Russians : old bombers retired, new one on drawing board

[keesje]

An old enemy of western Europe was retired recently, the Blinder.

Amateur video from shaky cockpit(s), formal decommissioning, last flight to Tupolev graveyard, good-bye, the inevtitable dry meat & vodka.
TU-22 Blinder last flights cockpit views - YouTube

And sketches emerging for a Backfire replacement, PAK-DA (flightglobal).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/PAK-DA02.jpg

IN FOCUS: Russian's next-generation bomber takes shape (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/in-focus-russians-next-generation-bomber-takes-shape-377251/)

A flat design, just like the PAK-FA.

[Geehovah]

End of an era. I remember sitting Q waiting for a few of those to come through. They never arrived!

[alwayslookingup]

Are you sure it was recent? Date on video, at 53.18, comes up as 8.6.94.

[TEEEJ]

Not recent footage as already pointed out. The Russians retired their Tu-22 Blinders during the mid 1990s. The Ukrainians kept them in service for a bit longer.

Some Russian footage from 1994 during the run up to retirement.

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[Navaleye]

Not seen one for nearly 20 years.

"Stand to Sea Dart!" :ok:

[keesje]

I (probably incorrectly) had the the impression it was recent. Looked on the internet and couldn't find nothing on retirement dates, still can't. Rationally it would be logical for them to retire them time ago. Still the video is " new" ( this year). rgds

[Heathrow Harry]

I hear it was a bugger to fly but it really did look good IMHO

[sled dog]

I remember seeing and HEARING Libyan Air Force TU22s out of Omar Muktha (sp ? ) base near Tripoli early 80`s. Impressive.

[AR1]

The basis of Backfire if my non googled memory has held up...?

[MAINJAFAD]

Well, the Blinder was the basis for the Backfire in the fact that they used the same bombdoors and missile system, the rest of the airframe was new. The Backfire's Tu22M designation was a con, to get funding out of the party hacks in Moscow.