Putin sits in on supersonic bomber test flight

Russian President Vladimir Putin sat in the cockpit of a supersonic strategic bomber during a test flight, the Interfax news agancy has reported.

The plane, a TU-160M, took off from the military airfield in Kazan, and the flight lasted around 30 minutes, according to the Interfax report.

The decision to take part in the flight was made by Putin the day before during a visit to the aircraft factory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.

Details of the flight were not revealed in advance, because they were classified as a military secret.