Soviet Air Forces - WIP

[James1978]

Soviet Air Forces

Soviet Naval Aviation

Long Range Aviation

VTA

Air Defence Forces

Frontal Aviation

Forward Deployed - Warsaw Pact

Forward Deployed - Rest of World

[James1978]

Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota
Soviet Naval Aviation (AV-MF)

I. Training and Direct Reporting Units

33 Combat Training Center
540th Instructor-Research Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Nikolayev-Kulbakina, Nikolayev Oblast: Tu-22M
555 Instructor-Research Anti-Submarine Mixed Aviation Regiment – Ochakov, Nikolayev Oblast: Mi-14, Ka-27, Ka-29, A-40
316 Independent Aviation Anti-Submarine Squadron - Nikolayev-Kulbakina, Nikolayev Oblast: A-40

1063rd Training Center for Combat Employment Shipborne Aviation
23rd Test Training Facility – Saki, Crimean Oblast
299th Instructor-Research Shipborne Aviation Regiment– Saki, Crimean Oblast: Yak-41M, MiG-29K/KUB, Su-33, Su-25UTG

859th Training Center for Naval Aviation – Kacha, Crimean Oblast: Mi-14, Ka-27PS, Ka-25/28/31

1st Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment – Saki, Crimean Oblast: Su-33, MiG-29K [NOTE 1]

327th Independent Red Banner Transport Aviation Regiment - Ostafyevo, Moscow Oblast: An-12, An-24/26, Il-76


II. Northern Fleet Air Arm

5th Kikenesskaya Red Banner Maritime Missile Aviation Division
574th Order of Lenin Red Banner Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Lakhta, Arkhangelsk Oblast: Tu-22M4
924th Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast: Tu-22M4
987th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Severomorsk-3, Murmansk Oblast: Tu-22M4

35th Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Division
76th Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment – Fedotovo, Vologda Oblast: Tu-142MZ/MR
135th Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment - Fedotovo, Vologda Oblast: Tu-142MZ

8th Mixed Shipborne Aviation Division
100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment – Severomorsk-4, Murmansk Oblast: Su-33, MiG-29K [NOTE 2]
51st Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-4, Murmansk Oblast: Su-33, MiG-29K [NOTE 3]
279th Shipborne Assault Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-3, Murmansk Oblast: Yak-41M [NOTE 4]
492nd Shipborne Aviation Regiment for Long-Range Radio-Location and Control - Luostari, Murmansk Oblast: Yak-44

981st Independent Maritime Assault - Severomorsk-3, Murmansk Oblast: Yak-41M [NOTE 8]

392nd Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment: - Fedotovo, Vologda Oblast: Tu-95RTS

967th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-1, Murmansk Oblast: Tu-22MR/MP

942nd Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-4, Murmansk Oblast: Su-32FN

24th Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-1, Murmansk Oblast: Il-38

403rd Independent Kirkenesskiy Red Banner Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment - Severomorsk-2, Murmansk Oblast: A-40

38th Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Severomorsk-2, Murmansk Oblast: Ka-25, Ka-27, Ka-29

567th Guards Shipborne Assault Helicopter Regiment - : Ka-29, Ka-52K

830th Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Severomorsk-2, Murmansk Oblast: Ka-27, Ka-29, Mi-14

912th Independent Transport Aviation Regiment - Luostari, Murmansk Oblast: An-12, AN-12PS, An-26, Tu-134


III. Baltic Fleet Air Arm

57th Smolenskaya Red Banner Maritime Missile Aviation Division
170th Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Bykhov, Mogilev Oblast: Tu-22M2
240th Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Bykhov, Mogilev Oblast: Tu-22M2
342nd Aviation Regiment for Electronic Warfare – Ostrov, Pskov Oblast: Tu-22MP

15th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast: Tu-22MR, Su-24MR

846th Independent Guards Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment - Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast: Su-24M/MP

926th Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment - Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast: Su-32FN

44th Independent Maritime Fighter Aviation Regiment - Jelgava, Latvian SSR: Su-30M

49th Independent Tallinskiy Red Banner Orders of Ushakov and Nakhimov Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron - Kosa, Kaliningrad Oblast: A-40

145th Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Squadron - Riga West, Latvian SSR: Il-38

745th Independent Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Donskoye, Kaliningrad Oblast: Ka-27, Ka-29

263rd Independent Transport Aviation Regiment - Khrabrovo, Kaliningrad Oblast: An-12, An-12PP, Tu-134, An-24/26


