Soviet fighters in the USAF (part 5)

11
MiG-25

History MiG-25P interceptor hijacked to Japan is widely known. Less well known is the fact that Americans have studied reconnaissance aircraft MiG-25РБ. "RB" came to the United States after the operation to impose democracy in Iraq.

In July, 2003, the Americans at the Iraqi airbase Ap-Takkadum, found several dozens of Iraqi airplanes bombarded with sand. Two MIG-25RBs (RBT, 25105 serial number and RBS, 25105 serial number) attracted the most attention. To release the scouts had to remove 70 tons of sand. At least one MiG (No. XXUMX) was delivered to the Wright-Patterson base. After studying the aircraft was transferred to the US Air Force Museum in Dayton.

After the 1991 war, the Iraqi MiG-25RB never stopped flying. In the "zero" years, "RB" performed reconnaissance flights over Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Jordanian F-16A to intercept the "RB" were unable to. In 2003, the US Air Force raised the F-15 to intercept a reconnaissance aircraft, but while the fighters were gaining altitude, the Iraqi reconnaissance aircraft left Saudi Arabia’s airspace. Interception again did not ask. The veteran aircraft was a real threat to the security of the United States.



MiG-25RB Iraqi Air Force, extracted by Americans from the sand at Al-Takkadum airbase. The Scout was brought to the United States to study


MiG-29

As is known, the collapse of the USSR and the entire Eastern bloc turned into a real feast for US technical intelligence services, but it didn’t go further than the evaluation tests and, probably, a series of comparative battles with American fighters.

In the early 1990s. The US Air Force conducted an evaluation test of one MiG-29 fighter, provided by the Bundesnemans, and in 1997 the United States bought two MiG-29UBs in Moldova, 14 combat “9-13” and six “9-12”. After leaving the USSR, Moldova “inherited” the fighter aircraft of the 86th Guards Borisov Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Fighter Aviation Regiment stationed in Marculesti. By the way, it was the only regiment aviation Navy armed with MiG-29: 86th IAP handed over to sailors in 1989

Soviet fighters in the USAF (part 5)


According to the official version, the United States acquired MiGs from Moldova so that Moldovans would not sell fighters to Iran. However, not all aircraft were bought - six 29's remained in Moldova. All acquired MiGs were delivered to Wright-Patterson Air Base by d-17 aircraft from October 20 to November 2 1997.

The fighters were in very poor technical condition, having stood for several years in the open air without proper maintenance - the planes were not even put into conservation. Presumably, most of the ex-Moldavian 29's in the United States were repainted in camouflage, which was close to the original (that is, Soviet) camouflaged Russian Air Force, but the MiG-29 squadron in the US Air Force did not exist at that time.

The fate of ex-Moldavian MiGs, for the most part, is not known. In the open sources, the same photos of several fighters put on display are “walking”.

One MiG-29 is located in the US Air Force Museum at Pima Air Base. A lantern was removed from this plane, which allegedly was required for the 29, which was flying at Groom Lake airbase. In April, the 2000 of the MiG-29 in the coloring of the Moldovan Air Force was photographed at Tyndall airbase. One MiG-29UB got into the National Aviation Intelligence Center (National Air Intelligence Center) at Wright-Patterson Air Base. The issue of the transfer of MiGs to the “aggressors” was considered, but bringing the entire 29's fleet to the US Air Force in flying condition was considered excessively costly. Nevertheless, several aircraft in the air still raised. Most likely, they were used in various experimental programs for testing new systems. weapons. In particular, the MiG-29 in flight was seen in the Groom Lake area.

It is safe to say that the Americans flew and fly MiGs and Su, but is there a big question in the US Air Force that is similar to the 4477 squadron ... But the Constant Peg program was also preceded by an estimated MiG test.

By the way, the unit Detachment 353rd Test and Evaluation Group still exists. Unofficially, it is called “Red Eagles”, and in service are MiG-29 and Su-27.

Soo in usa

In 1961 (or in 1963), the Air Defense Air Force pilot overtook the Su-9 interceptor in Abadan, Iran. Information about this incident is minimal. The aircraft in a disassembled form was delivered to the USA within a day, and the pilot was sent there as well.

No information on the use of the Su-4477 22 squadron was found. However, several Su-22 tests in the United States passed. Two Su-22 (20 + 25, 30914 and 25 + 33 31203) were received by the United States in Germany from 1991.

Su-27 appeared in the USA after the disbandment of the 4477 squadron. Several times (exactly at 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009), Su-27 was photographed from a very long distance around the Groom Lake Spotter base. In 2003, along with the Su-27, aviation photographers filmed MiG-29. A video made in the Groom Lake area of ​​2003 was posted on YouTube - Su-27 in flight.

