Ragnar wrote:

"Tony Volk" wrote in message
...
The Tu-160 is perfectly capable of taking off with one engine, it has
much more excess thrust than the B-1. In fact, there's a true story of a
U.S. official (can't remember who, but some big-whig) coming to watch a
Tu-160 take off (shortly after Iron Curtain fell). The crew couldn't
start
one of their engines, so they just took off without it on and still gave
an
impressive performance. So it must have been something more than just a
simple engine failure (e.g., control failure, catastrophic engine failure,
etc.).

So you really think that a plane that weighs 275000kg at full load can take
off perfectly well with one engine that produces 25000kg of thrust? So why
build it with four engines?

You might want to re-think your position, since its obviously flawed.

Condensed from 'Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack - Russia's Answer to the B-1' by Yefim
Gordon. Volume 9 in the 'Red Star' series...........................

On 12 August 1988 Frank C. Carlucci, then US Secretary of State, visited
Kubinka, near Moscow.

A flying display was staged - including 2 Tu-160's.

When it came for takeoff, a single engine on each of the bombers would not
start.

To save embarassment, the VVS top command authorised a go-ahead for the flights
- so the two bombers took off on THREE engines.

The flights went well - thanks to some excellent airmanship - the fact that only
3 of the four engines were emitting smoke did not escape the US delegation - so
they asked why.

The Russian Long-Range Aviation Commander, Col. Gen. Pyotr S Deynekin answered -
with a straight face - that the Tu-160's engines had several operating modes,
not all of which were characterised by a smoke trail.

Later, when being shown around the flight deck, Carlucci banged his head on a
circuit-breaker panel.

That panel is still know to Long-Range Aviation crews as 'Carluccis' Panel'.

So, while not normal, a Tu-160 certainly can takeoff on only 3 engines -
although obviously, not at max weight.

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Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
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