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

[Decombobulator]

The Tu-160 is not a copy of the B-1. They were both intended to be long range supersonic bombers with a low RCS. When you have similar mission requirements, you are going to end up with a similar result. That's all. The Russians have never stolen anything from the US. That's just crazy conspiracy theories by crazy paranoid Russophobes who think the Cold war is still going on.

[Servant of the 9]

The Russians have never stolen anything from the US. That's just crazy conspiracy theories by crazy paranoid Russophobes who think the Cold war is still going on.

Riiiight. That is why The Soviets ended up with aircraft that were part for part interchangeable with the DC-3 and the B-29. Or for that matter cars that were part for part interchangeable with a Packard. Or an early PC that had an Apple copyright notice burned into its ROM, and had to use graphics to display cyrilic characters, because the ROM contained the western alphabet. Not to mention mainframes that were plug compatable with IBM.

The Tu-160 may not be a copy, but that is only because they couldn't get the plans in time. Their economic system may have changed, but not their willingness to steal.

I really hope you simply forgot the </sarcasm at the end of your post

SO9

[MalcolmS]

>>>Ah yes, how can we forget the shuttle clone. It was cancelled after one unmanned test flight. Something tells me that it was not so successful as the Russians let on. <<<

Who is smarter?

a) The group that tests a shuttle once, figures out that it is not worth it, and goes back to capsules.

b) The group that uses shuttles for years despite all evidence that they are more expensive, less capable (due to high tare weight) and more dangerous and deadly than capsules, then finally timidly floats the idea that perhaps they should go back to capsules.

Just wondering.

A second bonus question. As of right now, which group more closely embodies the modus operandi of the vast bureaucracy of Soviet Central Planning.

A) NASA

B) Russian Space Program (Hint, this is the program that makes extra cash in the tourist industry)

[ffusco]

Thanks for the big laugh this morning. Sadly, you actually believe what your saying. More Russian bluster, revisionism and doublethink.