TU160M White Swan flies
Join Date: May 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DuncanDoenitz
I wonder how many western supersonic bombers have conducted a maiden flight from an (apparently) ice-packed runway in falling snow.
Originally Posted by Usertim
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
Originally Posted by 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.
One of the most magnificent aircraft every launched, unfortunately obsolete by the time they entered service in a tier 1 conflict.
Originally Posted by Beamr
30 minutes at an altitude of 600 meters. Any test pilots around to enlighten the reasoning why so low?
Originally Posted by Usertim
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
Incidentally, ornithologists would refer to the paint scheme as its juvenile plumage.
Originally Posted by superplum
Lump of "junk" (or Skid) under the nosewheel??? (Pic 2)
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.
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.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Oop North
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 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.
A B-Oneski.
