N reg helicopters in Russia
 

Hello, just having a perusal around FR24 and was looking in Russia and lo and behold I spotted a swarm of aircraft apparently fying around a place called Krasny Kut and sporting call signs starting with RA. There were 5 a/c and when high lighted each showed what i took to be a US reg beginning with N. Only one showed a photo when clicked on and showed a Huey. “Strange” I thought, American registered helicopters Flying around in Russia. Anyone know what’s happening?

A342

N registered helicopters fly around all over the world.

More likely to be a FR24 'quirk' - databases not updated, or A/C transmitting incorrect hex codes

Could also be the hexcode was not updated on arrival in Russia for US built aircraft.

The photo issue is entirely different. FR24 owns JetPhotos.com and merely provides the most recent photo from that site for the registration, based on the hexcode being used.

Appears to be a flying school with DA-20s and maybe C172s, plus a few Yak 18/52s and a lot of AN-2s on the airfield. No sign of any helicopters, Bell 205s or otherwise.

Very likely a data error.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ro3fFMJ64tzF61Gj8

There's a method to track the FAA status of N numbers. What tends to happen with some aircraft sales is the N registration is not properly cancelled so the database doesn't get updated. This is partly the reason the FAA went to a renewal requirement on all aircraft registrations.