The topic “Su-27 in the USA” is quite hotly discussed in the American specialized forums. Participants agree that the Su-27 were and is, their number in the USAF does not exceed four. It is worth noting the participation in the discussions of not only highly advanced aviation enthusiasts, but also veterans of the 4477 squadron - that is, information to a certain extent can be trusted.

It is said that the first Su-27 came to the USA back in the 1990-s. Allegedly, one aircraft for a not very long time, for testing, provided Ukraine. Su-27 delivered the Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan to the USA and back. In addition, participants in discussions at British and American aviation forums mention familiarization flights and air combat flights that are pilots of the US Air Force in the 1990. performed in Ukraine. How reliable this information is is the question.



Two Su-27 (single and twin) were bought in Ukraine by Prude Aurcraft. The aircraft underwent repairs, during which they removed military equipment from them, and inscriptions in the cockpits were done in English. “Drying” re-painted in the new “chopped” camouflage of the Ukrainian Air Force. Both fighters have been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Certificates were obtained in December 2009.


Ex-Ukrainian Su-27UB of private company Pride Aircraft


MiGs in museums, in storage and in collections

In the summer of 1988, all the 4477 squadrons belonging to the MiGs (14 MiG-21 and 9 MiG-23) were mothballed and stored in the hangars of the Tonopah airbase.

At least five ex-Indonesian MiG-21F-13 hit the museums or were installed in front of the entrances to the air base.

Obtained from the Indonesian Air Force MiG-21F-13 (serial number of the manufacturer 2114) is installed at the Kirtland airbase in front of the headquarters of the 150 th Fighter Air Wing of the National Guard of New Mexico. Previously camouflaged with patches of shades of brown, it was completely repainted with silver, and the tail number “150” was red.

At the Berksdale airbase also exhibited MiG-21F-13. The plane was repainted with silver, identification marks and tail numbers (“5060” in red) of the Air Force of the DRV were marked.

In 1990, the MiG-21F-13 was transferred to the “old” museum of SAC of the US Air Force at Offatt Air Base. For some time the fighter was exhibited in the 4477 squadron with red stars and the last name of the pilot (“Phelan”) printed on the cockpit frame. After the SAC museum was transferred to the Berksdale airbase, the aircraft was repainted under the DRV Air Force fighter with the 4422 board number in red.

MiG-21-13, previously standing in the VIP-hangar of the Tonopah airbase, was transferred to the museum at the Eglin airbase. The fighter was originally in service with the Indonesian Air Force. In the United States Air Force, the aircraft received a tail number "85", but when the car was put in a VIP-hangar around 1986, the tail number was changed from "85" to "14". At the Eglin airbase, the aircraft is again demonstrated with w / o 85.

There are several MiG-17s and MiG-21s at the Davis-Montan storage base in Arizona. It is possible that at least one MiG-21 had previously flown in the 4477th squadron, but it may have been purchased in Poland: the MiG-21 PF is in storage, and the PF was not in service with the Red Eagles. The MiG-17s were most likely purchased in Poland by the Defense Test & Evaluation Support Agency (DTESA) in the late 80s and may have been used in 1988 as targets at the White Sands during the Capability Improvement Programm, a massive three-week research exercise. Upon completion of work at the test site, the fighters were stored for some time at Kirtland airbase. In 2001, they were transferred to Davis-Montan, and one MiG-17 was transferred to the Air and Space Museum in Pima, located next to the Davis-Montan base.

In October, 1993 from the Ellsworth airbase was delivered to the California Aerospace Museum in Sacramento by the MiG-17PF. The "origin" of the aircraft has not been disclosed. In the museum, the interceptor is shown in the color of the air force of the DRV with the tail number “4721” in red. It was possible to find fragmentary information about the comparative tests of the MiG-17PF and F-4 under the Rivet Hast program in 1972.

The US Air Force Museum shows the MiG-23MLD with the tail number "44". The story of the appearance of this aircraft in the United States is quite unusual. The fighter was completely otkryto was sold in 1992, the Finnish company with the reservation to use the aircraft only as a flightless exhibit. The Finns resold MiG to a resident of sunny Florida, who had his own views on the Cold War artifact. A US citizen planned to demonstrate the MiG in flight at various air shows in the United States. Business is business, but a businessman, in addition to a “legal” MiG, imported an illegally purchased cannon GS-23 into the States. The plane with a cannon was confiscated by people from the Bureau for Combating the Illicit Traffic in Tobacco, Alcohol and Weapons. The plane was handed over to the museum by the intelligence of the USAF.

