B737-112 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 880 posts, RR: 8 Posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 7499 times:
I was watching a show about Area 51 and they showed a Mig-29 being put through an airshow style flight over the Nevada desert. I'm pretty sure that Russians were not granted permission to fly into Area 51 so it would seem that American pilots are in control of these jets. It seems odd to me, anyone have any idea on why this would occur?
May have miss heard but i believe those pilots (and pilots of aggressor aircraft?) are trained to fight and fly the same way, or as close as they can, to russian/foreign pilots.
How they get hold of said aircraft in the first place i don't know?
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 7471 times:
The USAF has gotten hold of many Mig fighters. They have had the Mig-15/17/19/21/23/and 29, along with many Su fighters.
They pick them up at Saturday afternoon garage sales and flea markets.
PADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 7439 times:
German Air Force sold some MiG-23 and Su-22 to the USAF after they got them from the former East-German air force. AFAIK the USAF MiG-29 originate from Moldavia.
CTR From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 7438 times:
Miamiair From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7423 times:
I remember reading something about them a while back. The US bought ex-Moldovan MiG-29s after the USSR folded its tent. These Migs had the wiring and provisions to deliver nuclear bombs. Consider it preventative maintenance.
Sphealey From United States of America, joined May 2005, 361 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 7419 times:
The USAF admitted last month what had long been suspected: that it has been keeping a small Soviet air force at Area 51 since about 1970. It was used for both research and aggressor training. I believe the article was in Aviation Leak.
They have not explained where the aircraft came from prior to 1990, and I imagine they won't for at least 50 years.
PADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7396 times:
Quoting Sphealey (Reply 6): They have not explained where the aircraft came from prior to 1990, and I imagine they won't for at least 50 years.
Probably from deserters, non-aligned states and states whose alignment changed over time (but prior to 1990), ... like Egypt. Nothing too spectacular ... it worked the same on the other side of the curtain.
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 7315 times:
Quoting Ptrjong (Reply 8):
That hardly makes them more dangerous. If someone has nukes, I'm sure he'll find a way to drop them from any figher jet in his possession.
I thought the situation was what ever nation was going to buy them. The U.S. bought them at a somewhat lower price, which the Moldovans accepted in order to curry favor with us.
And as far as I know, those Fulcrums were dismantled and loaded onto C-5s, and never re-assembled. We had MiG-29s through other sources that were used for dissimilar/aggressor duty, as well as deployment of Luftwaffe Fulcrums.
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
Avsfan From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 250 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 7262 times:
The German Luftwaffe has brought their Mig-29s over to the US plenty of times for dissimilar aircraft training....especially during US run execises. I had the opportunity to control fighters against such Mig-29s while out at Nellis.
"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth...Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29349 posts, RR: 62 Reply 11, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 7259 times:
Quoting N328KF (Reply 9): And as far as I know, those Fulcrums were dismantled and loaded onto C-5s, and never re-assembled.
I believe 1 is now on static display at an intellegence facility.
As far as where the US gets this birds, reportedly a few came from defectors that flew to Israel and south Korea. Some where bought from Egypt and Moldovia.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Dlednicer From United States of America, joined May 2005, 505 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 7132 times:
Broke From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1322 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7087 times:
At least some of the Moldovan MiG-29's were reassembled and flown. One is currently in the restoration shops of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force being made ready for exhibition. It's engines went to the engine test facility at Tulahoma.
HaveBlue From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2069 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 6942 times:
Quoting Sphealey (Reply 6): The USAF admitted last month what had long been suspected: that it has been keeping a small Soviet air force at Area 51 since about 1970. It was used for both research and aggressor training. I believe the article was in Aviation Leak.
They have not explained where the aircraft came from prior to 1990, and I imagine they won't for at least 50 years.
I heard this many many years, and it's been pretty well known. As stated we had most types of fighters and we've had them for a long time. Hasn't been anything near a secret imo.
I've seen a MiG-29 and MiG-23 at Tyndall AFB on a couple of occassions. They were not in flyable condition but were assembled and looked good from the outside. WPAB Museum has had the MiG 15/17/19/21 and AF Armarment Musuem at Eglin AFB, FL has the 21 as well, those are just the ones I've seen first hand.
