This aircraft was one of two Myasishchev M-4 converted in 1981 from tanker versions of the strategic bomber to convey large space launchers and similar payloads. It was a very welcome addition to the modern aircraft at the static display at MAKS 2017.

The Myasishchev M-4 Molot was a four-engined strategic bomber manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to provide a Long Range Aviation bomber capable of attacking targets in North America. The 3M "Bison-B" was powered by four Dobrynin RD-7 turbojets, the 3MD was a cruise missile carrying aircraft for carrying the P-6, KSR or Kh-10 air to surface missiles, with only nine built in 1960, before production stopped. This example was added to the Monino collection in July 1986.

That is one big ugly mother....er, luckily it also makes life easier for us by displaying its construction number bigger than the bort code!

Photographer unknown - with 3GT payload container

The two Atlants built were replaced in 1989 by Antonov's An-225 Mriya. This Atlant is kept at Zhukovsky and the other one (RA-01402) is stored at Dyagilevo AB in Ryazan.

The Bison bomber caused the 'bomber gap' scare in 1955 when the CIA guesstimated that 800 of them would be available by 1960. In fact, less than 100 were built.

The Bison-C was the cruise missile carrying version of the M-4, however, only nine were built before production ended in 1960. This example is preserved at the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino.

Cruise missile carrying 3MD version of the long range M-4 Molot (Bison) bomber of the mid/late 1950s.

This extraordinary aircraft was one of two converted in 1981 from tanker versions of the Myasishchev M-4 / 3M 'Bison' strategic bomber to convey large space launchers and similar payloads including the Buran space-shuttle; in all more than 150 loads were carried to the Baikonur launch site