Tu-160 "White Swan" #2

One from above the snow!

JohninMK wrote:

Lennox wrote:
Still, a bit anticlimactic though, partly because I have always wanted to see its new cockpit, and it's still no where to be seen.

Your wish...........................

KAZAN, RUSSIA - JANUARY 30, 2019: A view of the cockpit of a Tupolev Tu-160M2 heavy strategic bomber produced at Gorbunov Aviation Plant, a Tupolev branch in Kazan. Vadim Savitsky/Press Office of the Russian Defence Ministry/TASS (Photo by Vadim Savitsky\TASS via Getty Images)

Awesome... I remember seeing on a show that in order to get to the cockpit the seats move down and back quite a ways. You enter the seats and move them a couple feet up and forwards into the cockpit. It's like you are being fitted to it. It was so awesome to see. Imagine doing this with the new cockpit, especially if you flew the older birds for awhile.

Edit: it is a fisheye lens in order to get a panoramic view but you can kind of get an idea of how the seats are lowered and moved backward. So that pilots can get into the ejection seats.

I don't think that is the new Tu-160 cockpit.
The thrust levers are missing, and there is another yoke next to the seat that makes me think its a helicopter?

...it is a helicopter cockpit not a Tu-160M2...new Mi-xxx

JohninMK wrote:

Lennox wrote:
Still, a bit anticlimactic though, partly because I have always wanted to see its new cockpit, and it's still no where to be seen.

Your wish...........................

KAZAN, RUSSIA - JANUARY 30, 2019: A view of the cockpit of a Tupolev Tu-160M2 heavy strategic bomber produced at Gorbunov Aviation Plant, a Tupolev branch in Kazan. Vadim Savitsky/Press Office of the Russian Defence Ministry/TASS (Photo by Vadim Savitsky\TASS via Getty Images)

Yes.
Look just above the central control yoke/joystick.
There is a helicopter on the direction indicator.
Plus, the side yoke/joystick gives it away.

I'd say it's a Ka-52 cockpit, or the engineers decided to replace the engine throttle levers with a collective...

From the photos of the new plane.
I noticed 1 external difference at the rearmost end of the plane.
On the new plane there is streamlined radome covering everything (probably some electronics). on the old planes it is the exhaust of the APU.

Amazing achievement. I don't think any nation has ever restarted production of such a massive and sophisticated plane after such a long time. This one will be very different in many ways then the original, as there is so much they knew they wanted to change after so much time in operation. I think when they hit about 30 units or so, they will probably decide to retire the old ones and order more of  the new ones or just stick with 50 as the fleet. 50 TU-160s is a HECK or a capability..esp with Tu-22 M3M +PakDA on the way. Maybe they will sell the TU-160 to Iran just to annoy the US since that is about to become the goal of Russia after the way the talks went. To deliver this project in the timeframe is mind blowing.

Oops of course I knew that. Shouldve noticed the collective, as well as the distinctive look of the ka52 interior. Carry on..

Edit: sorry guys!

This plane was from the rock'n'roll (the best thing made in the US) era and not some new trash...
And the most popular rock band in my country is AC/DC..
I hope this picture hasn't been posted here before.

Coffin Corner wrote:I'd say it's a Ka-52 cockpit, or the engineers decided to replace the engine throttle levers with a collective...

This is a Ka-52 cockpit


The pic is the cockpit of the Mi-38


Proposed Tu-160M(2) cockpit

Gotta love the Russians.

Ivan - Time for first test flight of new expensive big plane!
Western observers ~ But there is several cm of snow on the runway shouldn't you ship it to a nice dry desert for the first flights? affraid
Ivan - Nyet tovarich, we fly! unshaven

Do we know if its got any rework with composites?

If it doesn't work in the snow it is not much good to them....

80% of the systems and bits upgraded and 40% of workshop equipment updated or modernised.... suggests increased use of composites, but certainly not all composite...

(from article in post 44 above)

As for composites, the original version already had some I think, but Im not sure if they decided to slap more on this beauty. Maybe someone with more info can share.

The original did have composites, but I suspect they are a bit more skillfull now with that sort of thing.

