Grumman’s F-14 tooling was destroyed by a certain current vice president, so they are no longer in the business. The USN has some capabilities of it’s own at it’s rework facility on North Island, but apart from that…

Swidnik does build structural parts – i wouldn’t be surprised that an F-14 upgrade does entail some structural work. And about Israeli avionics – why not? It wouldn’t be the first time that Israel lends a hand to the Ayatollah’s air force 😉

So true… and a great analogy you have there.

On a related note, will the tourgroup take care of all the stuff we need to get into Monino? Aren’t some sort of “permissions” required?

A tuesday evening, in the election-summer of 1996, at the gate to the Monino museum. A car stops, just your average dirty Lada. Only the better trained observers might notice the Dutch license plate, but even those will be comforted by the smelly, unshaven drunk guy who stumbles out. Allright, he’s a bit tall, but he looks definately vague enough to seem Russian.

Inside the guard house the sentry is reassured, even when the drunkard stumbles in. His accent is funny though – but not as bad as his grammar, let alone his vocabulary which sounds like that of a three year old.
“Zdravstvuyte, mister comrade,” the drunk says. “I would like to visit your fine museum with my travelling comrade on Thursday.”
The guard is surprised, and slightly amused by this sudden break in his boredom.
“But we are closed on Thursday, because of our upcoming elections.”
In true alcoholic fashion, the unexpected visitor tries to ignore this bit of information.
“I don’t understand, i speak very bad Russian,” he replies. “I’m from the Netherlands, you see? Hips. I would love to see your beautiful aircraft on Thursday. That would be really nice, you know. I want to see aircraft from Russia. On Thursday.”
A smile appears on the guard’s face. “We are closed on Thursday, there will be nobody here working. Let try to find someone who will be here in two days, and guide you around. Not working.” His smile broadens, comforting the drunk who has hardly understood one bit of what the guard just said.
It takes only a short telephone call before the sentry has gotten what it takes to get rid of that strange visitor, and return to a nice and quiet evening of guarding that gate.
“Khorosho, comrade” he says. “There will be someone here for you on Thursday, nine thirty. Will see you then, and good evening!”

The visit itself, two days later, was just as great. The guide who walked us through the museum had been a navigator aboard an IL-4 during the Great Patriotic War, and spoke such a calm, gentle and clear Russian that i had no problem understanding him. Absolutely lovely museum – both for the collection, and for the people working (or not 😉 ) there.

‘Snoopy’ was of course populair, with XV208 (the Meteo Herk) and one of the B-58 proto- or development aircraft having that name, as well as countless FAC aircraft in Vietnam.

Then there is the series of Memphis Belles. Number I being of course that B-17, number II being an F-105D, number III appeared on an A-10 and at least two B-52s, and now Memphis Belle IV is both an F-15E and another B-52.

Are you sure the poor Colonel Pavlov would be able to handle all five of us? I doubt he’ll be making it to General then…

the cfts are probably mostly composite…….so the RCS is probably a non-issue.

Depends on the sort of composites. Glass fibre should be completely clear to radar, but carbon or boron fibres certainly aren’t. My guess is the gun gas vent in the left CFT would be metal too, so that should definately be a reflector. Especially if you look at the nice 90deg angles.