Size difference (Bear v Typhoon)
Discussion
Pupp said:
Bears
I'm assuming the camera angles are deceptive and the Bears are not really *that* big? Impressive beasties nonetheless...
Have you seen the episode of "Father Ted" where "near and far" is explained? I'm assuming the camera angles are deceptive and the Bears are not really *that* big? Impressive beasties nonetheless...
By modern standards, the Bear is not that big an aeroplane. The original design dates back to the early 1950s and can be traced right back to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
trashbat said:
Isn't it the only plane that can be heard from submarines or something? There must be qualifiers to that, but either way it's loud.
I recall reading somewhere that a maritime patrol tu-95 could be detected and tracked by a submerged boat.And pretty much all pilots are slightly deaf after a few years.
That might just be one of those stories though...
Mr E said:
I recall reading somewhere that a maritime patrol tu-95 could be detected and tracked by a submerged boat.
And pretty much all pilots are slightly deaf after a few years.
That might just be one of those stories though...
I looked it up and the claim was it could be tracked by US SONAS, the sonar detection system designed to listen for submarines.And pretty much all pilots are slightly deaf after a few years.
That might just be one of those stories though...
yellowjack said:
Ironic image of TU-95 being escorted into Britain in 1994...
RIAT Fairford
I remember it well, and from one who was there, they are bloody loud !!!!RIAT Fairford
Amazing to think that back then, the Tu-95 was considered old and yet here we are 20 years on from that shot and we're still getting buzzed by the awesome Bear, it's outlasted almost everything except the mighty B-52.
Bear intercpets through almost 5 decades..... from Lightning through Phantom, Tornado & Typhoon.
kowalski655 said:
Im sure i read somewhere ages ago that an F4 pilot escorting the Bear said HE could hear the noise from it in his plane !!And Phantoms aren't exactly quiet
Disclaimer: I may be totally wrong in my recollection.
Ex F4 & F3 pilot at work with many QRA launches under his belt says you're right. He's got some great war stories about live intercepts in the '80s. Trying to identify the aircraft number from the gear doors at night without alerting the Bear/Bison crew by formating underneath 50' away with the backseater using a torch! This wasn't working one night, so the F4 crew decided that selecting reheat to light-up the scene might be a good idea...Disclaimer: I may be totally wrong in my recollection.
fatboy69 said:
Eric Mc said:
The Bear arrives at Fairford, 1993 - as covered by the BBC's programme on the 1993 International Air Tattoo.
Nice to hear the voice of Raymond Baxter.
Link if possible please as would live to watch that.Nice to hear the voice of Raymond Baxter.
aeropilot said:
it's outlasted almost everything except the mighty B-52
There's a reason for that - they are hopelessly outclassed in virtually every arena but since the Russians don't have the cash to develop a replacement, it has (by default) lasted the distance.Occasionally they manage to get one of the Blackjacks fired up, they can come into the airspace and leave without being intercepted as they are so damn fast - the Typhoon can keep up but the F3 never could.
The USAF has tried replacing the B-52 three times -
the B-70
the B-1
the B-2
In all cases the replacements have been either cancelled in full (the B-70) or built in far too small numbers to be able to replace the B-52 adequately.
At the peak of B-52 operations in the mid to late 1960s there were around 800 B-52s in service. There are now around 80 - with a similar number of B-1Bs and under 20 B-2s.
the B-70
the B-1
the B-2
In all cases the replacements have been either cancelled in full (the B-70) or built in far too small numbers to be able to replace the B-52 adequately.
At the peak of B-52 operations in the mid to late 1960s there were around 800 B-52s in service. There are now around 80 - with a similar number of B-1Bs and under 20 B-2s.
Eric Mc said:
The USAF has tried replacing the B-52 three times -
the B-70
the B-1
the B-2
In all cases the replacements have been either cancelled in full (the B-70) or built in far too small numbers to be able to replace the B-52 adequately.
At the peak of B-52 operations in the mid to late 1960s there were around 800 B-52s in service. There are now around 80 - with a similar number of B-1Bs and under 20 B-2s.
Plus the requirements change. the B-70
the B-1
the B-2
In all cases the replacements have been either cancelled in full (the B-70) or built in far too small numbers to be able to replace the B-52 adequately.
At the peak of B-52 operations in the mid to late 1960s there were around 800 B-52s in service. There are now around 80 - with a similar number of B-1Bs and under 20 B-2s.
The B52 still exists because America isn't having to bomb Moscow or penetrate sophisticated air defence networks and interceptors. If you're just bombing jihadists in caves or launching cruise missiles then the B52 is perfect. It can fly long distances and then loiter and still drop large bomb loads for much less money per hour than any other aircraft the USAF has.
I expect that's why the Bear still operates in the North Sea, it's all that's needed and it's much cheaper than anything else.
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