TU160M White Swan flies

[chopper2004]

Strategic missile TU160M ‚White Swan‘ flies

https://twitter.com/uac_russia_eng/status/1481251963434151939?s=21


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/db5092e1_4977_4d15_9642_79006645d7e4_c81a518e95c05fd6d2f637d 51398f9b8edd1d9ec.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/5b925bf0_790b_4a73_bd8d_ff045cc2147f_fc483baab9605a1e774e327 63e7418f242ac919c.jpeg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1920x1080/db776dd7_6f71_4e12_ad7f_683f2ee2642f_4be6142a7003fa4729591e4 7398652367864cc1a.jpeg

[dead_pan]

Only a mere 40 years (give or take a few weeks) since the first one flew. Fair play to them for keeping the plans and manufacturing jigs though.

[Beamr]

30 minutes at an altitude of 600 meters. Any test pilots around to enlighten the reasoning why so low?

[NutLoose]

VFR?

.......

[Less Hair]

They should restart An-124 production instead. What is a non stealthy cold war strategic bomber good for these days?
A B-Oneski.

[chevvron]

Maybe they've run out of 'Bears', and need an extra '160 to patrol the North Sea and provide our Typhoons with some practice.

[Less Hair]

Given their range and cruise speed keeping the Bears might be better. Like the B-52.

[DuncanDoenitz]

I wonder how many western supersonic bombers have conducted a maiden flight from an (apparently) ice-packed runway in falling snow.

[Usertim]

I wonder how many western supersonic bombers have conducted a maiden flight from an (apparently) ice-packed runway in falling snow.

As others have said , it is the maiden flight of this particular air frame ,not the type. The type joined operationally in 1987. Even the Ukrainians had a few m but they sold some back to russia, and scrapped the rest under the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program

[chevvron]

As others have said , it is the maiden flight of this particular air frame ,not the type. The type joined operationally in 1987. Even the Ukrainians had a few m but they sold some back to russia, and scrapped the rest under the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program
Why do the FF in primer; did they need to fly it quickly before it was painted?

[Una Due Tfc]

Maybe they've run out of 'Bears', and need an extra '160 to patrol the North Sea and provide our Typhoons with some practice.

Typhoons couldn't keep up with them.

One of the most magnificent aircraft every launched, unfortunately obsolete by the time they entered service in a tier 1 conflict.

[dagenham]

Is it not one of the old unfinished airframes being upgraded and competed rather than a new build

not really a triggers broom scenario

[superplum]

30 minutes at an altitude of 600 meters. Any test pilots around to enlighten the reasoning why so low?

Lump of "junk" (or Skid) under the nosewheel??? (Pic 2)

[DuncanDoenitz]

As others have said , it is the maiden flight of this particular air frame ,not the type. The type joined operationally in 1987. Even the Ukrainians had a few m but they sold some back to russia, and scrapped the rest under the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program
Perhaps a misuse of "maiden", but by all accounts the first flight of this airframe in conditions where my previous company's King Airs would have been tucked up in a cosy hangar until spring.

Incidentally, ornithologists would refer to the paint scheme as its juvenile plumage.

[The Helpful Stacker]

Typhoons couldn't keep up with them.

I'm sure their Meteors could though...

[Beamr]

Lump of "junk" (or Skid) under the nosewheel??? (Pic 2)
well observed, interesting...
though still a bit puzzled with the low altitude as I'd imagine some altitude would be nice to have on a test flight in case of any kind of MCASinski or similar. I can imagine this skid being a speed restriction.

[sycamore]

Nosewhells have a `spray deflector` fitted....

[Jhieminga]

The spray deflector is part of the nose gear, nothing special there. I suspect that this was mainly a 'confidence boosting' short flight (in VFR conditions) just to confirm that: Yes, it does fly and Yes, we do still have a capability to produce these aircraft. Do not discount a political angle that would prefer to see any flight, even if there was no real operational or technical need yet. I can imagine how Comrade Putin will thump his chest on national television about this.

[Marly Lite]

They should restart An-124 production instead. What is a non stealthy cold war strategic bomber good for these days?
A B-Oneski.
Taking out carriers with cruise missiles?

[Asturias56]

You'll have WEBF on your case with comments like that comrade

[fitliker]

Lump of "junk" (or Skid) under the nosewheel??? (Pic 2)

Kit for gravel ops ? Or to protect the sensitive parts on the new cruise missiles they tested last year ?

[Bengo]

Ride a White Swan, like the people of the Beltane, ride a white swan, let your hair grow long.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Nice looking beast though.

[ORAC]

Smokey engines on the go-round from the flypast, and these are the newer version just delivered.


https://youtu.be/v1RxbkYznic

[langleybaston]

Nice looking beast though.

Totally agree: a beautiful-looking aeroplane.

The sort of phantasy shape that we youngsters used to sketch in our school roughbooks.