The TU-95 "Bear" is still flying!!

[hinote]

Here's a link to a nearly historic photo:

http://www.air-attack.com/images/single ... -2007.html

--the Tupolev TU-95 (NATO codename "Bear") in this photo was developed by the Russians in the 1950's as a nuclear delivery weapon, but was largely used in recon and harassing flights instead. It remains the fastest (as far as I know) turboprop-engined aircraft ever to go into mass production, and was competitive with the B-52 in its time.

Its huge Kuznyetsov NK-12M turboprop engines developed 15,000 shp each--and may still be the most powerful turboprops in the world. They spun massive 6.0m counterrotating props at a constant 750 rpm.

The photo was taken in November 2007; it's an amazing show of 20th and 21st century military technology flying in formation.

[Viv]

Allegedly they are so noisy that nuclear submarines on patrol can hear them while they are still submerged

Viv

[milisavljevic]

Allegedly they are so noisy that nuclear submarines on patrol can hear them while they are still submerged.

As someone who was actively involved in operating both nuclear submarines and P-3C antisubmarine aircraft,
I can vouch for this! Unfortunately, the same could be said for the P-3C (and therefore the C-130, and the...).

The former USSR had no monopoly on low frequency noise!

Cheers!
M.