IV. Black Sea Fleet Air Arm

2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division
5th Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Veseloye, Crimean Oblast: Tu-22M2
124th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Gvardeskoye, Crimean Oblast: Tu-22M2
943rd Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Oktyabrskoye, Crimean Oblast: Tu-22M3

30th Independent Maritime Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Saki-Novofedorovka, Crimean Oblast: Tu-22MR/MP

36th Independent Maritime Fighter Aviation Regiment - Kirovske, Crimean Oblast: Su-30M

318th Independent Konstantskiy Red Banner Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment: Lake Donuzlav, Crimean Oblast: A-40

78th Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Lake Donuzlav, Crimean Oblast: Ka-27, Ka-29

872nd Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Kacha, Crimean Oblast: Ka-27, Ka-29, Mi-14

917th Independent Transport Aviation Regiment - Kacha, Crimean Oblast: An-12, Il-20, An-24, An-26

13th Independent Mixed Aviation Regiment – Latakia, Syria
- 1st Squadron: MiG-29S
- 2nd Squadron: Su-24M/MR
- 3rd Squadron: Mi-14


V. Pacific Fleet Air Arm

25th Rananskaya Twice Red Banner Maritime Missile Aviation Division
141st Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Khorol, Primorskiy Kray: Tu-22M4
183rd Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Knevichi, Primorskiy Kray: Tu-22M3

143rd Maritime Missile Aviation Division
568th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment – Alekseyeka, Khabarovsk Kray: Tu-22M4
570th Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment - Alekseyeka, Khabarovsk Kray: Tu-22M4

89th Mixed Shipborne Aviation Division
52nd Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment – Vozdvihenka North: Su-33, MiG-29K [NOTE 5]
9th Guards Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment - Vozdvihenka North: Su-33, MiG-29K [NOTE 6]
311th Shipborne Assault Aviation Regiment – Pristan, Primorskiy Kray: Yak-41M [NOTE 7]
294th Shipboard Aviation Regiment for Long-Range Radio-Location and Control: Yak-44

271st Independent Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Pristan, Primorskiy Kray: Tu-22MR/MP

304th Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Khorol, Primorskiy Kray: Tu-95RTS, Tu-22MR

169th Guards Roslavskiy Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment – Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam
- 1st Squadron: Tu-22M4/MR/MP
- 2nd Squadron: Tu-95RTS, T-142MZ
- 3rd Squadron: MiG-29S

173rd Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment - Pristan, Primorskiy Kray: Su-24M/MR

929th Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment - Pristan, Primorskiy Kray: Su-32FN

317th Independent Mixed Aviation Regiment - Elizovo, Kamchatka Kray: A-40, Ka-27, Tu-22MR

77th Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment- Nikolaevka, Primorskiy Kray: Il-38

289th Independent Port-Arturskiy Red Banner Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment - Nikolaevka, Primorskiy Kray: A-40

310th Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment - Alekseyevka), Khabarovsk Kray: Tu-142MZ/MR

710th Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment - Novonezhino, Primorskiy Kray: Ka-27, Ka-29

759th Shipborne Assault Helicopter - : Ka-29, Ka-52K

51st Independent Anti-Submarine Helicopter Squadron - Novonezhino, Primorskiy Kray: Mi-14

55th Independent Anti-Submarine Helicopter Squadron - Korsakov, Sakhalin Oblast: Mi-14

593rd Independent Transport Aviation Regiment - Knevichi, Primorskiy Kray: An-12, An-12PP, Tu-104, Tu-134, An-26




NOTES
[1] The 1st Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment is not currently assigned to any aircraft carrier. It functions as the reserve for the air groups of the Tbilisi and Ulyanovsk classes.
[2] Assigned to the Ulyanovsk.
[3] Assigned to the Tbilisi.
[4] Air group for the Kiev and Baku.
[5] Assigned to the Riga.
[6] Assigned to the Smolensk.
[7] Air group for the Minsk and Novorossiysk
[8] Land-based to support Naval Infantry, but can deploy aboard Krasnyi Krim class LHDs.

