kind of Mirage prototype and I'd have believed it.
Try replacing nose intake with side on mig19/21 and you'll have pretty much same, for example J8B
More like Su-15's predecessor
I love the way these videos end, with silent historical footage of the aircraft in flight, like a distant memory, with no music.
Splendid, thank you.
Indeed, fascinating.
Thank you for another great video. You have single-handedly overhauled my knowledge of Soviet/Russian aircraft in much the same manner as Drachinifel has with my WWI/II naval knowledge. Thank you for that.
Very interesting and well done, thank you.
I enjoyed this video.
I have watched a couple of your videos about the F102 Delta Dagger, but you don't have one about the F106 Delta Dart? I worked on the "Six" MA-1 Weapons Control System from 1972 - 1979 as the airframe went through its final operational updates that included the bubble canopy, and the 20mm gun pod in the weapons bay. During that time it was used as a supersonic aggressor aircraft in Red Flag Exercises and interservice dogfight training with the Navy due to its exceptional combat range, acceleration, and tight turning radius. The F106 pilots were upset that their flight envelope was significantly restricted during ACM training because the AF and Navy F4s couldn't turn with them. It was a sleek, beautiful bird.
Glory to Elbonia!
?
@@Corey_Brandt From the defunct Dilbert comic strip. Elbonia is a fictitious communist country in the Balkans that Dilbert would have to visit every now and then.
This is sure to impress the generalissimo! Just look at the size of that air intake!
Bespoke tires no less. Nothing but the finest for the greatest airforce in the world.
@@Corey_Brandt”?”..oh the sign of the most famous villain of Elbonia. Yess, masterr ?
Yay! New video!
Love the channel, and am eagerly awaiting the eventual video on the Skyray
Jesus Christ. That is an impressive first flight.
GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS!!!! never heard of this aircraft before 😊😊😊😊
great video as always. would love to see one on the tu-128 or la-200
Absolutely first rate. Thank you.
Area Rule strikes again. I must say, the Anaconda is somewhat beautiful for the time. Thanks for the amazing video as always!
OMG **please** do a video on the Tu-128! I've been fascinated by that aircraft for 25 years! Potentially a spiritual sister to the YF-12?
Soviets and their strategic bomber size interceptors, this is about the time Americans were making the 102 so Soviets were not doing bad for the time actually...
Technically they were already developing the f106 by that time
@@gp33music41 yeah, but, western doctrine is to stay ahead in the tech game, Eastern doctrine is to stay competitive in it...
I was waiting for this video, your channel is amazing and I'm so glad I've watched it grow! You deserve it!
0:45 - Stalin was dead by then, so at the likelihood of ending up in Siberia, was much less reduced.
so you were more likely to end up in Siberia?
@@michaelmoorrees3585 not by much. Brezhnev was no saint nor Krushchev.
Right at the start I noticed the lack of area rule and wondered how much it'd bite them on the ass in the end. Each AL-7 had 20000 lbf thrust; that's just a little less than what a single J-75 provided the area-ruled F-105, and it could break Mach 2. The whole story reminds me of F-102 and F-106.
The predecessor plane is fascinating.
Fascinating. As a teen in the 70s I got and still have a book entitled… the Soviet airforce . So much more information is available now. The book usually had a grant black and white photograph and about 1 paragraph of information on it. Of course I’m Sure the CIA and USAF knew much more but probably worked to reinforce the idea that we knew next to nothing but were sure at the same time that western aircraft were better. Also of note…. The air show circuit for several years had a mig 17 flying…. A very impressive aircraft fast and very maneuverable
It would be nice to get some videos on the cold war Sukhoi jets mentioned here. Such as Su-7 and Su-17 / 22. Especially since they would end up being the backbone of many nations' attack jet inventory for quite awhile.
The small wire guided ww2 german missle at Wright-Patt National Airforce Museum is a very interesting cutaway to study. Many wooden components and controlled with electric solenoids moving the tail flaps.
Unarmed copies would be easy for modelers to build.
Great info on a rather obscure aircraft. Very cool!
Great content as usual. Thank you!
I wondered what happened to Lavochkin. Their piston fighters were excellent, but they never seemed to manage to keep up in the jet age
Hi @Notapound thanks for your amazing videos. Could you please do a video on the Yak-25, 26, 27 and 28? There is precious little stuff out there. Thank you.
You could probably make a decent length video on airframes that were capable or better than their contemporaries but were passed on because they weren't "pretty enough".
great videos as always, would love to see some videos on more missiles such as sraams and firestreaks
Could you put on screen performance data in metric? At least engine thrust?
*“We the unwilling, led by the unqualified to kill the unfortunate, die for the ungrateful.” -John Hart.*
The i-250 looks to me like a 1950s Soviet F4 Phantom, same seating arrangement, and designed around missiles, rather purely guns like the other Russian planes of the time. It's quite a good looking plane
Quite the colourful narration..
Very interesting, thank you
Good work
I didn't even know the Yak-25 existed, and a short mention has now informed me of it. All the soviet interceptors are quite odd compared to those of the west.
