Russian supersonic bomber crashes (Tu-160 Blackjack)

Associated Press ^ | 09-18-03

[Brian S]

Four crew members are missing after a supersonic bomber crashed during a test flight in central Russia.

Officials said the 1,250 mph Tu-160 Blackjack, designed to deliver nuclear and conventional weapons deep into enemy territory, crashed in the Saratov region, about 450 miles south-east of Moscow.

No weapons were on board, said officials who blamed the the crash on engine problems. The plane was being tested following the replacement of one of its engines.

"Just before the crash at 0730 BST, the crew informed ground control of an engine fire," an official said. "After that, contact with the pilots was cut off and the bomber crashed to the ground at approximately 0800 BST."

© Associated Press

[Leroy S. Mort]

B-1 clone.

[Hodar]

Obligatory picture

[Truth666]

4 hours later black boxes recovered ...
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=3461343&startrow=1&date=2003-09-18&do_alert=0

[Brian S]

Thanks...I knew someone had a pic.

[shadowman99]

Wow, no kidding. That could be a Lancer.

[linear]

Interesting that they put the refueling probe in the nose. I wonder where the radar went? No offense to any B-1 drivers, but cloning the B-1 is about as smart as cloning the Edsel.

[krb]

Is the B-1 supersonic?

[krb]

The B-1 is a great bird. I have an engineer buddy who worked on it in the 70's and after he explained the origin of the need for the plane, starting with the B-29 at the end of WWII through the whole battle strategy for a nuclear conflagration with the former USSR, it made a whole lot of sense and I am glad they stayed the course with the B-1B...

[FreedomPoster]

They did a lot of the heavy lifting for air support in Afghanistan and Iraq. You can carry a lot of precision guided bombs in one.

[50sDad]

This is why we won the cold war. Private Enterprise beats the (crushed remnants) of a Command Economy.

[Truth666]

The four crew are equipped with zero/zero ejection seats, which provide the crew with the option of ejecting safely throughout the entire range of altitudes and air speeds, including when the aircraft is parked.
Question #1 : - why all dead ?

[Leroy S. Mort]

Is the B-1 supersonic?

Yep. Mach 1.2 at sealevel.

[Servant of the 9]

Is the B-1 supersonic?

The original B-1 was a high altitude supersonic bomber. That's what this is a copy of.

The B-1b we actually built, is a Hi/Lo altitude subsonic bomber.

So9

[linear]

I know they have a superior payload capacity - no doubt about it. But their EW systems never seemed to work as advertised, the engines lack meaningful anti-ice capability, and (although they may now have GPS approach capability)they had no ILS equipment, only localizer.

I admit they are sweet looking birds. I just wish they'd been able to take more of the load off the B-52.

[CholeraJoe]

The B-1 had a critical weakness that has since been corrected. (or so I was told) Both hydraulic systems ran through the small space around the engine farings. An unfortunate bird strike or AAA hit can take out both systems and make the plane unflyable.

I believe it was 1987 when a B-1 from Dyess hit a pelican in this very manner. 3 crewmembers ejected safely but three others perished. Happened in Colorado.

[linear]

Zero/zero still wouldn't help you if your rate of descent was high and you were close to the ground. Assuming they attempted ejection at all. There is always that nasty fireball to avoid as well.

[JETDRVR]

Three rules of aviation:
#1 If you have a fire onboard ......LAND
#2 If you encounter an onboard fire in flight........LAND
#3 Should the crew encounter the iluumination of one or both engine fire lights ..............LAND

[USNBandit]

A $200 million dollar bomber that couldn't really do much until the USAF dumped another $100 million per plane into it. It is a great plane, unless you like high, vice low, FMC rates.

[USNBandit]

Land? Screw that, EJECT!