[James1978]

DAL'NAYA AVIATSIYA
(Long Range Aviation)

I. 43rd Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel DA
49th Instructor Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Dyagilevo, Ryazan Oblast: Tu-95U

52nd Guards Instructor Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Shaikovka, Kaluga Oblast: Tu-22M2/M3/M4

251st Guards Instructor Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Belaya Tserkov, Kiev Oblast: Tu-160, Il-78, Tu-134UBL

II. 30th Air Army
Blagovechensk, Amur Oblast

219th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Spassk-Dalniy (Khvalynka), Primorskiy Kray: Tu-22MRD/MRDK

31st Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Belaya, Irkutsk Oblast
1225th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Belaya, Irkutsk Oblast: Tu-22M3

1229th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Belaya, Irkutsk Oblast: Tu-22M2/MP

55th Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Vozdvizhenka, Primorskiy Kray
303rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Zavitinsk, Amur Oblast: Tu-22M4

444th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Vozdvizhenka, Primorskiy Kray: Tu-22M4/MP

III. 37th Air Army
Moscow, Moscow Oblast [NOTE 1]

271st Independent Transport Aviation Regiment – Ostafevo, Moscow Oblast: An-12, An-26, Il-76

364th independent Mixed Aviation Squadron - Vorkuta, Komi ASSR: Mi-8, An-24/26

477th Independent Long-Range Aviation Regiment for Electronic Warfare - Belaya Tserkov, Kiev Oblast: Tu-134UBL, Tu-160PP [NOTE 2]

73rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division- Ukrainka, Amur Oblast
40th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Ukrainka, Amur Oblast: Tu-160, Tu-134UBL

79th Order of the Red Star Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Ukrainka, Amur Oblast: Tu-95K-22

79th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Dolon, Semipalatinsk Oblast
1023rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Dolon, Semipalatinsk Oblast: Tu-95MS-6

1226th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Dolon, Semipalatinsk Oblast: Tu-95MS-16, Tu-95MSM

106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division Imeni 60-Letiya SSSR - Uzin, Kiev Oblast
182nd Guards Sevastopolsko-Berlinskiy Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Mozdok, Severo-Osetinskaya ASSR: Tu-95MS-16

409th Aviation Regiment of Tanker Aircraft - Uzin, Kiev Oblast: Il-78

1006th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Uzin, Kiev Oblast: Tu-95MS-16

201st Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Engels, Saratov Oblast
1096th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Engels, Saratov Oblast: Tu-160, Tu-134UBL

1230th Aviation Regiment of Tanker Aircraft - Engels, Saratov Oblast: Il-78

184th Guards Poltavsko-Berlinskiy Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Priluki, Chernigov Oblast: Tu-160, Tu-134UBL

IV. 46th Air Army
Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast

103rd Guards Krasnoselskiy Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast: An-12, An-26, Il-76

203rd Guards Orlovskiy Independent Aviation Regiment of Tanker Aircraft – Baranovichi, Brest Oblast: Il-78

13th Guards Dnepropetrovsko-Budapeshtskaya Order of Suvorov Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Division - Nezhin, Chernigov Oblast
199th Guards Brestskiy Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - Nezhin, Chernigov Oblast: Tu-22MRD/MRDK

290th Long-Range Aviation Regiment for Electronic Warfare - Zyabrovka, Gomel Oblast: Tu-22MP

15th Guards Gomelskaya Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Ozernoye, Zhitomir Oblast
121st Guards Sevastopolskiy Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Machulishchi, Minsk Oblast: Tu-22M3

185th Guards Kirovogradsko-Budapeshtskiy Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Poltava, Poltava Oblast: Tu-22M4

341st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Ozernoye, Zhitomir Oblast: Tu-22M4

22nd Guards Donbasskaya Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Bobruisk, Mogilev Oblast
200th Guards Brestskiy Red Banner Order of Suvorov Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Bobruisk, Mogilev Oblast: Tu-22M3

260th Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Stryy, Lvov Oblast: Tu-22M3/M4

326th Tarnopolskaya Order of Kutuzov Heavy Bomber Aviation Division - Tartu, Estonian SSSR
132nd Berlinskiy Orders of Kutuzov and Aleksandr Nevskiy Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Tartu, Estonian SSSR: Tu-22M4

402nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Balbasovo, Vitebsk Oblast: Tu-22M3

840th Red Banner Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment - Soltsy, Novgorod Oblast: Tu-22M3/MP



NOTES
1) 37th Air Army controls all of the DA's nuclear capable assets.
2) Forming.

