Russian Tupolev TU 160 Strategic Bomber

I would like to know how your opinion is about this aircraft.

Under me some info about it:

Specifications (Tu-160)
General characteristics
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems operator)
Length: 54.1 m (177 ft 6 in)

Wingspan:
Spread (20° sweep): 55.70 m (189 ft 9 in)
Swept (65° sweep): 35.60 m (116 ft 10 in)
Height: 13.10 m (43 ft 0 in)

Wing area:
Spread: 400 m² (4,310 ft²)
Swept: 360 m² (3,875 ft²)
Empty weight: 110,000 kg (242,500 lb)
Loaded weight: 267,600 kg (590,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 275,000 kg (606,000 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Kuznetsov NK-321 turbofans
Dry thrust: 137 kN (30,900 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 245 kN (55,100 lbf) each

See Link for more: Wikipedia

Here some pics:





Discuss

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[edit on 9-6-2007 by UK Wizard]

It's a prety cool looking plane and has a very long range...

Its an interesting aircraft, and was really the first intercon. Bomber the USSR developed. No doubt they recived some data about the B-1A but form and function dictated its shape and wing geometry.

Decent range for a Soviet aircraft and payload. However, reliability, training, and its lack of stealth are all negative factors.

But a cool design none the less.

Its a great bomber, massive payload and if my memory serves me correct a 750mile supersonic dash to boot!

Designed to decap the US.

Thankfully no longer a need for such things.

Tomcat would of had her for lunch anyway.



[edit on 9/6/07 by SteveR]

Before Tu-160, Russsia want to imitate the B-1 project, even there is no B-1 built, so they imitated some models before B-1 US studied to Tu-26. Of course they found they are wrong, the Backfire, its size same as B-1, but because layout are unreasonable, which capability are in feriorer than B-1. Then there was a T-160, A COPY OF LENCER.

I understand it has a variable cycle engine which means they can change gear on the turbine, like low and high pitch on a propellor.

Also very difficult to maintain I understand.