Russian Fighter Jets Sold For Five Dollars
By Wyatt Earp | August 8, 2009
Ooh, I want one! Where do I send the money?
MOSCOW – Russian investigators are probing the illegal sale of four fuselages of MiG-31 interceptor fighter jets that were sold off for as little as $5 (2.98 pounds), although worth $3.7 million each, RIA news agency said on Thursday.
Corruption is rife across Russia, with the country’s President Dmitry Medvedev repeatedly pledging to launch crackdowns and repeatedly complaining this week about officials who demand bribes.
The sale came to light after an anti-corruption check was carried out to see whether regulations were followed during the sale of items from the Sokol Aircraft Construction plant located in the Russian Volga city of Nizhny Novgorod, RIA reported. (H/T – )
Ya know, come to think of it, I could buy one for me – to get back and forth to work – and one for the wife – to make her shopping trips a lot more convenient. And when some jackass cuts us off, they get the 23mm cannon. It’s win, freakin’ win!
Topics: Coolness! | 7 Comments »
August 8th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Meh, MIG-31s are overrated. Sure, they’re fast, and they’ve got that 23mm, but they’re very short range and take the entire length of Siberia to turn around in. I’d rather have an SU-37.
August 8th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
If it was $5 for the whole airplane, I’d be there! We almost bought some DC-3s and AD-1s for $1000 each back during Nam… but that’s another story…
August 8th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Raptor – But if there’s a sale . . . .
Old NFO – I’m holding our for an F-4 Phantom of an F-14 Tomcat. Love those fighters.
August 9th, 2009 at 12:10 am
What, are they having a cash for clunkers sale out there too??!
August 9th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Raptor – I dunno, at 68K feet ceiling and nearly mach 3, I could sooooo take one of those bad boys. Beats the shit out of driving down the Schuylkill, that’s for sure!
Wyatt – exactly, my kinda sale too! Question is though – does it come with any fun ammo to seal the deal?
August 9th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Wyatt- you and me both on the F14. Best. Dang. Fighter. Ever. Period.
Smite – I hear ya. 21 years, and I still can’t figure out why they call it the “Schuykill Expressway.” Nothing express about it (except how fast it backs up, of course).
August 11th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Fuselages, smuselages… You can buy a ready-to-fly Sukhoi SU-27 Flanker right here in the good old USA: http://www.prideaircraft.com/flanker.htm