Russia lifts ban on Tu-95 bomber flights

Tu-95 strategic bomber

15:49 12/01/2011

© RIA Novosti. Anton Denisov

The Russian Air Force has lifted a ban on the flights of Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers imposed after an An-22 Cock transport plane was destroyed in a crash last December.
The plane crashed in the Tula Region on December 28, killing all 12 crew members.
The Air Force decided to ground all Tu-95s and An-22s because both aircraft types share the Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop, whose failure was suspected as the main cause of the crash.
The An-22 remains the largest turboprop-powered aircraft in the world. Around 45 remain in service with the Russian Air Force and most are over 40 years old.
MOSCOW, January 12 (RIA Novosti)

RIA NOVOSTI