Putin Proposes Civilian Version of Russia's Tu-160 Supersonic Strategic Bomber

[AreOut]

Speaking to officials at the Gorbunov Aviation Factory in Kazan, southwest Russia on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin pondered whether a passenger variant of the Tu-160, the supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber known as the White Swan, might be a viable idea.

Recalling the history of the Tu-144, the USSR's answer to the British-French Concorde supersonic passenger airliner, Putin noted that that Soviet airliner "was taken out of production because airline tickets must take into consideration average salaries in the country."

Today, "the situation is different," the president said. "Big companies have appeared which could have used this aircraft."

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201801251061075522-putin-proposes-civilian-tu160/

[Kerosene Kraut]

So do they want to restart the Tu-160 line?

[DaveReidUK]

Gosh, anyone would think that there's a Russian presidential election next month ...

[J.O.]

Maybe someone needs a faster getaway car. :}

[TURIN]

So do they want to restart the Tu-160 line?

It was reopened a while ago. A new one had its first flight last month.

[OldLurker]

... Putin noted that that Soviet airliner "was taken out of production because airline tickets must take into consideration average salaries in the country."Hmmm. ISTR that the Tu-144 was taken out of production because it was no good – unreliable and uncomfortable – and the very conspicuous crash at the Paris air show didn't help.

[Hotel Tango]

So just how many pax do they propose to fit into this Tu-160, and at what seat cost per kilometer? Will they be equipped with bomb doors?

[Sunamer]

It was reopened a while ago. A new one had its first flight last month.

Are you sure, it wasnt just a plane that was decomissioned before? Tu160 engine tech was lost forever, so there is no way new 160s will be flying with the original engines. There are several engines left in storage (like 3-4 , dont remember) but that is it.

[DaveReidUK]

It's a previously uncompleted aircraft laid down in the 1990s.