Re: MiG-23

Message posted by Magoo on May 07, 2000 at 18:36:18 EST:

Hey Guy

You could try this excellent link as well...

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/mig-23.htm

The aircraft in the pics definitely has a single vertical stabiliser (tail), and other visual characteristics that make it almost certainly a MiG-23 or MiG-27 'Flogger' (same basic aircraft). Things such as the cockpit profile, the small ventral fin, swing wings, and the centreline drop tank are all clues. From one angle however (from behind), it does also resemble an Su-24 'Fencer', which also has swing wings and is very similar in looks and size to the F-111.

It certainly is not an F-111, as the USAF has retired its fleet to the 'boneyard', and the only other operator is Australia. No Australian F-111s were overseas at the time the pic was taken. NASA has also retired its F-111 test bed.

The only twin-tailed swing aircraft flying is the F-14 'Tomcat', and this aircraft appears to have one engine with a conventional fuselage and low cockpit profile, in contrast to the unique configuration of the F-14.