While the US pilots at Tonopah had respect for the straight acceleration of the MiG-23, I hardly think it “Struck Fear” Into them. After all our (USAF) record against the MiG-23 is one-sided….

I think the comment you're replying to was more related to the crew flying the thing, not the crews fighting against it.

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So had F4K&M Phantoms. It was attached to a small triangular plate at the base of the windscreen.

Would be for British Shows, that rule came in after the A-26 Crash at Biggin Hill in 1980. I think that rule was an amendment to the 1982 Air Navigation Order, which also defined what was classed as an air show.

Aircraft operating in US waivered airspace ( i.e. airshow airspace) can only carry essential crew. I am guessing they made the case to the FAA that they had to have a second crewman to operate the jet safely

Ahhh, I see what you mean. Then I apologize for interpreting his comment incorrectly. I do remember reading the book about the Tonopa MIG’s and the US pilots were cautious about the -23.

In the book Red Eagles by Steve Davies, recording the secret testing of various Soviet fighters at Tonopah, he quotes a Major Thomas Drake, who apparently had the highest number of flights on the type, (294) "on every sortie that thing tried to kill me". I guess testing the corners of an aircraft's envelope is not the same as a well-rehearsed airshow routine, but it does indicate the aeroplane had its quirks.

Looking over a few Soviet jets in the past they do seem to have an agricultural look about them. Why do our Russian cousins paint their cockpits that ghastly dog vomit green? On a Boeing conversion course many years ago it was explained that Boeings then habit of painting their cockpits brown was to make it easy on the eye. I preferred the 727 battle-ship grey myself!

Wonder what the Soviet reason is for greenish blue?

It's supposed to ease your vision transition from inside the cockpit to outside and vice-versa.

NTSB press briefing yesterday. Very limited information given and speculation etc avoided, as you would expect.

I recall "Witwenmacher" (widowmaker) being the common nickname in Germany at the time, also "Erdnagel" (ground peg) was used.

The fear was being required to fly the MiG 23. The only thing US fighter crews feared about engaging the 23 was that it would get away before you could kill it. Top speed down low was very impressive. Everything else equally unmpressive.

The late TAC General 'Bobby' Bond accident

F-117A: The crash of General Robert M Bond

It was implied he did not quite understand the limitations of said Mig 23 which led to the catastrophic event..

cheers

Interestingly, early u-2s seem to have had a similar colour in the upper part of the cockpit

The cockpits were painted turquoise because they thought that it was the most restful colour on the eyes for the crew.

Local TV had an interview with an observer who stated they witnessed a birdstrike.

23 will kill you even if you're not in it.

https://www.rbth.com/history/330613-...um-catastrophe

The Boeing brown was allegedly to hide nicotine stains. The 787 is grey

Backseater appears to have been a fellow United pilot, and has already acquired, or is about to buy his own Mig23, so, maybe FAA granted observer permission for airshow routine prior to his work up to his own display qualification? That's not uncommon by all accounts.

It's an awful colour.

Is it called 'Baby-sh1t brown'? If not, it should be.

The 23 and 27 have a lot of BS written about them. They are pretty straight forward if used as intended - low level strike, so straight line no turning and burning.

The main two issues with them are firstly the engine - which is not super reliable at the best of times, but when it experiences long or latitudinal stress has a nasty habit of distortion and self immolation. we are not talking serious g here. Secondly lateral stability, it snakes like a bitch hence the lower stabiliser which extends with gear up. This gets a fair bit of abuse so rarely stays straight for long, compounding snaking and trim requires continual attention. The indian air force had a pretty good serviceability rate around 70% most weeks. Not sure on the numbers for Bulgaria, GDR etc.

If your flying at sub 100 feet and need to fly at warp factor 1 plus with a smooth ride that wouldn't trouble your haemorrhoids it was a great option. Just don't bank, yank and expect a good outcome.

https://www.instagram.com/darkroomeagle/


anyway, some great shots of the ejection sequence here - looks like late life upgrade seats fitted too

why did texas raiders have a full crew then? If everyone who boards is crew whats the point?