Your wish...........................

It is the thought that counts... thanks anyway....

Cold War fans of Russian and Soviet equipment are used to disappointments sometimes... not a big deal.

wilhelm wrote:Yes.
Look just above the central control yoke/joystick.
There is a helicopter on the direction indicator.
Plus, the side yoke/joystick gives it away.

Well spotted!

Yes in the new construction there is certainly a greater proportion of composite materials.  Funny comments from Western experts that the Tu 160M aerodynamic system is outdated because it is over 40 years old.  Interesting because the B 2 flying wing system is also similar in age and even much older.  The American B 21 is a slightly reduced B2.  Nothing new either.  Russia used the flying wing aerodynamic system of the in the Ochotnik drone and in the future in PAK DA.Tu 160M is just a different strategic bomber concept.

Arrow wrote:Yes in the new construction there is certainly a greater proportion of composite materials.  Funny comments from Western experts that the Tu 160M aerodynamic system is outdated because it is over 40 years old.  Interesting because the B 2 flying wing system is also similar in age and even much older.  The American B 21 is a slightly reduced B2.  Nothing new either.  Russia used the flying wing aerodynamic system of the  in the Ochotnik drone and in the future in PAK DA.Tu 160M is just a different strategic bomber concept.

Did some actually say that? Ffs the tu-160 is perfectly optimized for supersonic flight. One of the few remaining areas where VG wings are very useful. It is the perfect standoff cruise missile platform. After it launches its payload nothing could touch it saving something pretty exotic.

Arrow wrote:Yes in the new construction there is certainly a greater proportion of composite materials.  Funny comments from Western experts that the Tu 160M aerodynamic system is outdated because it is over 40 years old.  Interesting because the B 2 flying wing system is also similar in age and even much older.  The American B 21 is a slightly reduced B2.  Nothing new either.  Russia used the flying wing aerodynamic system of the  in the Ochotnik drone and in the future in PAK DA.Tu 160M is just a different strategic bomber concept.

Didn't know the laws of physics and aerodynamics gets updated and patched every so often to force an extensive need to redesign aircrafts, seemingly this issue only applies to Russia.

JohninMK wrote:

TMA1 wrote: It is the perfect standoff cruise missile platform. After it launches its payload nothing could touch it saving something pretty exotic.

Would the plan be to take Mig-31BM along for protection?

Part of the way I think, but the tu-160m's EW suite is supposed to be extremely powerful and its ability to dash at mach 2 for longer than a fighter will also keep it safe. Now the viable range estimates for the tu-160m include supersonic dash for a small but pretty good span. Also these cruise missiles carried allow for launch very many hundreds of kilometers away, creating pretty safe standoff distances.

The MiG-31 has another decade (next decade) ahead of it in the service of VVS and this one will become widespread in Russian air force in the next decade.
the Tu-160 will outlive the MiG-31 and PAK-DP will come.

The MiG 31 turned from a specialized aircraft intercepting low-altitude bombers and cruise missiles to a multi-role fighter. Now it is an airplane that can fight other fighters in BVR with new missiles. Also for ground strikes and destroying ships with Kinzhal. For this carrier of ASAT missiles

Hole wrote:

Coffin Corner wrote:I'd say it's a Ka-52 cockpit, or the engineers decided to replace the engine throttle levers with a collective...

This is a Ka-52 cockpit


The pic is the cockpit of the Mi-38


Proposed Tu-160M(2) cockpit

Yes, thank you for the addition. I was hoping it might be the cockpit of an upgraded Ka-52M, but why would there be two CDUs...

amazing video on this topic that I found today

Rasisuki Nebia wrote:
Didn't know the laws of physics and aerodynamics gets updated and patched every so often to force an extensive need to redesign aircrafts, seemingly this issue only applies to Russia.

Aerodynamic technology is always advancing. Look how different wings on the latest gen of airliners are. Also as materials improve you have more options. Look at how thin the wings on the MC-21 are. That is not possible with aluminum. Even the aerodynamics within a gas turbine have improved significantly due to more advanced blade profiles and of course, better materials and cooling.