From Germany, the United States in 1991 received less than five MiG-23ML, previously in service with the GDR squadron JG-9 of the GDR:
- ex "26 + 20" is installed at Goodfellow's airbase, w / o "136" is painted in red
- ex "20 + 23" is located on Fallon airbase, w / o "353" red color
- ex "20 + 24" is located at Nellis airbase, the plane was repainted in desert camouflage, and the insignia of the Iraqi Air Force were inscribed.

Two MiG-29, one in the color of the USSR Air Force, the second - the Moldovan Air Force, are on the Nellis airbase. The "Soviet" MiG-29 is displayed in the hangar, the "Moldovan" is in the open air.

The MiG-29 (serial number 2960516761) was under restoration in the hangar of the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. In 2007, the fighter was exhibited in the Cold War Gallery of this museum. There is information that the plane had previously been in service with the 234 Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment stationed in Kubinka. This fighter among the MiG-29 group from Kubinka in July 1986 visited the Finnish air base Kuopilo-Rissal on a visit. That visit to Finland was the first showing of the MiG-29 in the West.

In Dayton there is also one ex-Moldavian 29. One MiG-29 is exhibited at the Pima Aviation Museum in Tucson (Arizona), the Evergreen aerospace museum in McMinnville (Oregon), on Fallon and McDill air bases (without a lantern). One MiG-XNUMHUB is located at Wright-Patterson airbase. All these MiG-29 spans are not suitable.

Derived from Eastern Europe at 2009, the MiG-29UB (civil registration N29UB) is owned by the Seattle-based Historic Flight Foundation, Washington. The aircraft is certified by the FAA and is suitable for flight. Private collector Don Kirlin has two MiG-29 purchased in Kyrgyzstan. The aircraft are based at Quincy Regional Airport (Illinois), at 2010 they are FAA certified, and are in flightable condition. In the US, there are two more MiG-XNUMHUBs purchased in Europe and certified by the FAA.


MiG-17 in storage, Davis-Montana airbase





Soviet aircraft at Nellis airbase

For decades, full-scale samples of military equipment from potential US opponents have been demonstrated at the Nellis airbase. At the end of 1990's the base had previously been in service with JG-9 NNA GDR MIG-23ML, MiG-21F-13 (possibly previously flying in the 4477 squadron), MiG-17 (probably “Hev Ferry”), Su-7 with identification marks Poland, MiG-19 with the identification marks of the Air Force of Indonesia, MiG-23BN with the identification marks of the Air Force of Egypt.

Designations of Soviet-designed aircraft in the US Air Force

The assignment of their own designations to Soviet-built aircraft was not a whim or a whim. All information concerning MiGs was classified as a document of the highest secrecy. Meanwhile, the pilots had to keep an unclassified flight book, which indicated the type on which the flight was performed. Do not write the same MiG-21! In the open press it is easy to find information about the types of aircraft mastered by one or another, especially well-known, American pilot. Information about them is taken from the flight book (Forma 5 USAF). Sometimes come across very interesting aircraft. So, the commander of the 412 th test aircraft wing Colonel Joseph A. Lanni, among other things, mastered the YF-24 aircraft. The designation YF-24 confuses the minds of many aviation enthusiasts on planet Earth.

The first American designation received the MiG-21F-13, involved in the program "Hev Dugnat." It was not so easy to choose a designation. It should have been close to the designations of real American fighters, but at the same time not to coincide with the designation of a real-life apparatus, take into account the specialization of the pilot. The fact of regular flights of a fighter pilot on an airplane, say, B-XX, could be strange, because B is a Bomber, a bomber.

So, we immediately decided on the letter: “F”, Fighter, but with the addition of the prefix “Y”, which means “experienced”. It is difficult today to judge what thoughts were wandering in the heads of people who chose and approved the designations for the MiG-21, but the MiG became the “Phantom”! The very first "Phantoms", as is known, were designated F-110A, but then the aircraft designation system was changed, and the "Phantom" became F-4. Aircraft F-110B, F-110C could not appear in principle. But it was MiG-21F-13 that received the designation YF-110B. The number of "111" in the fighter'oB row was taken, but to continue the series of aircraft of the "hundredth" series did not interfere: F-112, 113, 114, etc. The designation system of foreign aircraft in the US Air Force has been established for decades and has not changed. All secret "imported" aircraft were designated YF-1XX. The exception was the F-117, however, probably the intentional exception. Top secret "Stealth" was in the same row (almost literally - on the same air base) with top-secret fighters of the Soviet design.

