Rich Russian tries to buy U.S. bomber at air show (B 52)

Reuters ^ | Aug 24, 2007 | staff

[tlb]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A wealthy Russian tried to buy a U.S. B-52 bomber from a group of shocked American pilots at an air show near Moscow, a Russian newspaper reported on Friday.

The unidentified Russian, wearing sunglasses and surrounded by bodyguards, approached the U.S. delegation and asked to buy the bomber, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said.

An astounded member of the U.S. delegation said the bomber was not for sale but that it would cost at least $500 million (249.5 million pounds) if it were to be sold on the spot.

"That is no problem. It is such a cool machine," the Russian was quoted as saying.

[tlb]

The gentleman has good taste in toys. Wouldn't you like one too ? Before someone jumps on the price, remember they are all used. He should have haggled a little.

[SIDENET]

It is such a cool machine," the Russian was quoted as saying.

Well, he IS right.

[irishtenor]

Sounds to me like a “Borat” type spoof going on.

[Jet Jaguar]

ping.

[oakcon]

Wow, respect to the Russian for coming out and asking up front to buy it. You know you’ve all thought about it ;)

[Fireone]

Don’t “we” already own ‘em all?
I’m pretty sure I’ve already bought one.

[familyop]

It was cool to see them fly over at low altitude. They looked...immense.

[pepsionice]

You know...there is a market idea here. Get about 100 of the old B-52 mechanics out...start making 100 percent pure American B-52 copies (non-flyable of course). Full-up size. We sell it for $300k (cheap Indian steel of course) and will assemble at your house or backyard. If you want it mounted over the top of your house on a pedestal....then we will haul out a 100-ton slab of concrete and crane the thing on top to bolt it down. We could even include a laser light kit for $80k...which would shoot lasers out the top and really tick off the neighbors. I’d bet we could sell 50 of these to rich Russians....before we even get to rich Texans.

[FlyVet]

You know you’ve all thought about it

I want a D model. 108 500 lb. bombs and quad .50's spitting out the back. A hobbyist's delight!

[SIDENET]

It was cool to see them fly over at low altitude. They looked...immense.

They look really cool up at altitude, too.

[geopyg]

On some show on “Airplane Boneyards” they showed this lady buying a wing off of a 747 or some such huge plane. They cut it off and hauled it off to be the roof (30’ x 120’ in size or something!) of a portion of her new house. I forget what it cost her - but it was pricey!

[fella]

Wouldn't you like one too

As a "LEGAL" citizen of the U.S.A. I already own a whole fleet of 'em. When they were based here at Carswell it would make me feel all warm and fuzzy when I saw and/or heard them. The rumble of the engines during an alert would rattle our windows from ten miles away.

[SIDENET]

Here's a good pic of a D model. Tinker AFB has a D model parked near the front gates. Fairchild AFB has one, too. The one at Fairchild has a MiG kill.

[FlyVet]

In 1966, Brigadier General James Stewart rode along as an observer on a B-52 Stratofortress bombing run during the Vietnam War; he also flew combat duty missions during that conflict. At the time of his B-52 mission, he refused the release of any publicity regarding his participation as he did not want it treated as a stunt, but as part of his job as an officer in the Air Force Reserve. He served as Air Force Reserve commander of Dobbins Reserve Base in the early 1950s and after 27 years of service, Stewart retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1968.

Jimmy Stewart, B-52 crewman and man of large gonads.

[mkjessup]

I want a D model. 108 500 lb. bombs and quad .50's spitting out the back. A hobbyist's delight!

If I can't have an 'H' model, I'll settle for an 'also-ran':

[FlyVet]

H model, schmache model, the D was the trash hauler. The garbage truck!

[mkjessup]

Jimmy Stewart, B-52 crewman and man of large gonads.

You got that right FRiend. If General Stewart were alive today, I would wager that he would have tried mightily (and may well have succeeded) in participating in our bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and/or Iraq.

I have a copy of his film 'Strategic Air Command' stored safely and securely away with my other valuables.

[FlyVet]

I loved watching them take off when I was stationed at Loring AFB in Maine. With no payload and their flaps down, they would have their noses pointed toward the ground and still rocketing into the air very fast. And those old engines blowing black smoke and stinking the place up. Diesel pigs!

And they have swivel landing gear, so you could see them land with the wheels pointed straight down the runway, while the nose was pointed left or right, into the wind. An amazing airplane.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Still, as “ Immense “ goes, a 747 is a larger plane in size and capacity than the B-52.

[Dumpster Baby]

There’s a guy near Kansas City that has a Lear Jet for a lawn ornament. Right there in his front yard is a first generation Lear Jet.