<p>This unusual aeroplane came from an original requirement to combat the threat of high altitude US reconnaissance balloons! Named 'Subject 34', a prototype was built in secret, but was destroyed when it accidentally became airborne during taxiing trials. A combination of satellites and the SR-71 Blackbird had by then removed the need for a Russian high altitude interceptor, but the type was further developed as a research aircraft and became the M-17. The type first flew in 1982 and four were built. The design was later updated and became the M-55, of which five were produced.
The M-17 was given the NATO codename 'Mystic-A' and set a total of 12 FAI records, 5 of which still stand. They were also used for Ozone layer research over Antarctica.
This is the second prototype M-17 which first flew in 1982 and made it's final flight, to Monino, in 1990.
c/n M-17-3.
On display at the Russian Air Force Museum.
Monino, Russia.
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13-8-2012
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33132025" class="extiw" title="d:Q33132025"><span title="photographer from the UK">Alan Wilson</span></a>
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CC BY-SA 2.0
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/9918374073/">Myasischev M-17 Stratophera 'CCCP-17103'</a>
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<ul><li>Uploaded by <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:AVIA_BavARia" title="User:AVIA BavARia">AVIA BavARia</a></li></ul>