A story in Kommersant daily describes a fire that destroyed one of Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bomber. According to the story, the fire took place at the Dyagilevo base (Combat Use and Pilot Training Center) near Ryazan on 24 26 February 2013. The bomber, Tu-95MS with the tail number 21 (red), was preparing for take off when the fire started. The crew promptly left the aircraft and the fire was extinguished, but the damage was quite extensive, so the plane has been deemed non-salvageable. The Kommersant reports that this aircraft has just returned from an overhaul - it entered service on 28 December 2012.
Comments
The fire took place at the Dyagilevo base on 26 (not 24) February 2013:
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2162877
Photos of this "21 red" during afteroverhaul flights (December 2012) on Taganrog see here:
http://aviaforum.ru/showpost.php?p=1258564&postcount=157
http://aviaforum.ru/showpost.php?p=1287030&postcount=162
Great photographs of an amazing airplane.
Frank Shuler
USA