View source for Engineering:Myasishchev VM-T

{{short description|Conversion of Soviet M-4 Molot bomber to carry outsized cargo}}
<!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name = VM-T Atlant
 |image = File:VM-T Atlant at MAKS 2005.jpg
 |caption = VM-T with the 3GT payload container at the Zhukovsky Air Show in 2005
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type         = [[Engineering:Outsize cargo|Outsize cargo]] transport
 |manufacturer = Myasishchev
 |designer     = Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev
 |first flight = 29 April 1981
 |introduced   = January 1982
 |retired      = 1989
 |number built = 2
 |status       = Retired
 |unit cost    =
 |primary user = {{wipe|Soviet Air Force}}
 |more users   = Russian Federal Space Agency ([[Astronomy:Soviet space program|Soviet space program]])
 |developed from = [[Engineering:Myasishchev M-4|Myasishchev M-4]]
 |variants with their own articles = 
 }}
|}

The '''Myasishchev VM-T ''Atlant''''' ([[Social:Russian language|Russian]]: ''Мясищев ВМ-Т «Атлант»'' ([[Religion:Atlas (mythology)|"Atlas"]]), with the "VM-T" ("BM-T") standing for '''Vladimir Myasishchev{{spaced ndash}}Transport''') was a variant of Myasishchev's [[Engineering:Myasishchev M-4|M-4 ''Molot'' bomber]] (the "3M"), re-purposed as a strategic-airlift [[Engineering:Airplane|airplane]]. The VM-T was modified to carry [[Engineering:Booster (rocketry)|rocket boosters]] and the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Astronomy:Spaceplane|space shuttle]]s of the ''Buran'' program. It is also known as the '''3M-T'''.

==Design and development==

The design was conceived in 1978 when Myasishchev was asked to solve the problem of transporting rockets and other large space vehicles to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Engineers used an old 3M (a modified M-4 bomber) and replaced the [[Engineering:Empennage|empennage]] with dihedralled horizontal stabilizers with large, rectangular end-plate tailfins to accommodate payloads measuring as large as twice the diameter of the aircraft's [[Engineering:Fuselage|fuselage]]. A large, aerodynamically optimized cargo container, placed on top of the aircraft, would contain the freight. In addition, a new control system was added to the plane to compensate for the added weight.

The ''Atlant'' first flew in 1981 and made its first flight with cargo in January 1982.<ref name=energia>[http://www.buran-energia.com/vmt-atlant/vmt-desc.php History and details about the VM-T Atlant]</ref> Its main task was to ferry Energia rocket boosters from their development plant to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. On several occasions, the then-incomplete Soviet space shuttle ''[[Engineering:Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]]'' was piggybacked to the Cosmodrome as well.<ref name=energia/>

Two ''Atlant''s were built. They were replaced in 1989 by [[Company:Antonov|Antonov]]'s [[Engineering:Antonov An-225 Mriya|An-225 ''Mriya'']]. One ''Atlant'' (RF-01502) is kept at the Zhukovsky International Airport in {{wipe|Russia}} owned by [[Organization:TsAGI|TsAGI]] and [[Organization:Gromov Flight Research Institute|Gromov Flight Research Institute]], the other one (RA-01402) at Dyagilevo (air base) in Ryazan.
0GT was the Buran spaceplane without tailplane and equipment, 1GT was the hydrogen tank of the Energia rocket, 2GT was the engine frame and front aerodynamic cover of Energia and 3GT was the oxygen tank of Energia. All configurations were equipped with aerodynamic cover to decrease the drag.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ruslet.webnode.cz/technika/ruska-technika/letecka-technika/v-m-mjasiscev/vm-t-atlant/ | title=VM-T Atlant (Bison B mod.) :: Ruslet }}</ref>

