I’m willing to bet that last pic isn’t far off what we’re going to see in three or four years time… Although a nose like that won’t hold much radar.

The thing I dont understand is why there was apparently very little use of the Mi-24 in this conflict.

From what I’ve heard/read it seems the conflict moved too fast initially so the Hind squadrons could not set up forward operating bases on the South Ossetian side in time (their bases on the North Ossetian side being on the wrong side of a rather substantial mountain range). Later, once the Georgians were out of S.O. for good the Russians set up FOBs and Hinds did fly combat missions during the last couple of days of the war.

Crikey, those Ukrainians sure do stir everything up don’t they! If I didn’t know better i’d assume they were waging a covert war against Russia or at least looking to provoke the Russians, I mean selling radars, missiles and supplying experts to Georgia is obviously a severe warning shot across the bow if you like to Russia.

No offence intended, genuinely, but that’s just about the only smart thing you’ve said so far in this thread.

KRASNODAR, November 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s armed forces plans to buy up to 12 Ka-52 Hokum-B combat/reconnaissance helicopters in 2009, the Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday.

“We plan to buy up to 12 Ka-52s in 2009 providing we complete tests and are satisfied that the machine meets all the demands agreed and required of it,” Zelin said in Krasnodar on Tuesday during celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Serov College of Higher Military Aviation and Engineering in Krasnodar, southern Russia.

Zelin said that in addition to the Ka-52, designed primarily for reconnaissance and target designation, the main helicopter in service with the Air Force will be the Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter gunship.

“These machines will complement, not replace, one another,” the Air Force chief said. “The Air Force budget has increased in quality and quantity, therefore I think that everything planned in the defense program … new hardware, aircraft, helicopters, modernized equipment, we should receive.”

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081104/118120823.html

old shape

I’ve already booked the Belgians for that.

Ah, I see. I thought they’d be too busy running the bar to work the brewery as well 😉

Flex,

Agree absolutely.

Figured you would 😎

…who’s left?

You only got ten out of 26.

Might I suggest:
The Czechs brew the beer…
The Slovaks provide the women…
…And all the other countries can turn up in national costumes and dance in circles…

So basically, everybody’s having fun except the Brits who are off fighting a war and the Germans who are stuck in the office, doing the paperwork, and complaining about all the noise from the bar. Its almost exactly as the EU is now.

I didn’t find out that I was good with my hands, apart from model plane (not plastic) making, until I was 23, but didn’t really get my hands dirty, apart from working on the car, until the age of 27.
Even then I didn’t realise my full potential, that began to happen from age 33 and I retired at 47 with enough to live a good life on until death us do part.

Few people seem to realise that fortunes can be made with dirty hands and it’s not that demanding.

I almost don’t want to ask but….

What did you do?

Gotta love the Jag!

Easily my favourite western jet.