Russia bomber flights 'permanent'« Thread Started on Aug 17, 2007, 9:44am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Russia bomber flights 'permanent'Russia to send bomber aircraft on long-range flights on a permanent basis read at source> http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europ ... lCHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) -- President Vladimir Putin said Russia sent 14 bomber aircraft on patrols far beyond its own territory on Friday, marking the permanent return to a Soviet-era practice. A Russian startegic bomber flies over an airfield outside Moscow during an air show.Putin said the resumption of flights was a response to security threats posed by other military powers."We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis," Putin told reporters at joint military exercises with China and four Central Asian states in Russia's Ural mountains."Today, August 17 at 00:00 hours, 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country, along with support and refueling aircraft."In 1992, Russia unilaterally ended flights by its strategic aircraft to distant military patrol areas. Unfortunately, our example was not followed by everyone."Flights by other countries' strategic aircraft continue and this creates certain problems for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said.