[sukhoi-30mki]

More pix at source

[IronJack]

cottage industry.

Must have been one hell of a cottage.

[Still Thinking]

Holy crap, that’s a BAP.

[DUMBGRUNT]

The old cliche is:
‘An air force is always preparing for its last war.’

[SIDENET]

So, unless you're the US Air Force, when a 747 freighter can’t carry it, a chartered An-124 Condor usually does

The USAF charters (or chartered) the heck out of the AN-124s.

It is just an option for making lots of cargo go from point A to point B and doesn't take something like a C-17 away from its other taskings.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I would name the plane Big Olga.

[onedoug]

Of interest, ping....

[DoughtyOne]

Let's put this FReep-a-thon out of it's misery today.


Free Republic, the Home of the Eternal FReeper, Conservatism's Finest  (timely thoughts on the FReeper dynamic and Free Republic)

Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 09/03/2016: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.  Read his thoughts on Colin Kaepernick sitting down, use right link.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "...Lame Duck Dynasty..."

Please join the monthlies, an automated way to help support Free Republic.

If you are not opting to join the automated monthly support program, please consider joining the One One Done project.  LINK

FReepers, 97.29% of the Third Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met.  Click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets end this FReepathon.  Thank you!
...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Imnidiot]

Do you recall the AvWeek article from the late ‘90’s, I think, about how they thought that following the first shuttle accident, the US secretly built/updated a third XB-70, using left over parts/engines. It was made to launch several versions of mini-shuttles directly into orbit, keeping US in space even though the shuttle was unavailable for awhile. Looks like the Chinese are thinking along the same lines.