Comfortable cockpit helps Russian Tu-160 pilots fly 18,000 km nonstop

Tu-160 bombers are equipped with rest areas with kitchens and toilets, helping pilots feel comfortable during long patrol flights.

Two Tu-160s on patrol. Photo: Ainonline.

On September 10, 2008, Russian Tu-160 bombers flew 10,000 km from Russia to Venezuela to participate in exercises. Just two years later, a formation of two Tu-160s made a journey of 18,000 km in more than 24 hours around the Russian border, according to Sputnik.

To do this, experts from the Tupolev Design Institute have equipped the Tu-160 with many amenities. The cockpit of the aircraft is quite spacious, enough for a crew of 4 to take turns resting during the journey. The aircraft has a kitchen with water and food heating equipment, and a separate food tray. The toilet is located separately at the end of the cockpit, ensuring the living needs of the pilots.

The Tu-160 (NATO reporting name: Blackjack) supersonic bomber was designed by the Tupolev Institute (OKB-156) and built at the Kazan-Gorbunov plant between 1980 and 1992. The Tu-160 is nicknamed "White Swan" due to its anti-radiation paint and its rare maneuverability for a bomber.

A total of 35 Tu-160s were produced, 16 of which are in service with the Russian Air Force, the rest were destroyed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Moscow restarted the production line of the Tu-160 and the modernized version Tu-160M2 before completing the PAK-DA stealth bomber family.

The Tu-160's mission is to deliver nuclear and conventional weapons over long distances. It can operate in all weather conditions, day and night, and in any region of the world. The Tu-160 has a maximum speed of 2,220 km/h, an unrefueled range of 12,300 km, and a combat radius of 7,300 km.

The Tu-160's main weapons are two rotary launchers, which can carry up to 40 tons of weapons, including 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles with a range of 1,500-2,500 km or Kh-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 300 km.

According to VNE