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Old 10th Jun 2008, 17:22
  #2108 (permalink)  
India Four Two
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Manchester MAN
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Yes, it is a Tu-22M3 Backfire C. Well done, 8028410q

2+2 seating with ejection seats, like the A-6 and swing-wing like the F-111 and Tomcat. However, there the similarities end. It's BIG (but I hasten to point out, the B-1 Lancer is bigger). About the size of a 737NG, with a significantly higher gross weight but can do Mach 2.3!

I have to admit that I didn't know much about Russian bombers until I stumbled onto this photo. I certainly had no idea that the Tu-22 Blinder was a completely different aircraft.

More information here on the Backfire and other Russian aircraft:

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Sov-A...2M3_Backfire_C

As RETDPI said, it is Admiral Lawson, USN, sitting in the cockpit. It's easy to think Grumman when you see a US naval uniform. The original caption for this photo reads:
Admiral Charles R. Larson, Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, sits in the cockpit of a Soviet Tu-22M Backfire aircraft during a visit to a Soviet air base during the latter [sic] Cold War period
Over to you, 8028410q

Last edited by India Four Two; 10th Jun 2008 at 18:29.
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