Simple at first glance, the system is not devoid of mystery. For many years, disputes over the aircraft YF-113G. For a long time it was believed that under this designation was hidden the "stealth" of the Boeing company, but in the end most numerology fans came to the conclusion that YF-113G is one of the modifications of the MiG-23. However, the US Air Force on this occasion remain silent. In addition to the false designation, the MiGs received false serial numbers of the USAF, for example, “75-004” or “75-010”.

Some Western experts believe that this notation is growing by new types and now. Nothing is known about the designations that were received in the US Air Force Su-brand aircraft. The designations YF-116 and YF-118 allegedly received MiG-25 and MiG-29, respectively.

MiG-29 "9-12" at Wright-Patterson Air Base


Su-7 in Iraqi Air Force Coloring at Nellis Air Base


This Mig-29 "Fulcrum-C" at Nellis airbase, purchased from the Republic of Moldova

Mig-23 at Nellis airbase


Designations of Soviet-designed aircraft of the US Air Force

YF-110B - MiG-21F-13.
YF-110C - J-7B (Chinese-built MiG-21F-13).
YF-110D - MiG-21F.
YF-110E, L and M - notation used in 1987 — 1995. What kind of aircraft they belonged to has not been established.
YF-112 - Which aircraft belonged to this designation, has not been established, with greater probability - Su-22, with less - MiG-19.
YF-113A - MiG-17F "Heav Drill".
YF-113B - MiG-23BN.
YF-113C - J-5 (Chinese-made MiG-17F).
YF-113E - MIG-23MS
YF-113G - the most "mysterious" designation, most likely a modification of the MiG-23, but the secret prototype fighter for the US Air Force, flying in 1993— 1996, is not excluded.
YF-113H - Designation used in 1987 — 1995. Which aircraft it belonged to was not installed.
YF-114C - MiG-17F "Have Ferry" and all the MiG-17F 4477-th squadron.
YF-114D - MiG-17PF.
YF-115 - presumably Su-7.
YF-116А - Designation used in 1987 — 1995. Which aircraft it belonged to was not installed.
YF-118 - allegedly MiG-29.
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11 comments
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  1. 0
    25 February 2013 09: 16
    a shame for the "friends", as soon as they did not manage to sell yao somewhere in Saudi Arabia
    1. 0
      25 February 2013 10: 21
      technology is transferred ... especially in ChinaTuzik,
      1. laurbalaur
        +1
        25 February 2013 17: 20
        oh how sad it is to watch this picture!
    2. Fox
      +8
      25 February 2013 11: 04
      Quote: Tuzik
      a shame for the "friends", as soon as they did not manage to sell yao somewhere in Saudi Arabia

      it just wasn’t. but in relation to the "brothers" we can conclude that they lived at the expense of us and on our content. as an example of the owner-germanium, which used MiGs to wear out. and these ... as they were monkeys, they remained . pity wasted resources and time for them.
  2. dsf34rwesdgg
    -1
    25 February 2013 10: 46
    Imagine, it turns out that our authorities have complete information about each of us. And now she appeared on the Internet choch.rf / 8ets Very surprised and scared, my correspondence, addresses, phone numbers, even found my naked photo, I can not even imagine where. The good news is that the data can be deleted from the site, of course, I used it and I advise everyone not to hesitate
  3. +8
    25 February 2013 11: 00
    damn well how amers do not even store their equipment carefully
    what is stopping us? probably the eternal Russian maybe yes laziness smile
  4. +6
    25 February 2013 11: 50
    I read that the Americans have a couple of Mi-24, they are used as training, to work out protection against air attacks.
  5. Larus
    0
    25 February 2013 11: 57
    The article is informative, but the author has a MINUS for not knowing the rules of the Russian language, because. "in Ukraine" - this is possible in Ukraine, there has long been our Nikolaev in Mi (s) cola rewritten.
  6. Suvorov000
    +2
    25 February 2013 12: 14
    Mdaaa for the state of shame, sold as the last proxy
  7. in reserve
    +1
    25 February 2013 13: 03
    They bought a lot of equipment for study. It’s interesting, but how do we study them?
    You probably won't see American planes in our museums. I liked how they take care of the technology, do everything to the smallest detail, from painting to conservation.
  8. +1
    25 February 2013 13: 04
    I am glad to continue the series of articles.
    Thanks to the author!
  9. in reserve
    0
    25 February 2013 13: 10
    By the way, if anyone wants to fly on the MIG-29 and shoot a video on HD, I found a reference
    http://29mig.ru/
  10. Ale-x00010
    0
    20 August 2013 13: 26
    something like that with us
    http://testpilot.ru/review/runway/volga/volga_xvi.htm

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