Thanks for the Libyan Blinder SOC, really sad that it’s not operational anymore. Destroyed Iraqi Tu-22s and a Tu-16 at Al Taqaddum

That isn’t a BADGER! The remains are of an IL-76 – or at least a CANDID variant. ACIG are on the record that the wreck is that of an Adnan. In other more detailed images, taken by RAF recce, the t-tail can be seen for example.

TJ

For those without access to the CDF, I will repost the pic of the Golf here.

I agree with Xinhui. This “important test platform” does not look like there has been anyone living in it for a long long time.

Guys,
That image of the Golf appeared in Jane’s as far back as 2002. There is no way of knowing when the image was originally taken. Regardless of what she looks like she is still very much in service with the North Sea Fleet. Hard for you to imagine but she is still very well known to the US Navy and not just berthed up!

I retired from the military only this year and have seen numerous photographs of this old lady still active. This old lady was indeed inactive for many years, but sprung back into life with a vengeance during the 2001 period. She’ll not win any beauty contests, but she was brought back to service to fulfill the role of a trials platform for the JL-2. Since returning full-time to the fleet she has performed pop-up tests and all the launches of the JL-2.

Even Bill Gertz gets it spot on with his US Navy contacts on the utilization of this Golf-class. She is very well known to the US Navy who has plenty of photographs of her operational. These photographs were taken in the 2003, 2004 & 2005 period.

SSB 200 was re-launched during 1995 after an extensive refit. The JL-2 development has been protracted and with the Golf the PLAN had a ready trials boat. Waste not want not is probably the reason why the PLAN continues to use her. But in service and still cutting the seas she is. I tell no lies here. Hopefully the PLAN will give her a fitting berth when she finally retires from the North Sea Fleet. She certainly has had an interesting career and is very unique.

Hyperwarp,
The Type 093 goes by the name of “SHANG-class”. The Type 094 is known as the JIN-class – just in case you need any confirmation.

Here is a little parting snippet for you guys. The craft that you know as “FAC” i.e. 2208, 2209 etc go by the name of HOUBEI-class.

I’ll leave you guys in peace. Just popped on to this thread to inform you of the PLANs continued use of the old Golf (SSB 200). I stress again that I am not leading you astray. Just because there are no nice official photographs emerging out of the PRC does not mean that she is rusting away at her berth.

Alright, thanks. Which reminds me, what was the reason for the VC.10 to be painted black for a short while? If camouflage trial, why black, why a VC10? Anyone have a clue.

Bit off topic, but well, better than a Rammstein discussion…

The VC10 was sporting a trial primer.

TJ

Yes, but he is a Hornet guy. :-p Those Tomcat guys are crazy.

About Top Gun, I still enjoy it today, you just have to remember it is a movie and watch it for the fun. If you want everything to be right, watch a documentary. Only the missile lock beep annoy me. The Migs look more like T-38s not F-5s, funny as all those “we know it better/trivia” claim they are F-5Es. It is clearly visible they are two-seat. And T-38 probably explains the black color as well.

Anyway, those MiG-28s carry the M61 in the wingroot on both sides, I noticed. 😉

And the AIM-7, if fired at close range, can transform into AIM-9 in mid flight. 😀

Those “MiG-28s” were F-5E and F-5F. They were specially painted for the role in the movie. It was a temporary finish and peeled.

A former US Navy pilot posted to rec.aviation during 1996:

“….. they painted a few F-5’s for the movie. They used a water based
paint that could be washed off real easily. The plane(s) had long
slivers of it missing after returning from the shoots, presumably from
the high speed runs. (and the paint was a REAL dark green, NOT
black!) They made up one F-14 gun bird. It had several cameras mounted
on it, for different angle shots. And for you trivia buffs out there,
Paramount paid $7500./hr for the F-14’s flight time. They only used
about 15 hours or so, if’n I remember that far back.

Yes, I was flying F-14’s in Miramar when the movie was made. The
classroom scene (where Maverick realized just who he had been hitting
on the night before) was shot in our hangar. Realistic?? Naw…but
entertaining. Personally, I spent three days on the set for the bar
scene. Tom was interested in what we did, would stand around and
shoot the **** with us, but Kelly only came out of her trailer to shoot
a scene, then disappeared.

