You see the 555 FS on the tail? That’s not a serial number but the squadron number. The 555th is O’Grady’s unit so that is certainly O’Grady’s plane unless the 555 FS lost another (unlikely.)

The “Triple Nickel” is actually a very famous formation in the USAF and included ace Robin Olds who had 4 kills in Vietnam (ace status with 12 kills in WWII.)

O’Grady’s aircraft was not found until 2000. If you look at the 8th image posted you will see the ’88’ of 88-0550. You will also see in the images posted a poster showing 88-0550 with the Eagle on the tail.

88-0550 was the flag ship of the Triple Nickels as you can see in the following image:

http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/Images/unit03/f1688550.jpg

Links for the finding of O’Grady’s aircraft:

http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/news00/uns00142.htm

http://www.scribevision.com/49adtalon/tal051300/articles/O’Grady’s%20F-…

http://www.nato.int/sfor/advisory/2000/t000428a.htm

TJ

:confused: When?

btw: is that a german UAV behind the predator?

The F-16 remains in the museum is 88-0550. This was an F-16CG that suffered engine problems after a SAM detonated near to it over Serbia, 2 May 1999. The pilot nearly managed to nurse it out into Bosnia. He ejected and was rescued within Serbia by a CSAR team.

http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/Images/unit03/f1688550.jpg

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/04/26/shootdown.video/

http://www.1stguns.de/support/f_16_hit_serbia.mp3

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carl.hender/files/audio/hammer-trans.htm

The UAV is a French Crecerelle.

TJ

Looks like an early HOT. The following is a later variant:

http://www.mbda.net/site/img_imp/prevpge_hot.jpg

TJ

😮

The Lightning by English Electric?

http://61.132.72.44/dswc/upload/images/52747457302.jpg

Or, is this one of the early
Swedish Draken series of aircrafts? And, what’s all
that stuff hanging from it????

😮

Lightning with speed brakes out, flaps down and elevator (looks like stick pulled back). Fitted with overwing fuel tanks.

TJ

http://www.lewrockwell.com/pilger/pilger17.html

Pilger is always very loose with the facts:

http://pilger.carlton.com/print/19255

“How many NATO aircraft have really been shot down or crashed? This is suppressed, of course……

Nato is suffering significant losses. Reliable alternative sources in Washington have counted up to 38 aircraft crashed or shot down, and an undisclosed number of American and British special forces killed. This is suppressed, of course.”

TJ

I’ve seen Russian decision to purchase the Su-34 as the replacement for Mig-27s, Su-17s and Su-24s. However what big advantage does the Su-34 have over for example over other Flankers like Su-35/Su-30MKI in the STRIKE role? I mean the Su-35/30MKI have similar range, similar number of hardpoints and a similar payload. Aside from Su-34 having a more A2G radar, what real big advantages does it have over those fully multirole Flankers which can be used in AA role much better and would probably be cheaper to purchase?

The SU-34 is not a ‘FLANKER’. It carries the codename FULLBACK.

TJ

NATO codenames have not been given since the end of the Cold War I believe, what matters is how good is the radar of this aircraft because an AWACS is as good as it’s electronics are.

Srbin,
That is incorrect. For example the FLANKER family is up to H in the series. where did you think FLANKER G and H came from? FULCRUM is up to G. MiG-AT received the codename MISER and the Yak-130 has the codename MITTEN. Designators and names never went away. Radars, missiles etc are all still named by the west. Another example is the SU-47 which received the codename FIRKIN.

TJ

The flight plan was for them to route through Egypt.

TJ