Putin Says- "Pimp My MiG"

Technically, "Pimp my Sukhoi". On November 25, 2007, the Russian Air Force accepted it's first batch of upgraded Sukhoi-24 fighter bombers. The Su-25 is the Soviet response to the American F-111. Having been in service for 32 years, it now sports the latest electronics and gadgets. Flat screen instruments, GPS and smart bombs are just some of the improvements.

While the upgraded Sukhoi is another step in Russian President Putin's path to making Russia a military superpower again, it also gives credence to another concern in the West. Take a look at this MiG-25.To prevent capture or destruction during Desert Storm, the Iraqis buried this MiG-25. Designed in the 1960's it was long feared as a "premier" fighter. It has since been reduced to an airborne target for Western fighters. Or so we thought. The MiG pictured in the picture above looks like a MiG-25 but it has been "pimped" as well. Old on the outside, everything inside is new. Electronics, engines, weapons. All courtesy of the French. This gives rise to speculation about how helpful the French have been.

Consider the plight of the Iranian F-14 Tomcats. Back in the 1970's the U.S. sold a bunch of Tomcats to the Shah of Iran. He was deposed and the planes fell into the hands of the Mullahs. Rumors abound of how the American technicians sabotaged the weapon systems before they were kicked out of the country. Coupled with a parts embargo by the U.S. this reduced the Iranian F-14 fleet to museum pieces. The last time they were used in combat was during the Iran/Iraq war of 1980 and even then they were used as airborne controllers rather than weapons.
In light of the upgrade of the Sukhoi and the story of the "Buried MiG", a question has to asked. Have the Iranians upgraded their Tomcats? Intelligence estimates are still guarded. A F-14 "pimped" by the French (or Russians) poses a real challenge to the U.S. and her allies.

General Paul Tibbets has Died

General Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr has died after a two-month decline in health. He was 92.

Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr was born in Quincy, Illinois, in 1915 and spent most of his youth in Miami. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1937 and led bombing operations in Europe before returning to test the Superfortress.

The then Col Tibbets named his B-29 Enola Gay after his mother.

Tibbets was the Commander of the 509th Bomb Group and piloted the B-29 mission which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan.

On the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima, the surviving members of the Enola Gay crew - Gen Tibbets, Theodore J "Dutch" Van Kirk (the navigator) and Morris R Jeppson (weapon test officer) said: "The use of the atomic weapon was a necessary moment in history. We have no regrets".

Gen Tibbets said then: "Thousands of former soldiers and military family members have expressed a particularly touching and personal gratitude suggesting that they might not be alive today had it been necessary to resort to an invasion of the Japanese home islands to end the fighting."

In 1995, Gen Tibbets denounced as a "damn big insult" a planned 50th anniversary exhibition of the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian Institution that put the bombing in context of the suffering it caused.

He and veterans groups said too much attention was being paid to Japan's suffering and not enough to its military brutality.

General Tibbets had asked for no funeral nor headstone as he feared opponents of the bombing may use it as a place of protest, the friend, Gerry Newhouse, said.

Singapore Bans Mile High Club

Singapore Airlines has become the first airline to put the Airbus A380 into service. The A380 is the world's largest airliner with a maximum passenger load of 840 people.

Singapore has opted to configure their jets to accommodate 471 passengers. This includes twelve fully enclosed suites with a double bed and a $50,000 ticket price.
The suite pictured comes with a catch. Singapore Airlines has announced that in flight sex is banned. Citing that the walls are not sound proof, Singapore Airlines says the ban is to ensure not to offend other passengers.

Unbelievable Landing

You're not going to believe what this Viggen fighter jet does. Try this one in your F-16, Sportsfan.


VIGGEN LANDING - Click here for the most popular videos

Blue Angel Down

It is with profound sadness that I share that LtCmdr Kevin J. Davis was killed Saturday when his F/A-18 crashed during an air show in Beaufort S.C. Davis was number six on the Blue Angels, the Navy Air Demonstration squadron. Davis was rejoining the formation of six aircraft when he struck the ground.

No cause for the crash was apparent and the NAVY continues to investigate. A Public Affairs Officer for the Blue Angels said Saturday,

"We will regroup."

LtCmdr Kevin J. Davis

Early reports say that eight people were injured on the ground, none serious.

Gay Forced Off Plane

A man who was obviously Gay is asked to debark an airliner.

Big John Decommissioned Today

The aircraft carrier U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67) is being decommissioned today in Mayfort, Florida.

Sneak Peek at the 2007 Thunderbird Team

The USAF Thunderbirds are practicing for their 2007 season. The Team is looking very sharp this year. I hope you get a chance to see them in person.