For sale: Albania’s MiG aircraft fleet

Reuters/MSNBC ^ | 11-1-2005 | Staff

[Dashing Dasher]

Updated: 11:22 a.m. ET Nov. 1, 2005

TIRANA, Albania - Albania’s antiquated air force of Soviet-designed MiG aircraft, which killed 35 Albanian pilots but no enemies, is finally on its way to the museum and the scrapheap, the armed forces chief said on Tuesday.

“If anyone wants to buy them, they are welcome,” Gen. Pellumb Qazimi told Reuters. Some potential Western buyers “wanted to turn them into bars,” he said.

For the Albanian military, the general said, the future lies in a fleet of modern helicopters able to “interact with the planes of the (NATO) alliance we want to join.”

{snip}

The first MiG-15 squadron arrived from the Soviet Union in 1951 and it had seen action in Korea, said Perikli Teta, Albania’s air force engineer-in-chief for 17 years.

“You could still see where the bullet holes had been repaired,” Teta told Reuters. The 15s were followed in the 1970s and 1980s by scores of MiG-17s, or Frescoes in NATO parlance, and MiG-19s, known to the alliance as Farmers.

All have the stubby swept-back wings, cigar shaped fuselage and nose intake of the iconic communist Cold War interceptor.

{snip}

[TheOracleAtLilac]

You sure you haven't confused 'em w/ the cabin staff of Tirana Air ?
Uniforms to die for !

[Dashing Dasher]

People get hired just to get the cool outfits!

[TheOracleAtLilac]

I'm surprised to see 'em make the uniforms in Billy Barty size.

No min. height std. for Air Tirana cabin crew ?

[Dashing Dasher]

Someone has to climb into the belly to get the luggage stuck underneath.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Talk about being cross trained ! WOW !
(Probably the closest thing Europe has to AmericaWest)

Tending to in-flight duties....
then crawlin' 'round in the dingy, smelly hold at the end of the journey.
Lucky stiff !

Seein' how it's ex-Com bloc, bet there's no overtime pay, either.

[stacytec]

I'm holding out for the 25's. Getting to work would be far mor appealing at MACH3.

[marmar]

Hey, DD, how are ya????

[Dashing Dasher]

I'm good!

How are you?

Did you take our boys out to dinner yet?

We want PIX!

[Dashing Dasher]

My friend owns a few 17s - the 25s would be cool.

And those Sukhois that do the cobra... that'd be nice to add to the stable.

;-)

dd

[marmar]

I haven't gotten the stash yet. I will be into again this weekend and if I have a nice long time, I will take them to Chilies....if not I will order pizza or Popeye's Chicken... but I do promise pics.......I know people with the appropriate cameras and they can help me post......

[Dashing Dasher]

I told some of my work associates yesterday about the Walter Reed campaign and what we put together for you.

They were so impressed that we were taking an initiative to help - when everyone else says, I don't know how to help.

That's one of the best parts of FR - really being able to use your skills, etc. to make a difference - even in small ways.

One person - can't do much - but all of us banding together can really do some great things.

Thanks for letting us do something for you and your guys!

[marmar]

This is where they stop before they get to Walter Reed. It is called Ramstein AB in Germany and we are the 435 Contingency Aeromedical Staging facility. It is kind of like an airport, taxi, hotel, and a place to get your meals. We are the people that hold you until you board the plane. We are Doc, nurses, medics, pharmacy tech, loggies, and admin. We make sure we are ready to move the Wounded Warriors. The cool thing is that I get to talk to and listen to these guys. If they trust you they will tell you their stories and they are amazing......

[Dashing Dasher]

My ex- was stationed at Ramstein a long time ago.

He has very found memories.

[marmar]

It's beautiful here, I guess the best part is that the guys will be able to relax and they don't get shot at here. Yes, they tell me that.......

[snippy_about_it]

Tanks. ;-)

[Dashing Dasher]

Sweet!

[kilowhskey]

When does the sale end? Like the esteemed hattend, I'm six numbers away from buying you one in any color you choose. ;-)

[snippy_about_it]

LOL.

[Dashing Dasher]

Let's start putting our nickels together.
Dago Red is still available - and now with a few MiGs on the horizon - we can be knee deep in cool stuff!!

[hattend]

We'd have to buy a two seater since DD is the only "real" FR pilot I know (I know tons of hangglider pilots).

I'll sit in the back seat and work the radar (FOX 1! FOX 2!)

L-39's are cheap but I would prefer a Bear (How'd you like 60,000 HP under your right hand, DD?).

Or a Mig 31 (Two person Mig 25).

I'll start my "Buy a Cold Warbird Fund" tonight, I have some loose change in my pocket.