So the B-29 drops the X-1, the B-52 the X-15

[Daryl J.]

Does that mean a Bear or a Tu-114 could drop a Tsybin NM-1?
Or a Vulcan a S.R. 53?

[Weaver]

Yup - there was a project for a manned Blue Steel and another one for launching an all-rocket SR.53 from the back of a Valiant. As for the Bear, well that damned great AS-3 Kangaroo missile that it carried was designed by MiG and was effectively an unmanned fighter, so it would have no problem carrying a respectable rocket plane at all.