Nike Missile Elevator ride

Ride up from the missile magazine to ground level next to an authentic refurbished cold-war era Nike Missile.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 'Nike'
• 'Missile'
• 'Elevator'
• 'Siloh'
• 'San
• Francisco'

[don2578]

HA! No actual Missile rides!!! I think they said if you are in the open anywhere near the launch, the shockwave would kill you.

[skeilak]

@sr71ablackbird

Yes, the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber's NATO reporting name is "Bear".

And yes, its four jet turbine engines turn eight contra-rotating props.

First deployed in 1956, to scare the hell out of America, today they still serve the Russians, in the roles of long-range reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and as a stand-off missile platform.

Much like the American B-52, the Russians seem to have every intention of keeping them in service, for some time to come.

[sr71ablackbird]

@skeilak the Tu-95 wasn't that also know as the `Russian Bear' which had counter-rotating propellers ?

[don2578]

@skeilak You seem pretty well read on the subject. Any good reads you recommend? Google / net not always the best credible source.... Thanks for sharing! Feel free to share more, I appreciate the knowledge bombs!

[2Kortoso]

I guess you didn't get to ride as it was launched. ;)

[skeilak]

@don2578 = Very familiar with the Tu-95. Fine aircraft. But never built in sufficient numbers to justify the trillions spent in deploying Nike/Bomark , as well as the development and construction of the entire "Century Series" of USAF high-altitude interceptors.

There is much more to the story of the Soviet Bomber Threat, and the US response, but note that the US stopped building interceptors, and closed the missile bases, when HQ satellite imagery became available. It's a fascinating story.

[don2578]

I don't know physical numbers, but Soviet Long Range bombers fixed with Nuclear armaments not excluding long range missiles, were a threat in the 1950's, and we have seen a resurgence of these very aircraft.

Google: Tupolev Tu-95

[skeilak]

The last of the Nike (and Bomark) missile bases were shut down in 1974. No one needs (or ever needed) atom bomb tipped rockets to shoot down hoards of Russian bombers that never existed in the first place. Nixon's SALT II treaty made it illegal for the US or USSR to defend cities with fixed anti-missile/aircraft systems. In short, hold each others population centers hostage. Google: MAD

[zeke1312]

OK, they are not called "silos". They are "magazines". Slang is "pits". Thank you

[GeneralBerger]

i bet there is still some secret Nike missiles silos that are still operational that are protecting the coast.(well them may not be technically Nike, but something similar in function)