Interesante informe, exelentes imágenes de la "Anaconda", queremos más; el Burya de Lavochkin!!
Judging by the plans and photos, Lavochkin had never entertained thoughts around "area ruling" his aeroplanes.
You forgot.
In Russia you do not rule area, area rules you.
Had they discovered the area rule by ~1950?
@RoaminngAdhocrat no
Except that was a capitalist duscovery.
@@RoamingAdhocrat yes
Please do dig on the MiG-19 and the Su-15. Great videos.
Great video
Wait, aren't tandem engines like one in front of the other? Like the Lighting is partly a tandem installation. That looks like a normal side by side mount.
But yet, interestingly the Sukhoi OKB probably took the general shape of the Anakonda and turned it into the Su-15 _Flagon_ , which was the mainstay of Soviet PVO Strany interceptor forces during the Cold War (the Su-15 was the plane that unfortunately shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983).
Great stuff 👍👍👍
it really makes you wonder what compartmentalisation shenanigans were going on to stop the Lavochkin engineers from implementing the most basic advances in jet fighter design
I love your videos. I’m BEGGING you, can we get a video on the Sud Aviation Vautour II? It’s one of my favorite aircraft of its period and information on it is scarce despite some manuals I got my hands on, but they’re in French and about only the IIN. Pleeeease?
YEAH NEW VIDEO!!!!
Engine placement. How interesting!
You learn more from failures than from a first success and a new path for development
I guess the Anakonda was the Soviet Wish version of the F-101 Voodoo. I liked the Voodoo, it carried AIR-2B Genie tac-nuke missiles. They used to fly out of Selfridge ANGB in Chesterfield, Michigan.
La 7 secured his legacy along with, as they call it, dying in his traces hard at work.😔
2:30 has the left main undercarriage collapsed..?
We need a Tu-128 video ;-)
"Comrade, we were charged with making a bomber interceptor, but I think instead we have created the world's fastest tractor!"
4:39 Literally what I drew for my parents after my 1st childhood visit to an airshow.
Wow historical coverage
Ла-200Б is wonderful, it's a face only a mother could love.
i saw this one in monino! its quite a sight in real life
I find it interesting that the La-250 didn't get a NATO reporting name. It isn't like a lot of other random prototypes that never got anywhere near useful operational service got names: for example Bounder, Clam or Felon
Typical Soviet sleekness; big and lumpy.
Thanks for digging this up!
By sheer looks alone it's no wonder why the Tupolev 128 won the contest.
Somehow, this thing looks like the Shenyang J-8B you get from Temu.
the amount of lives, time and money spent on machines for inflicting death
is mind-boggling.
ty
Would you care to do a video on the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo at some point? For whatever reason, it seems to be the least discussed Century Series fighter, and I'd love to learn more about it.
I've always thought that was a magnificent aeroplane, every bit as charismatic as the F-4. I suppose because it never saw combat (apart from the RF-101 on reconnaissance flights over Vietnam) it didn't lodge in the popular consciousness
Oh god not this thing!!!
Comrade cut hole, vibrations gone, is no problem
The airplane was getting so long, that it was almost able to reach the enemy without ever leaving the runway. Its pilot most probably needed a bicycle to perform a pre-flight walkaround.
Why did this plane even maintain the same numerical designation after all of these crazy modifications?
04:40 "a pretty unattractive aircraft" wins the Official Understatement of the Year 2024 Award.
Beautiful giant monstrosity ❤
When you keep working at your F-89 equivalent so long it turns into your F-102 equivalent.
That were wild years in aviation world. Many new designs, and many failures too... Lack of computers and supersonic wind tunnels had something to do with that...
This Kochetkov dude was a real Man apparently. Now then... Somehow I sense a Flagon approaching!
Geez the la200s, I am amazed they flew so hideous its like a crime against physics I would believe the borg cube is more aerodynamic.
Ironically, in war thunder the La200 is pretty decent with great energy retention and decent power to weight for its rating
A crime against physics, I hope? ;-)
@@SatumangoTheGreat thank you, apparently it also has the amazing ability to cause my spelling to be worse than usual!
Outstanding and really interesting video mate 👍 i was wondering if you had considered sticking the audio for these videos on somewhere like spotify or googlepodcasts? I say that as you tube ties up the phone many people use to watch these videos, in a podcast format it would be much easier to listen too, so might increase your engagement. Just a wee idea not a criticism or anything. Please keep these videos going mate.
Some people can't see the forest for the trees... pronunciation & measurements don't make or break it for me
I so agree
Impressive effort on their part considering they went from p47's jet cousin and beam riders to badly proportioned f4-ish looking plane with the course set for SA/A radar missiles in such short time.
Compared to the bomber interceptors of the west the Soviet interceptors were huge, the Tu-128 being even larger than the La-250 and Mig-25 and 31 were not small either.
4:39 "Unattractive"? I'm in love!
Front view looks a lot like the MD F-4 Phantom.
Good god, that thumbnail looks metal as fuck.
Majestic
The resemblance to the Fiddler is palpable. I always wondered what happened to Lavochkin.