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Video: Russian Tu-95 bomber exploding after left wing erupts in a ball of flame during take off
As we reported last year, the Russian Ministry of Defense suspended all the Russian Air Force Tu-95 Bear flights after a strategic bomber suffered an incident in Russia’s Far East on Jun. 8, 2015: the +60-year old Russian four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform skidded off the runway and exploded after the left wing caught fire during the take off run at Ukrainka airfield. (theaviationist.com) Más...
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Uncontained engine failure? The wing fuel tanks were compromised almost immediately and there was nothing that could be done to save the crew. It is always a tragedy to see an iconic old bird destroyed and an even greater tragedy to have its crew perish while doing their duty - God rest the souls of those men and women in uniform.
Only two of the five crewmembers perished, according to the article.
It looked like there may have been a fuel leak around the left wing strobe and or faulty wiring to the unit. The explosion happened just as the left strobe fired in its sequence. I doubt that we will ever officially know what happened. RIP to those involved.
Maintenance? (lack of). Age? These remarkable a/c been around for as long as the B-52, through many iterations and with engine updates. The loss of crew is sad.
That is an interesting old aircraft, how odd. A manufacturer that has gotten counter rotating props in military use or anywhere? The only other place is at the Reno Air Races. Very complicated transmissions.
Counter rotating props on a 12,000HP turbine engine, times 4.
