Rare inflight footage from inside a Russian Tu-95 shows the Bear’s coaxial contra-rotating propellers

February 15, 2015 Military Aviation, Russia, Troubled Areas

David Cenciotti

Fine piece of machinery.

Here’s an interesting footage filmed form inside a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber like the ones that skirt northern Europe’s airspaces every now and then.

Although it does not show anything special about the plane, the rare video lets you have a close look at the eight-bladed coaxial contra-rotating propellers Kuznetsov NK-12 engines of the Tu-95.

Indeed, the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today, features the typical two propellers, arranged one behind the other, which increase efficiency and performance.

An in-flight, engine shutdown and restart cycle can be seen in the clip.

H/T to @Missilito for the heads-up

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

FoilHatWearer says:

February 16, 2015 at 5:13 PM

I do not understand the design rationale behind counter-rotating propellers but it must work for them, they’ve been using it for a seriously long time.
- tjohn6041 says:
  
  February 18, 2015 at 4:40 PM
  
  There are some pros and cons. The Cons are the added noise, weight and mechanical complexity. But, buy adding the extra propellers, they can take advantage of more of the engines power. This article hits on it some http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra-rotating_propellers
R.Lopaka says:

February 18, 2015 at 6:42 PM

And it’s FIRST flt was 6 months AFTER the B-52.
R.Lopaka says:

February 18, 2015 at 6:45 PM

That’s NOT noise……The Republic F-84H Thunderstreak – Propeller variant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFhSzReWTgs
R.Lopaka says:

February 18, 2015 at 6:56 PM

That’s NOT noise…..Six turnin and four burnin…..B-36. From the movie Strategic Air Command staring General Jimmy Stewart. If ya haven’t seen it it’s a MUST see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGjyH2ulsCk
Uniform223 says:

February 19, 2015 at 4:29 AM

Cool. I heard the Bear was so loud that even they were tracked by underwater sonar from US submarines and that intercepting US, NATO, and recently Japanese; fighter pilots said they could hear the Tu-95 over the sound of their own aircraft. CRAZY!!!