Posted on 07/22/2013 1:16:33 PM PDT by RainMan
Investigators in Panama have found two MiG-21 fighter jets in cargo containers aboard a North Korean ship carrying weapons from Cuba.
COLON, Panama Panamanian investigators unloading the cargo of a seized North Korean ship that carried arms from Cuba have found the two MiG-21 fighter jets the Cuban government had said were on board, the government said Sunday.
Alongside the two supersonic planes, originally produced by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s, officials found two missile radar systems on board the Chong Chon Gang, President Ricardo Martinelli told reporters in the Atlantic port of Colón.
The discovery, which included cables and electrical equipment, was made inside containers on the ship Panama had feared might contain explosive material. None was found.
After stopping the vessel bound for North Korea last week, Panama revealed it had found weapons in the cargo hold late Monday. In response, Cuba said the shipment contained a range of "obsolete" arms being sent to North Korea for repair.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.msn.com ...
Gee, how big is this ship?!? They’ve been searching it for days and are still finding things as big as planes hidden on it.
two sugar coated MiG-21 fighter jets
Y’ know...
I bet they could get pretty good money for MiGs from aviation enthusiasts. Who wouldn’t want their own supersonic fighter?
The sugar was worth more.............
Like a big box of Cracker Jacks...............
Seriesly!
MiG fighters from the 1950’s?
Yah...you betcha. They’re not worth the sugar they were packed in.
Those containers were hidden in a bulk section buried under bags of sugar.
And just because it was recently announced doesn't mean it was just found today....
From my limited understanding, it's not the purchase price of ex-Soviet supersonic aircraft that's expensive, rather it's fuel and maintenance costs. Many of these came onto the market following the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellites. There is one MIG 21 for sale right now for $79,500.
What was your purpose in directing me to that link?
Yes. I bet the fuel and maintenance for a MiG-21 would be fiendishly expensive. And, fun as it might be, the cruising speed of a MiG would be no faster than an airliner; and the range is short - no coast to coast commuting!
First flight
14 February 1955 (Ye-2)
Introduction
1959 (MiG-21F)
Well, I did order a Fishbed with my last Mosin Nagant, without the sugar.
About the only use for a Mig 21 would be as a human guided cruise missile.
What? Again? They just had ship before that was stopped.
Are you accusing the Panamanians of profiling? Or are they stopping other ships than those on the cuba-NK route? Inquiring minds and all that...
“About the only use for a Mig 21 would be as a human guided cruise missile.”
We have a winner, folks....
Yep I think your right.
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.