TU160M White Swan flies

[chopper2004]

Strategic missile TU160M ‚White Swan‘ flies

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[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]

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.

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]

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

Why do the FF in primer; did they need to fly it quickly before it was painted?

[Una Due Tfc]

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.

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]

Originally Posted by Beamr

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]

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

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]

Originally Posted by Una Due Tfc

Typhoons couldn't keep up with them.

I'm sure their Meteors could though...

[Beamr]

Originally Posted by superplum

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]

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.

Taking out carriers with cruise missiles?

[Asturias56]

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