Soviet Nuclear Supersonic - Tu-22

On July 9, 1961, thousands of Russian citizens gathered at the Tushino airfield on the outskirts of Moscow to celebrate Aviation Day, an official Soviet military holiday celebrating the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Along with top Soviet military officials, a few Western representatives stood in attendance after accepting an invitation from Russia to observe their newest aircraft developments.

As the show proceeded, ten models of a new, strangely shaped aircraft flew above them. The Westerners could not believe it. With performance similar to America's Convair B-58 Hustler, this was Russia's first bomber capable of supersonic flight.

Soon, the startled NATO members relaid their information to their headquarters and even nicknamed the mysterious tube-shaped supersonic bomber.

Its first nickname, Bullshot, was too inappropriate. The second one, Beauty, was too complimentary, especially for the Soviet Union. Finally, the third one, Blinder, stuck for years to come, even more than the aircraft itself.

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