This is the Blackbird:
Posted on 11/02/2009 4:29:11 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Malaysia admitted that it is getting rid of its MiG-29 fighters because the aircraft are too expensive to maintain. It costs about $5 million a year, per aircraft, to keep them in flying condition. Three years ago, Malaysia bought two more MiG-29s, in addition to the 18 it got in the 1990s. Two of those were lost due to accidents. Malaysia has since ordered 18 Su-30 fighters, and will apparently order more to replace the MiG-29s. Malaysia also bought eight F-18Ds in the 1990s, and is getting rid of those as well. Russia has offered better prices on maintenance contracts for new Su-30s, in addition to bargain (compared to U.S. planes) prices. Most of the MiG-29s provided satisfactory service. Malaysia was long a users of U.S. aircraft, so they have been able to compare Russian and American warplanes. The Russian aircraft cost less than half as much as their American counterparts. The Malaysians find that an acceptable situation, even though they face better trained pilots flying F-16s in neighboring Singapore.
The MiG-29 entered Russian service in 1983, as the answer to the American F-16. Some 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced so far, with about 900 of them exported. The 22 ton aircraft is roughly comparable to the F-16, but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Ya think?
Designed as a high speed interceptor with one purpose - to shoot down the Black Bird.
..and you bought more??
snicker.......
Umm...your purchasing department needs some mil expertise.
just sayin'
Fail.
Did the Russkies pull their usual ‘Monkey Model’ trick? They used to do that with tanks and helos; demonstrate top of the line gear straight from the Moscow Military District, and then deliver an ‘M’ model with much-reduced capabilities.
When I was in the reserves, I did research (unclassified) on the MiG-29 as a training project. The conclusion of my research was that the MiG-29 was like that character in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” who does those amazing sword tricks and is then shot dead by Harrision Ford.
The MiG-29 can do amazing things, but it is mostly useless against American air power. The MiG-29 can dogfight about as well as any plane in the world, but nobody dogfights anymore. In the first Gulf war, Saddam Hussein stopped launching his MiG-29s because they would get shot down by long-range missiles almost as soon as they got off the runway.
Is the ‘blackbird’ you refer to the stealth bomber? Is the steal bomber particularly vulnerable to this or any specificaly designed aircraft? I am not well versed in aircraft but they continue to draw me in - may be genetics - my father bought and flew a B-25 bomber in the 70’s.
This is the Blackbird:
The “Blackbird” was the SR-71. None were ever taken out by hostile action.
An amazing aircraft with an almost cult following.
Yup. The Mig-31 was the superfast interceptor. The Mig-29 was a dog fighter.
That would have been the -25.
You are right and I do stand corrected.
Still, the -29 is old tech, some where around our first generation F-15.
That's why one needs to be the 'upgrade insurance', right?
Thank you for the links and photo. I am not familiar with this aircraft and it’s just...well...beautiful. I know, odd word for a fighter but it really stands out. I’ll read up on it. Thanks again!
What was that? Did you see that?
What?
Dude. That was the MiG-25. And it was built to shoot down B-70 Valkyries. Shooting down an SR-71 would probably be a heck of a challenge for a MiG-25 or its descendant, the MiG-31.
The MiG-29 was a response to the F-15/F-16/F-18 generation of fighters.
ahhhhh....maybe you were referring to the MIG-25?
It’s intended job was to go after the proposed valkyrie bomber. That job never materialized when the valkyrie project was cancelled.
Doubt it could catch a blackbird, but I heard rumored that they tried to no avail.
Wow. I can see why it would inspire a cult following, I can’t stop checking the pictures. I am dismayed to read that it is in the ‘past tense’ and that it’s dates if service were ‘64 - ‘98. I guess that is a good long lifespan. It had to be light years ahead of it’s time in terms of aesthetic design - in ‘64 it must have seemed like a space ship next to other craft in terms of appearance.
If you are ever near McMinnville Oregon, stop by the Evergreen Aviation and Space museum. They have an SR-71 under the left wing of Howard Hughes Spruce Goose. It makes the SR-71 look tiny.
Brain fart.
see my post #11
I imagine some rich bastards wouldn’t mind getting a hold of a MiG-29 for a toy.
If you're ever in Seattle, the Boeing Museum of Flight has one of these birds on display.
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