[James1978]

Komandovaniye Voyenno-Transportnoy Aviatsii
Military Transport Aviation Command (VTA)
HQ: Moscow, Moscow Oblast

610th Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel VTA - Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast

3rd Guards Military-Transport Aviation Division - Vitebsk, Vitebsk Oblast
110th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Novgorod-Krechevitsy, Novgorod Oblast: Il-76
197th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Novgorod-Krechevitsy, Novgorod Oblast: An-70
334th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Pskov-Kresty, Pskov Oblast: Il-76
339th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Vitebsk-North, Vitebsk Oblast: Il-76

6th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Division - Krivoi Rog, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast
37th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Artsyz, Odessa Oblast: Il-76
338th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Zaporozhye, Zaporozhye Oblast: Il-76MD
363rd Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Krivoi Rog, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast: Il-76MD

7th Military-Transport Aviation Division - Melitopol, Zaporoshye Oblast
16th Military Transport Aviation Regiment - Melitopol, Zaporoshye Oblast: An-70
25th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Melitopol, Zaporoshye Oblast: Il-76M
175th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Melitopol, Zaporoshye Oblast: Il-76
369th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Dhanskoy, Krymskaya Oblast: Il-76MD

12th Military-Transport Aviation Division - Migalovo, Tver Oblast
8th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Migalovo, Tver Oblast: An-124
81st Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast: An-124
235th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Seshcha, Bryansk Oblast: An-124
566th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Seshcha, Bryansk Oblast: An-124

18th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Division - Siauliai, Lithuanian SSR
128th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Panevezhis, Lithuanian SSR: Il-76M
196th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Tartu, Estonian SSSR: Il-76
600th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Kedainiai, Lithuanian SSR: Il-76
117th Independent Aviation Regiment for Electronic Warfare - Siauliai, Lithuanian SSR: An-12BK-PPS, Il-76PP, Tu-214R

24th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Ukkurey, Chita Oblast: An-225

192nd Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Ukkurey, Chita Oblast: Il-76

194th Guards Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Fergana, Fergana Oblast: An-12

708th Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Kirovobad, Azerbaidzhan SSR: Il-76

930th Independent Military-Transport Aviation Regiment - Zavitinsk, Amur Oblast: An-12

[James1978]

Air Defense Forces

[James1978]

Frontal Aviation

[James1978]

Forward Deployed - Warsaw Pact

4th Air Army
Northern Group of Forces (HQ - Legnica, Poland)



###########################################################################
16th Air Army
Western Group of Forces (HQ - Wünsdorf, DDR)



###########################################################################
36th Air Army
Southern Group of Forces (HQ - Budapest-Mátyásföld, Hungary)



###########################################################################
VVS Central Group of Forces
Czechoslovakia (HQ - Milovice, Czechoslovakia)



###########################################################################

NOTES

[James1978]

Forward Deployed - Rest of World

Cuba
168th Fighter Aviation Regiment – San Antonio De Los Banos AB: MiG-29M

[James1978]

Other Military Aviation

Headquarters General Staff
8th Aviation Division for Special Purpose- Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast
353rd Aviation Regiment for Special Purpose – Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast: Various
354th Aviation Regiment for Special Purpose – Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast: Various
355th Aviation Regiment for Special Purpose – Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast: Various
?? Independent Aviation Squadron for Special Purpose – Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast:: Il-82
?? Independent Aviation Squadron for Special Purpose- Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast: Il-80


Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Center
70th Independent Test-Training Aviation Regiment for Special Purpose - Moscow-Chkalovsk, Moscow Oblast: Various


General Directorate for Space Vehicles, Ministry of Defense
99th Independent Mixed Aviation Regiment - Baikonur, Kzyl-Orda Oblast: Various


Unified State Aviation Search and Rescue Service, Ministry of Defense
195th Independent Transport Aviation Regiment - Kustanay, Kustanay Oblast: An-12, An-24 [NOTE 1]


Sary Shagan Test Range
679th Transport Test Aviation Regiment - Priozersk, Dzhambul Oblast: Various




NOTES
1) Search and rescue missions for manned space capsules and cosmonauts after landing.

[James1978]

SPACE RESERVED

[James1978]

SPACE RESERVED

[MFOM]

Why are there tu22m2 still in service? The soviets were producing 30 tu22m3 a year in otl (a limit they informally agreed to in SALT talks) so that would be 450 additional tu22m3 by 2005

[James1978]

Why are there tu22m2 still in service? The soviets were producing 30 tu22m3 a year in otl (a limit they informally agreed to in SALT talks) so that would be 450 additional tu22m3 by 2005

30 Tu-22M per year is about 1 regiment + attrition/spares.

Between DA and SNA, there were still a lot of Tu-16s and Tu-22 that needed to replaced from 1989, including specialized variants.

In @, there were only 12 Tu-22MRs and three Tu-22MP. In TLWverse, there are many more of both. And, between DA and SNA, there are ten full regiments equipped with Tu-22M4s.

