Tu 160 Blackjack – Home Losses and Aviation Safety Blackjack Down: Tragic Crash of Russian Air Force’s First Operational Tu-160 Strategic Bomber
As the Tu-160 Blackjack descended from 2,100 ft [6,890 ft] to 1,200 m [3,940 ft], the airframe began to disintegrate from the sheer force applied to it.
Tu 160 Blackjack
Developed as an answer to the American B-1, the Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO code: Blackjack) was the Soviet Union’s most powerful strategic bomber. Several versions of the project were rejected, and before the Tu-160 variable-geometry bomber reached the hardware stage, a hotly contested competition took place involving some of the Soviet Union’s top-class aircraft design firms. The design used many advanced features not previously used in Soviet bombers.
Amazon.com: Academy 12621 Russian Air Force Tu 160 Blackjack Plamodel Plastic Hobby Model Airplane Kit Toy (paint Not Included)
As noted in their book Tupolev Tu-160, Soviet Strike Force Spearhead by Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov, the second production Tu-160 was lost during the manufacturer’s flight tests in March 1987, with the Tupolev OKB test team ejecting safely. Additionally, blackjack has been crash free for over two decades. However, on September 18, 2003, disaster struck. That day, the 121st GvTBAP Tu-160 codenamed “Red 01” and named Mikhail Gromov (c/n 82007617, f/n 7-01) – the first of the type newly delivered to the Russian Air Force – from English took off 2 AB at 1030 hours Moscow time, moving southeast to Krasnyy Koot (`Red Corner’, Saratov Region). It was conducting a routine check flight after an engine change (the No. 4 engine was replaced after a chip detector warning light came on during the previous flight of September 11); There were no weapons on board. The flight was led by a 40-year-old Guards lieutenant colonel. Yuriy M. Deyneko, the unit’s deputy CO (head of flight training). The crew is co-piloted by Defense Major Oleg N. Fedusenko, Naval Guard Major Grigory A. Kolchin (chief sailor of the unit) and WSO Guard Major Sergey M. Sukorukov are also included.
Everything was normal until it was time to complete the objective and go back to base. 37 minutes after takeoff, as the Tu-160 approached Engels from the southeast, an emergency developed at breakneck speed. According to the Air Accidents Investigation Board’s preliminary report: “As the aircraft descended from 2,100 ft [6,890] to 1,200 m [3,940 ft], the airframe began to disintegrate, presumably with continuous fire alarms on three engines [ A Still] indefinite strong force applied to it; Hydraulic and electrical systems also failed. The emergency occurred unexpectedly, without prior warning, and developed as an avalanche process in an extremely short time (12 seconds).
The aircraft behaved abnormally and tended to enter a dive. Time of operation 37 minutes 14 seconds The sound warning system indicated a failure of the no. 1 and 2 hydraulic system indicated, all four engines up and a fire in both port engines. (According to some reports, the fire alarm for No. 2 engine came at 1107:19 hours; followed by a similar alarm for No. 1 at 1107:25 hours.)
Deineco acted professionally and at a high level in this dangerous situation. The bomber it hit took about 5 billion cubic meters from the city of Stepnoi (about 45/29 miles from Engels-2 AB when the Crab flew) and the nearby underground gas reservoir – the largest in Europe. (176, 573, 500, 000 cu it) Liquefied natural gas. The crew extinguished the fire and attempted to control the aircraft. The captain notified the English tower of the emergency at 37 minutes 24 seconds into the mission. When it became clear that the bomber was out of control and the altitude was rapidly decreasing, he ordered an ejection, and the co-pilot began the forced evacuation at 576 m (1,889 ft). rear seat 520 m (1,706 ft) and vertical speed 104 m/sec (341 ft/sec); Pilots followed at 280 m (918 ft) and 154 m/sec (505 ft/sec). However, a second later the plane exploded in mid-air and the crew was caught in the blast which burned their parachutes and left them with no chance of survival. The Tu-160 crashed 7 km (4.35 mi) from the town of Sovetskoye, 41 km (25.46 mi) from the base with a bank of 70°; It was completely destroyed by the second explosion.
Russian Defense Minister’s Call To Resume Tu 160 Production
After this, the rest of the Russian Air Force’s Tu-160 fleet would be immediately investigated. Not surprisingly, the military remained tight-lipped about any information about the classified accident; The aforementioned preliminary report was not released until two months later, only because the collapse caused public uproar and the general public wanted an explanation. Meanwhile, due to the lack of official information, all kinds of rumors and sensational theories began to circulate, and not just the yellow papers; At a press conference on September 29, Dmitri F. Ayatskov went so far as to suggest that the plane was blown out of the air by a bomb planted by saboteurs. ! The cause of the accident was eventually traced to a fault in the fuel tank ventilation system. Due to the absence of air from the combustion of the fuel, a partial vacuum in the no. 1 and 2 wing tanks developed, which eventually caused the tanks to explode and fail. Part of the wing skin and air intake assemblies were torn off, causing loss of control and engine spin; The escaping fuel came into contact with the engines, causing a large fire and eventual explosion. This scenario was reproduced on a defunct Tu-160 prototype aircraft at Zhukovskiy as part of the test: the ventilation ducts were emptied and the end result was an explosion and structural failure.
The ground order was partially lifted and Tu-160 operations (with some restrictions) resumed on 5 November 2003. On January 16, 2004, the restrictions were finally lifted after fuel system changes were made and operations resumed. On 22 November 2003, Guards Lt. Col. Yuriy M. Deyneko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia (the modern equivalent of the HSU title) by presidential decree. The Order posthumously awarded the Order of Courage to Guard Major Oleg N. Fedusenko, Guard Major Grigory A. Kolchin and Guard Major Sergey M. Sukorukov.
Dario Leone Dario Leone is an aerospace, defense and military writer. He is the founder and editor of “The Aviation Geek Club”, one of the most read military aviation blogs in the world. His writing appeared in the National Interest and other news outlets. He reported from Europe and flew Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.
Military Aviation Two Tu-160s put on a flying display for US observers to get their first close look at the Blackjack. But both planes had 1 engine failure, forcing them to fly with 3 engines. June 11, 2022By Dario Leone Sponsored by: Schiffer Military Cold War Era / Military Aviation Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber sets 78 world record in Soviet Times. AviationTUPOLEV receives requests to convert Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers into private business JETSNov 15 2017By Dario Leone
Tu 160 Blackjack Strategic Bomber Tupolev Rigged 3d Model $99
Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
This website uses technical and profile cookies. Clicking “Accept” approves all profile cookies. Clicking “Reject” or the X will reject all profile cookies. By clicking on “Customise”, you can choose which profile cookies to activate. We and our selected advertising partners may store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking “Manage consent” at the bottom of the page.
Google AdSense is an advertising service provided by Google Ireland Limited. The “Doubleclick” cookie is used to monitor the user’s behavior regarding the use of this application and the advertisements, products and services offered.
Google Analytics (GA4) is a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”). Google uses the collected personal data to monitor and test the use of this application, to compile reports on its activity and to share it with other services developed by Google. Google may use your personal data to contextualize and personalize advertisements within its advertising network. This Google Analytics integration anonymizes your IP address. Anonymization works by shortening the IP address of users within the borders of EU member states or other countries that are members of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the IP address sent to Google’s servers and shortened in the United States. Personal data collected: Tracker; Usage Data. Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy – Withdrawn.
Russia Is Bringing Back Blackjack, The Last Soviet Bomber
The Facebook Like button and social widgets are used to communicate with the Facebook social network