Pics of US only Flying Mig 23?
Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:02 am
Pics of US only Flying Mig 23?... or Flying Flogger Fotos
I believe yesterday was it's first ever demo flight.
Held at Del. ANG 60th Anniversary in New Castle.
Swept wing with speeds to Mach 2.35
fast, but took about 10 miles to turn
and deployed a chute to help brake on landing.
The whole place really shook on takeoff.
Bill
I believe yesterday was it's first ever demo flight.
Held at Del. ANG 60th Anniversary in New Castle.
Swept wing with speeds to Mach 2.35
fast, but took about 10 miles to turn
and deployed a chute to help brake on landing.
The whole place really shook on takeoff.
Bill
Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:57 am
Wow!
Very, very nice. I had no idea there was a MiG-23 flying over here. Any more details about it?
Great photos Bill, thanks for posting.
Very, very nice. I had no idea there was a MiG-23 flying over here. Any more details about it?
Great photos Bill, thanks for posting.
A couple more views
Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:36 pm
WLS3 was standing about 3 ft from me, so most of my shots are nearly identical to his. Here are a couple that offer a little different view.
Close Taxi
Delta Wing in Flight
My impression is the Mig 23 is very fast but not very maneuverable. After the flight, the pilot was telling some nearby fans that it "takes 40 acres to turn the thing".
Close Taxi
Delta Wing in Flight
My impression is the Mig 23 is very fast but not very maneuverable. After the flight, the pilot was telling some nearby fans that it "takes 40 acres to turn the thing".
Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:07 pm
Thats some goofy MLG too! Look at them doors!
Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:31 pm
Wow! Think of that flying with a MiG-15, -17, and -21!! 
Or possibly with an F-4?
Or possibly with an F-4?
Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:55 pm
Fox three......Fox two.....kill MiG.
With the wings swept back, there's nobody this side of the F-111 that can catch him. As for his turn rate...welll.....
Anybody know what kind of avionics he's got in that thing? Do any of the military toys (radar, etc) work?
Jeff Funk wrote:My impression is the Mig 23 is very fast but not very maneuverable. After the flight, the pilot was telling some nearby fans that it "takes 40 acres to turn the thing".
With the wings swept back, there's nobody this side of the F-111 that can catch him. As for his turn rate...welll.....
Anybody know what kind of avionics he's got in that thing? Do any of the military toys (radar, etc) work?
Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:11 pm
Jeff and Bill, nice work. Must have been very exciting to see.
Eric
Eric
Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:06 pm
is it privately owned?? or owned by a foundation such as collings?? either way deep pockets are a necessity in operating the russian birdski!!!
MiG jets
Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:21 pm
The owner of the MiG-23 is Joe Gano. He owns two MiG-23's, two MiG-21's, and a Delfin trainer. All five came from the Czech AF. They are based at New Castle County Airport (ILG) near Wilmington, DE, which is also the DE ANG base (they are a C-130 unit). I shot photos of three of the four jets a couple years ago at his hangar and had them published in Air Classics.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:58 am
Is this the only swing wing ( sorry I can't spell variable geometry ) ex military jet currently flying with a civilian operator ?
Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:01 am
The maintenance costs on a variable wing jet must be pretty high.
Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:34 am
I went to this show to see the F-22 demo. After it flew over the USAF
dedication ceremony in Washington DC the F-22, B-2, and B-17
Yankee Lady flew north to Deleware.
The MIG-23 was a big surprise. I'm glad Jeff was able to get the photo
of it with the wings swept back to show a different view. The heat this
thing put off was amazing also. Here is another shot of the MIG-23 and
one of the F-22.
Bill
Few other pics from the day HERE
dedication ceremony in Washington DC the F-22, B-2, and B-17
Yankee Lady flew north to Deleware.
The MIG-23 was a big surprise. I'm glad Jeff was able to get the photo
of it with the wings swept back to show a different view. The heat this
thing put off was amazing also. Here is another shot of the MIG-23 and
one of the F-22.
Bill
Few other pics from the day HERE
Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:39 am
Wow, some great shots. That had to be a very cool surprise to see!
Tim
Tim
Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:23 am
That shot of the F-22 is beautiful! It might be one of the best ones I've ever seen.
Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:17 am
This Mig 23 is for sale for $750,000. Bill Ausdtin has had it on his website for a couple of weeks at www.billaustinaircraft-yacht.com and he will take just about anything in on trade.
Can't remember any other swing wing aircraft on the civil registry unless you count Mignet's Flying Flea!
The U.S. military operated a squadron of Mig-23's in the 1980's. I think they got them through the Egyptian govt. and they were seen out west in the Nevada area.Initially they were evaluated by the Navy and Air Force, and I heard they did a few mock sorties against some american counterparts. It had an F designation. Lets see, the F-20 was made by Northrop, it might have been the F-21, does any one know?
Can't remember any other swing wing aircraft on the civil registry unless you count Mignet's Flying Flea!
The U.S. military operated a squadron of Mig-23's in the 1980's. I think they got them through the Egyptian govt. and they were seen out west in the Nevada area.Initially they were evaluated by the Navy and Air Force, and I heard they did a few mock sorties against some american counterparts. It had an F designation. Lets see, the F-20 was made by Northrop, it might have been the F-21, does any one know?