Message posted by Magoo on April 08, 2000 at 19:08:42 EST:
I read somewhere that there are some older soviet aircraft, including a MiG-17 and an Su-7 on display in a private area at Nellis. Apparently the writer just asked if he could have a look and was given access and even allowed to take a few pics. He was 'unofficially' told that the Su-7 definitely was based at Groom, but was retired in the 80's. The unit was designated the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron. They didn't fly real DACT missions against regular US units, but the aircraft were evaluated against the leading US types of the time. Other types apparently used were MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-17, Su-22, Mil Mi-25. Many were captured more or less intact during the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars, and others were sourced from Egypt, Hungary, Romania and India. Hard currency can buy you almost anything! For example, I also read recently where two US business-men have bought two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers from the Ukraine. They are to be used as 'mothership' type aircraft to launch LEO satellites. The 'Blackjack' looks like a B-1B, but is about half as big again, and its engines are the most powerful combat aircraft engines in the world! To all you mad spotters out there, sorry! The aircraft will remain based in the Ukraine (for now). Does anyone have any good contacts at Nellis where we might be able to find out more about these 'Red Hats'? Magoo
In Reply to: Re: 'Have Doughnut' posted by Someone Who Knows on April 07, 2000 at 14:08:33 EST:
Replies: