Posted on 07/19/2010 10:36:08 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A Defense Ministry spokesman said Saturday that two Tu-95 MS long-range strategic bombers successfully test-fired cruise missiles during a 12-hour flight. During the tactical exercise on Friday, the missiles "accurately hit all the targets at the Pemboi testing site in the (Russian) republic of Komi," said Vladimir Drik as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
A MiG-31 interceptor jet and a Beriev A-50 Shmel airborne early warning aircraft also participated in the exercise, he said.
The two bombers landed at the Ukrainka airfield in Russia's fareastern Amur region.
The Tu-95 strategic bomber, which made its debut in 1952, is a four-engine turboprop aircraft equipped with radar-controlled guns and missiles. The fastest propeller-driven airplane in history, the bomber is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040.
Wow that’s an old pic, I have that book somewhere. From the mid 80’s, awesome.
90 years, gonna be some tired airframes.
Actually it is from the book “Advanced Technology Warfare” which came out in 1985
Yep, that’s the one I have.
The B-52 is supposed to last until 2040 also.
“The fastest propeller-driven airplane in history, the [Tu-95] bomber...”
I dunno if the story is true or not, but I’ve always heard that long-term hearing loss is fairly common among Bear pilots and crew due to the constant high levels of noise put out by the plane’s massive turboprop engines.
Either way, it’s a remarkable airplane. Interesting that it has outlasted both its jet powered contemporary - the Tu-16 Badger - and even later designs like the Tu-22 Blinder.
I don't know about that, but I know a guy at a nearby store who is almost deaf, and he says it's because he was in Air Force [doing some specific work] for a bit too long. Loud noises from engines that are as powered as we can make them, and there is only so much protection that is even possible, short of a spacesuit.
Ping
The TU-95 remains the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in history (a bigger, heavier, passenger version Tu-114 with de-rated engines, holds the FAI certified world speed record at 541.23 mph average speed on a 1000 km closed circuit carrying a load equivalent to only 200kg short of the weight of three Douglas DC-3’s.
Oh yeah you get up close to a jet engine running and the sound will go right thru your head & body whether you have ear phones on or not.
The reason the Tu-95 stayed around so long for the Russkies was its range/payload, nothing else IMO.
The Tu-95MS series aircraft were all manufactured in the 1980s
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