North Korea's MD500s
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North Korea's MD500s
Probably old news how they acquired them illegally in the 1980s.
I wonder how do they keep them flying for so long! Maybe they manufacturer all their own parts for the engines and dynamic components, etc.
I wonder how do they keep them flying for so long! Maybe they manufacturer all their own parts for the engines and dynamic components, etc.
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You might enjoy this, has a pic of one of their MD500:
https://www.nknews.org/2016/10/flyin...ever-air-show/
There are more, I think Sam Chui photographed them, but I don't have a URL right now.
https://www.nknews.org/2016/10/flyin...ever-air-show/
There are more, I think Sam Chui photographed them, but I don't have a URL right now.
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Those Hughes 500s have a special purpose.
As S Korea uses them too they would well be used to infiltrate special forces teams into S Korea without fear of being challenged or even recognised. AS they have them in some numbers (80+ originally. Thanks Germany!) they could do serious mischief using this scam alone.
Just one example of the clever sneaky way NK plans to do war. They'll use unconventional techniques right left and centre to make up for their lack of technology and I reckon we'll have a job keeping abreast of it all. They're not going to be a pushover.
As S Korea uses them too they would well be used to infiltrate special forces teams into S Korea without fear of being challenged or even recognised. AS they have them in some numbers (80+ originally. Thanks Germany!) they could do serious mischief using this scam alone.
Just one example of the clever sneaky way NK plans to do war. They'll use unconventional techniques right left and centre to make up for their lack of technology and I reckon we'll have a job keeping abreast of it all. They're not going to be a pushover.
Last edited by noflynomore; 24th Apr 2017 at 12:42.
Two other things.
One is the PAC 750XL from New Zealand. Not sure how that got into North Korea.
And the other thing is that no matter how many aircraft go down that runway, it is still the dirtiest dustiest paved runway I've ever seen!!!
One is the PAC 750XL from New Zealand. Not sure how that got into North Korea.
And the other thing is that no matter how many aircraft go down that runway, it is still the dirtiest dustiest paved runway I've ever seen!!!
1988 Article
Report: CIA knew about helicopter smuggling - UPI Archives
At this year's joint South Korean-U.S. military talks, the defense minister from Seoul said North Korea already had painted South Korean markings on the Hughes helicopters
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Originally Posted by Nooby
One is the PAC 750XL from New Zealand. Not sure how that got into North Korea.
There was a fair bit of coverage on the DPRK's MD 500E fleet in 2013, including in The Aviationist and even Business Insider, after the aircraft appeared in a military display in July of that year.
Flight was one of the earliest sources to break news of the original sale, back in 1985.
I/C