Russian Long Range Bombers disrupt UK airspace

[SpookyFrank]

Before we go any further with this, which Kent are you referring to?

That big storage facility for commuters and racists out past London.

 

[brogdale]

That big storage facility for commuters and racists out past London.

Ah, OK...yes 'Greater Bromley' or Kent West (of the Medway) is eminently expendable. If you were suggesting that Putin should do anything with proper (East Kent) I'd have taken issue though.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Ah, OK...yes 'Greater Bromley' or Kent West (of the Medway) is eminently expendable. If you were suggesting that Putin should do anything with proper (East Kent) I'd have taken issue though.

I do have a soft spot for Folkestone, and crumbling Victorian seaside towns in general.

 

[Supine]

I'm going to watch the film Red Dawn. I suggest you all do to

(the original, not the remake)

 

[Hollis]

RAF showed no class. Should have sent up the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, good enough to see off that aluminium pinko-Ruskie pile of crap.

 

[likesfish]

The bear may look old but its the fastest production propeller plane ever so ww2 vintage aircraft unfortunately wouldn't catch it.
If you want to be really depressed read the PFI deal for the tanker aircraft

 

[Idris2002]

Anyway, here's some more Avro Arrow.

Spoiler

 

[Idris2002]

And on a serious note, is there any news of how this story is being presented in Russia, if at all? Are the Russian masses being treated to nightly news stories about the restoration of national glory through a very old propellor driven bomber, or not?

 

[2hats]

I'm not sure it features much beyond "look at the hysteria of the UK media"? The Russian MoD news channel cover it (here with a suggestion of perhaps Tu-160's to come) but then you might expect them to.

 

[A380]

Even in the USSRs glory days they could only keep a small percentage of the Bears airworthy. At the May day parades they had the same few airframes flying circles over Moscow.

 

[A380]

31 Squadron and a Tornado not Typhoon, but you have to love the RAF sometimes..

 

[Bakunin]

Even in the USSRs glory days they could only keep a small percentage of the Bears airworthy. At the May day parades they had the same few airframes flying circles over Moscow.

"What-oh, chaps! I hear there are Bears loose in our woods. Overflying dear old Blighty, don't'cha know!'

 

[A380]

"What-oh, chaps! I hear there are Bears loose in our woods. Overflying dear old Blighty, don't'cha know!'

But it was RAF RE-8s that had to be called off bombing Moscow in 1919....

 

[Bakunin]

But it was RAF RE-8s that had to be called off bombing Moscow in 1919....

Ah, the RE8. The work of genius that tended to spin at the drop of a hat and keep spinning until it hit the ground.

Not that the Camel was exactly easy to fly, though.

 

[A380]

Ah, the RE8. The work of genius that tended to spin at the drop of a hat and keep spinning until it hit the ground.

Not that the Camel was exactly easy to fly, though.

WW1 'Spin recovery' was to pull the stick back.......

 

[Bakunin]

WW1 'Spin recovery' was to pull the stick back.......

Yep, put all the controls central and pray.

 

[Crispy]

(here with a suggestion of perhaps Tu-160's to come)

Are they even still airworthy?

 

[pogofish]

Are they even still airworthy?

Didn't they start a renewal/rebuilding programme for Tu-160s in 2007/8 - only a couple of aircraft a year but numbers will have mounted-up a bit by now.

 

[kebabking]

Are they even still airworthy?

they had, iirc, 30-odd original TU-160 airframes, a proportion of which they kept airworthy and which made occasional forays into the Atlantic, and - as pogofish says - they decided to restart production. what the result is is a matter for some debate, but its certain that the Russian government has been pouring oil/gas revenues into the strategic bomber fleet, and its certain that they get seen reasonably regularly by NATO fighters a very long way from home.

 

[A380]

But then the B52 will have been in service for 60 years this year! Not sure if any actual airframes are that old?

 

[coley]

31 Squadron and a Tornado not Typhoon, but you have to love the RAF sometimes..

Just spluttered wine all over the bed, mrs asked what's going on, showed her, now we have to change the sheet, yer sod

 

[2hats]

Are they even still airworthy?

There was a recent push to restore a number of them. They were reported to have overhauled and test flown at least one late last year.

e2a: apparently they are planning to have 5 back in service by the end of this year.

But then the B52 will have been in service for 60 years this year! Not sure if any actual airframes are that old?

Much like the proverbial broom, quite likely they keep replacing them piecewise with parts from Davis–Monthan?

 

[Limejuice]

Ah, OK...yes 'Greater Bromley' or Kent West (of the Medway) is eminently expendable.

We should direct the Russian air force to Sheppey.

It's been pre-destroyed for their convenience.

 

[Limejuice]

Just spluttered wine all over the bed,

Wine in bed?!

That's Horlicks territory.

The cocoa zone.

Decadence.

 

[coley]

Ahh, i read that bit of the thread weeks ago!

Out of interest, who would win in a fight between the uk and Russia? Should we be worried?

Given our cricket results lately! We should be hiding under the bed.

 

[coley]

Wine in bed?!

That's Horlicks territory.

The cocoa zone.

Decadence.

Should have clarified, sanatogen tonic wine

 

[likesfish]

I was being the intelligibility social democrat, actually.

Makes sense.

So cheap christmas jumper rather than something stylish by hugo boss then ?

 

[DownwardDog]

Much like the proverbial broom, quite likely they keep replacing them piecewise with parts from Davis–Monthan?

They recently pulled 61-007/'Ghost Rider' (a 1962 model) out of the boneyard and restored it to active duty.

 

[DotCommunist]

by near enough rebuilding it inside I read. From spare bits of other craft. was interesting to see their are classifications of mothball with the US air fleet though, ranging from 'we haven't got round to weighing this in for scrap yet' to 'perfectly good nick, but the defense business demands we stop flying it and buy new stuff'

 

[DownwardDog]

But then the B52 will have been in service for 60 years this year! Not sure if any actual airframes are that old?

There are about 70 H models left in service, all constructed between 1960 and 1962. As was typical for aircraft of that vintage they are massively over-engineered and will be in service until 2040. There's already been one aircraft that's been flown by pilots from three generations of the same family.