==Specifications (VM-T)==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's aircraft recognition guide 1996,<ref name="Rendall">{{cite book |last1=Rendall |title=Jane's aircraft recognition guide |date=1996 |publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers |isbn=0-00-470980-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/janesaircraftrec0000rend/page/189 189] |url=https://archive.org/details/janesaircraftrec0000rend/page/189 }}</ref> VM-T Atlant's mains characteristics,<ref name="Petrovitch">{{cite web |last1=Petrovitch |first1=Vassili |title=VM-T Atlant Caracteristics |url=http://www.buran-energia.com/vmt-atlant/vmt-carac.php |website=www.buran-energia.com |access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref> 
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=6
|capacity=<br>
:*'''0GT payload container'''	{{cvt|45300|kg|0}} - ({{cvt|38.45|m|0}} long, {{cvt|23.8|m|0}} Buran wingspan)<ref>This equates to a Buran with tail fairing</ref><ref name=RedStar11>{{cite book |last=Gordon |first=Yefim |title=Myasishchev M-4 and 3M |url=https://archive.org/details/myasishchevmmfir00gord |url-access=limited |year=2003 |publisher=Midland |location=Hinkley |isbn=978-1-85780-152-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/myasishchevmmfir00gord/page/n93 93]–108}}</ref>
:*'''1GT payload container'''	{{cvt|31500|kg|0}} - ({{cvt|44.46|m|0}} long, {{cvt|7.78|m|0}} diameter)<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''2GT payload container'''	{{cvt|30000|kg|0}} - ({{cvt|26.41|m|0}} long, {{cvt|7.75|m|0}} diameter)<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''3GT payload container'''	{{cvt|15000|kg|0}} - ({{cvt|16.67|m|0}} long, {{cvt|7.75|m|0}} diameter)<ref name=RedStar11/>
|length m=51.23
|length note=
|span m=53.14
|span note=
|height m=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=351.78
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' [[Physics:NACA airfoil|NACA]]; '''tip:''' [[Physics:NACA airfoil|NACA]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg=81200
|empty weight note=no container<br>
:*'''0GT payload container'''	{{cvt|126500|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''1GT payload container'''	{{cvt|112700|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''2GT payload container'''	{{cvt|111200|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''3GT payload container'''	{{cvt|96200|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=139200
|max takeoff weight note=no container<br>
:*'''0GT payload container'''	{{cvt|187000|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''1GT payload container'''	{{cvt|170500|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''2GT payload container'''	{{cvt|169000|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''3GT payload container'''	{{cvt|152200|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
*'''Maximum landing weight:'''
:*'''0GT payload container'''	{{cvt|138500|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''1GT payload container'''	{{cvt|129500|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''2GT payload container'''	{{cvt|128000|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
:*'''3GT payload container'''	{{cvt|111200|kg|0}}<ref name=RedStar11/>
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=RKBM/Koliesov / Dobrynin VD-7MD
|eng1 type=[[Engineering:Turbojet|turbojet]] engines
|eng1 kn= 105.45
|eng1 note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=580
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=970
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=3565
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=10200
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|thrust/weight=0.224 (at MTOW)
|more performance=<br/>
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt|3500|m|0}} with 1GT container<ref name=RedStar11/>

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Engineering:Myasishchev M-4|Myasishchev M-4]]
|similar aircraft=
* Antonov An-124
* Antonov An-225
* [[Engineering:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft|Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]]
* [[Engineering:Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8]]
* [[Engineering:Airbus Beluga|Airbus Beluga]]
* Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

<!--==Further reading==-->

==External links==
* [http://www.buran-energia.com/vmt-atlant/vmt-desc.php History and details about the VM-T Atlant]
* [http://www.buran.ru/htm/3m.htm VM-T with Buran Orbiter and with very large cargo onboard]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051029071603/http://www.aviation.ru/Mya/ Aviation.ru]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dyagilevo,+Vologda+Oblast,+Russia,+162222/@54.6496272,39.5856026,90m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x46a908a1009c9657:0x23badd0b077a76a3!8m2!3d60.183056!4d40.787222?hl=en VM-T stored at Dyagilevo AFB (google maps)]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B033'12.0%22N+38%C2%B009'06.0%22E/@55.5687978,38.1431684,176m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d55.5533333!4d38.1516667?hl=en VM-T stored at Zhukovsky International Airport (google maps)]
* [http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Myasishchev_VM-T_-_Specifications/id/5316903 Specifications]


[[Category:Quadjets]]
[[Category:Aircraft related to spaceflight]]

{{Sourceattribution|Myasishchev VM-T}}