USSR.2C Russia and Ukraine Contra-rotating propellers

one of quartet of contra-rotating propellers on tu-95 russian strategic bomber

in 1950s, soviet union developed kuznetsov nk-12 turboprop. drives 8-blade contra-rotating propeller and, @ 15,000 shp, powerful turboprop in world. 4 nk-12 engines power tupolev tu-95 bear, turboprop bomber enter service, 1 of fastest propeller-driven aircraft. tu-114, airliner derivative of tu-95, holds world speed record propeller aircraft. tu-95 first soviet bomber have intercontinental range. tu-126 aew aircraft , tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft 2 more nk-12 powered designs derived tu-95.

the nk-12 engine powers well-known soviet aircraft, antonov an-22 antheus, heavy-lift cargo aircraft. @ time of introduction, an-22 largest aircraft in world , still far world s largest turboprop-powered aircraft. 1960s through 1970s, set several world records in categories of maximum payload-to-height ratio , maximum payload lifted altitude.

of lesser note use of nk-12 engine in a-90 orlyonok, mid-size soviet ekranoplan. a-90 uses 1 nk-12 engine mounted atop t-tail, along 2 turbojets nestled in nose.

in 1994, antonov produced an-70, heavy transport aircraft. powered 4 progress d-27 propfan engines driving contra-rotating propellers. characteristics of d-27 engine , propeller make propfan, hybrid between turbofan engine , turboprop engine.