Posted on 08/19/2015 7:58:24 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
The flying marshal: North Korea builds private runways for plane-loving Kim
SEOUL | By James Pearson
His father was afraid to fly, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken to the skies, building a series of small runways long enough to land light, private aircraft next to some of his palaces, satellite imagery shows.
Construction on Kim's personal landing strips began in 2014 and some were completed as recently as last month, according to satellite imagery identified by Curtis Melvin of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.
"These runways are located near Kim family compounds - sometimes within the security perimeters - and next to private train stations that were used by Kim Jong Il," Melvin told Reuters.
The young leader's father, Kim Jong Il, was famously afraid of flying and traveled everywhere by armored train - including on official state visits to China and Russia.
But Kim Jong Un has paid much attention to aviation during his three-year rule over the isolated and impoverished country.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
P!
“Private” government built runways for the dictator.... hhmmm
Bump
I would not want to be on the maintenance crew for any aircraft flown by Kim Jong Un.
I’d love to be on a maintenance team for Fat Boy’s airplane.
I would sabotage that thing six ways from Sunday, and if I had to install a remote controlled detonator, so be it.
That little sumbitch is long overdue for a case of lead poisoning.
If one of his airplanes experiences so much as a hiccup in flight, he can execute the entire team and send their families - including grandparents and infants - to forced labor camps for the rest of their lives.
He likes the unusual Antonov-2 mosquito.
It’s a STOL a/c BIPLANE, of all things.
It’s also the primary insertion aircraft for NK SOF forces. Small, built largely from fabric and wood, almost invisible on radar due to its construction and low/slow flight profile. Perfect get away plane if you were worried about a potential coup or simply wanted to make it more difficult to track your movements.
Kim Jong-il traveled only by special train and their preparation often tipped off the spooks about his travels. He was more concerned about sabotage or assassination than the safety of flight. The fact that Kim Jong un is flying on a regular basis suggests he is less worried about internal threats or, at a minimum, he has found pilots and maintainers within the NKAF that he is willing to trust with his life.
Hey, its not like its crowded airspace!
Not quite a Piper Supercub, but man..!
I love that ugly thing!
Some are still kicking around Eastern Europe, too.
The epitome of Russian design. Make it rugged, make it simple, make it work.
There’s a reason his father was afraid of flight.
The Soviets loved taking out people that way
Tough to put a wood/coal stove in there and maintain cabin pressure.
I studied the AN-2 problem for years as an intel analyst. The AN-2 (NATO code name: Colt) represents a difficult challenge; most of the airframe is fabric and wood—very small radar cross section.
Additionally, they cruise at about 90 kits , so they are below the Doppler gate for most air intercept and fire control radars. Operators actually have to lower the gate to pick up the slow-moving target, but that increases the background noise and makes it difficult to distinguish the aircraft from the clutter. Making matters worse, the Colt is flying at low level, so you’ve got the issue of ground clutter as well.
Best ways to go after them are with MANPAD SAMs, AAA and attack helos; intercept at night with a fast mover is extremely difficult.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.