Tu-22Ms are built at Kazan . . . as is the Tu-160. And Tu-160 (+ variants) production is ongoing. So, there's that to consider.

So in that light, I think Tu-22M2 numbers are reasonable.
But if Bernard wants fewer/none Tu-22M2, I have no objection.

And to my mind, whatever is going to replace the Tu22M family is likely out there in flight testing by TLWverse 2005. So that's another wrinkle in resource allocation.

[drmarkbailey]

This might seem atavistic (who? me??) but in TL-verse I'd expect to see Tu22K (Blinder, not Tu22M Backfire) either still in service or returning to it from reserve.

The Tu22K (I'll say Blinder from now to avoid confusion) was at best a qualified success, being short-ranged, a bitch to fly with a high accident rate, difficult to maintain, and apparently some structural issues and some very bad design problems.

Blinder was also immensely popular with its crew, all ground handling staff, maintainers and HQ staffs.

There was a reason for this: and early problem was overheating of the crew space and this was solved with a rather innovative evaporative heat extraction system. This passed a coolant through the crew volume from (IIRC) a 500l tank, this vapourised and was vented overboard.

The coolant was a mix of chemicals, dihydrogen monoxide (20%) and EtOH (80%).

The surplus remaining from each flight was drained off for discard by the ground crews and the tanks reloaded.

It was very, very common for the problems the Blinder had to cause sorties to be abandoned early and for large volumes of the coolant to have to be discarded.

So sad.

The other name for a mix of 20% dihydrogen monoxide and 80% EtOH is 160-proof vodka......

Cheers: mark

[Jotun]

This might seem atavistic (who? me??) but in TL-verse I'd expect to see Tu22K (Blinder, not Tu22M Backfire) either still in service or returning to it from reserve.

The Tu22K (I'll say Blinder from now to avoid confusion) was at best a qualified success, being short-ranged, a bitch to fly with a high accident rate, difficult to maintain, and apparently some structural issues and some very bad design problems.

Blinder was also immensely popular with its crew, all ground handling staff, maintainers and HQ staffs.

There was a reason for this: and early problem was overheating of the crew space and this was solved with a rather innovative evaporative heat extraction system. This passed a coolant through the crew volume from (IIRC) a 500l tank, this vapourised and was vented overboard.

The coolant was a mix of chemicals, dihydrogen monoxide (20%) and EtOH (80%).

The surplus remaining from each flight was drained off for discard by the ground crews and the tanks reloaded.

It was very, very common for the problems the Blinder had to cause sorties to be abandoned early and for large volumes of the coolant to have to be discarded.

So sad.

The other name for a mix of 20% dihydrogen monoxide and 80% EtOH is 160-proof vodka......

Cheers: mark

How very Russian. I think it beats quaffing paint thinner and other vile stuff to distract from the stellar achievements of Socialism...

[Rocket J Squrriel]

This might seem atavistic (who? me??) but in TL-verse I'd expect to see Tu22K (Blinder, not Tu22M Backfire) either still in service or returning to it from reserve.

The Tu22K (I'll say Blinder from now to avoid confusion) was at best a qualified success, being short-ranged, a bitch to fly with a high accident rate, difficult to maintain, and apparently some structural issues and some very bad design problems.

Blinder was also immensely popular with its crew, all ground handling staff, maintainers and HQ staffs.

There was a reason for this: and early problem was overheating of the crew space and this was solved with a rather innovative evaporative heat extraction system. This passed a coolant through the crew volume from (IIRC) a 500l tank, this vapourised and was vented overboard.

The coolant was a mix of chemicals, dihydrogen monoxide (20%) and EtOH (80%).

The surplus remaining from each flight was drained off for discard by the ground crews and the tanks reloaded.

It was very, very common for the problems the Blinder had to cause sorties to be abandoned early and for large volumes of the coolant to have to be discarded.

So sad.

The other name for a mix of 20% dihydrogen monoxide and 80% EtOH is 160-proof vodka......

Cheers: mark

Supposedly that stuff was of better quality then the local vodka.

[jemhouston]

My first job out of junior college was with Rockwell-Collins in Cedar Rapids testing flight display instruments. If you watch the ABC version of Battlestar Galactica the Viper cockpit instruments were a different model.

Most of the women who built them, also worked on the stuff for the Apollo program. NASA required all solder connects were cleaned with 95% Everclear.

From what I was told, 90% of the Everclear the plant used was in the month of December.

[James1978]

Added AV-MF, VTA, and some miscellaneous aviation units.