Awww…takes me back….

Brett “Weasel” Zeitz
Former VF-1 “Wolfpack” ”

The following are images of the Es and F painted up.

TJ

I am guessing either over Iran or Pakistan….those are the only two countries (maybe Syria), where it makes sense deploy this plane……If its over Pakistan, then no biggie….just like any loyal proxy, they would be more then happy to hand over the wreckage/remains of the plane/pilot….Iran though could be problematic….

The U-2 is a relatively easy target for SAMs. They are not overflying hostile territory, such as Iran. The U-2s are involved in support of ops in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The only U-2s overflying Syria are with the permission of the Syrians themselves. Those U-2 Syria overflights are part of the Israeli-Arab peace agreement.

TJ

The one another source of F-104RB record:

-F-104, Steve Pace, 1992, , page 142:

“The 988 mph record was not recognised by FAI. He attempted another run in 1978 but crashed in a try.”

The Red Baron did break and hold the Sageburner record. This was noted by both the FAI and NAA.

David Lednicer, who has been in contact with Daryl Greenamyer, wrote the following on Google Groups:

David Lednicer Jan 19 1998:
Flying F-104´s private owners

“Darryl’s RB-104 flew for the first time in the fall of 1976. It was a
combination of pieces from every model of -104, so you can’t really give
it a designator. It was largely built at Van Nuys, but the FAA wouldn’t
let him fly it out, so he trucked it to Mojave and flew it there.

He first tried to break the FAI 3 km world (not civilian – WORLD) speed
record that fall, but one timing camera didn’t work and the record was
disallowed. He came back the next fall and on October 24th he broke the
old F-4A Sageburner record by going 988.26 mph. This record still
stands. He next was going to break the FAI altitude record, which had
just been pushed up by a MiG-25. On his last test flight, in early
1978, the right gear wouldn’t lock down. Running out of fuel, with the
sun going down, he was forced to punch out over the Edwards AFB bombing
range. The wreckage was hauled back to the Mojave boneyard and was
still there in 1987, when I stole some pieces of it. I have since heard
that it has been removed, probably to a junkyard.

If anyone has video of the RB-104 or pictures, I would love to get
copies of them. I have talked to Darryl about doing an article on the
history of the aircraft, but I have been too busy.”

David Lednicer Aug 2 1996, 8:00 am show options

Newsgroups: rec.aviation.military
From: David Lednicer
Date: 1996/08/02
Subject: Re: Fastest at low level
Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse

“Greenamyer first attempted to set the FAI class C-1 3km record in
1976, but one of the timing cameras didn’t cooperate. He was unoffically
clocked at over 1000 mph. In 1977 he went back and offically set the
record at 988.26 mph. I have the US NAA record book sitting in my lap,
open to the record – so it is for real!

Getting ready for an attempt on the altitude record, in early
1978, he had gear problems on his last work-up flight. Rather than risk
bellying in, he punched out and the -104 became a lawn dart. I talked to
Darryl last week about getting some good pictures of the airplane, for an
article I want to write.”

TJ

Or this: about F-104RB

http://www.airraceaddict.com/conquest1

The links are dead. Firebar, I believe this is what you are trying to post?

http://www.airraceaddict.com/conquest1.shtml

“Greenamyer was Lockheed test pilot who has flown SR-71 and YF-12. Assembled only privately-owned F-104 from engineering and crash parts. Although he set world’s record of just over 1000 mph in 1-04, was denied FAI approval due to recording equipment failure (record had to be set over 3 km measured course at under 1000 ft altitude). “

http://www.aviation-history.com/garber/vg-bldg/grumman_F8F-1_f.html

“Greenamyer was Lockheed test pilot who has flown SR-71 and YF-12. Assembled only privately-owned F-104 from engineering and crash parts. Although he set world’s record of just over 1000 mph in 1-04, was denied FAI approval due to recording equipment failure (record had to be set over 3 km measured course at under 1000 ft altitude).”

Firebare, The Sageburner record was broken by the Red Baron and is recognised by the FAI. Why is it so hard to comprehend? Contact FAI and ask them for confirmation.

The links you provided are in error as Greenamyer came back the following fall and broke the Sageburner record (recognised by FAI).

http://members.chello.se/ipmsairrace/records.htm

TJ