Dispatchguy From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1185 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6876 times:
With that, they can keep their AFTTP 3-1 Vol II (Threat Reference Guide and Countertactics) updated, their manual on how to defeat the threat.
Broke From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1322 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 6815 times:
Current Soviet aircraft that are on display or in restoration at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force are;
On display; MiG-15bis (pilot defected from North Korea), MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21F, MiG-23
In restoration; MiG-21 (will replace existing exhibit), MiG-23 (will replace existing exhibit), MiG-25 (out of the Iraqi sand), MiG-29, SU-22
Sphealey From United States of America, joined May 2005, 361 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 6800 times:
> I heard this many many years, and it's been
> pretty well known.
I agree, but according to the Aviation Week article this was the first time the USAF had officially stated that these aircraft existed.
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 6793 times:
Quoting Sphealey (Reply 19):
I agree, but according to the Aviation Week article this was the first time the USAF had officially stated that these aircraft existed.
Well, some of them (MiG-15, etc...) had been acknowledge for a long time.
Now the question is: when will we see a Flanker in USAF inventory?
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
HaveBlue From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2069 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 6771 times:
Quoting N328KF (Reply 20): Now the question is: when will we see a Flanker in USAF inventory?
Aeroweanie From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1600 posts, RR: 52 Reply 23, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 6742 times:
My first clue that there were more MiGs in the US than officially admitted came during a visit to the USAF Museum in the early 1970s. They had the North Korean defector's MiG-15 on display. Next to it, there were was a display of a MiG-15 ejection seat. It took me a minute to realize that the MiG-15 on display had an ejection seat in it, meaning that the US had its hands on at least one more MiG-15.
During the late 1970s there was at least one newspaper article claiming the existence of the "Red Hat" squadron. In other words, its been an open secret for a long time.
Vzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 5 months 1 week 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 6725 times:
AWST published an air-to-air shot of a MiG-21 in US markings in the mid- or late-1980s.
"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
25 Ptrjong: If we limit this to jet fighters, I don't know of many. On May 29th, 1958, a Belgian RF-84F apparently violated East German airspace and it was force
26 N328KF: Four B-29s, pieces of an F-117, and potentially anything in Iranian or North Vietnamese inventory. That could mean F-4s or F-14s. It is alleged by so
27 Checksixx: I've seen all sorts of 'soviet' types flying over the ranges in Nevada while training. Some migs and also hind's. No big deal. -Check
28 Prebennorholm: 6-Sep-76 MiG-25 USSR Defection to Hakodate Japan by Lt. Victor Belenko. Aircraft returned. I remember that one very well. It took veeeery long time to
29 LMP737: I recently read the Osprey series Iranian F-14 In Action. From what the book said in interviews with Iranian pilots no F-14 ended up in Soviet hands.
30 474218: While the United States may operate a few, captured, bought or borrowed, Russian aircraft it pales in comparison to Russian blatant stealing of the B-
31 RayPettit: An F-86 was captured around 1951 and taken to the Sukhoi Design Bureau. At least one other was captured in Korea and reportedly taken to Russia too.
32 MCIGuy: Yeah, I'll never understand why we didn't pound the bejesus out of that wreckage in Bosnia.
33 N328KF: Human shields. While the technology loss was lamentable, the fact is that we have moved far beyond that point.
34 Ex52tech: There was a book written about Viktor Belenko, his life in the Soviet Union, his decision to defect, and his impressions of life in the U.S. Pretty g
35 MigFan: There are two supposedly serving in Area 51. Strong sources on that one. One aircraft flies, the other is in cold storage. /M
36 474218: The book was called "Mig Pilot" it is great read.
37 Ex52tech: Oops..... I did forget to add the title.
39 Dispatchguy: I just discovered this page, it prints out to about 50 pages of analysis from someone (I assume) that is/was in the Finnish Air Force, and it is a VER
40 Eniranjanrao: There were a lot of Mig 29 left over from East Germany which were transfered to US, any way Pakistan has given a F-16 and a lot of western equipment t
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 880 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3766 posts, 
From Canada, joined Dec 2006, 787 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
