Warbird Information Exchange

For 2,5 years I was mechanic on the MiG-23 ML, when I served in the GDR-Army. I read, that some Flogger G went to the states in 1991.


#1 Where did the birds went?
#2 What did the USAF do with the birds?
#3 Where are they today?
#4 Especially I'm interested in the MiG-23 ML with the tactical number "20 32" (Bundeswehr), former 567 (NVA), works number ends with "24033". Where is the bird today? Where can I find some photos?


Thank you in advance.

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Greetings from Germany

icke

Welcome to WIX

This wouldn't be the MIG-23 that was siezed by the ATF being imported in through Florida and is now on display at the NMUSAF?

I believe this happened around the time frame you mentioned.



Shay
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Semper Fortis

Hope this helps

http://www.warbirdsofdelaware.com/

Icke,
Further to earlier posts, the NMUSAF machine is ex Soviet (its an MLD variant by the way), while the ones in Wilmington DE (and Sarasota FL) are ex Czech.
I know of the following ex NVA MiG-23MLs in the USA:

20+20 is at Goodfellow AFB TX (marked as 136 red)
20+23 is in the Air Power Park at NAS Fallon NV (marked as 353 red)
20+24 is at Tyndall AFB FL (marked as 53 red)
20+25 is in the Threat Training Facility at Nellis AFB NV (in Iraqi marks)

As you can see, I don't know what happened to 20+32.
Regards
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

Hello Andy,

thank you for your posting.
The white 44 is a MLD, I know (nice pic, Shay!).
This plane has two sawteeth on each wing, the ML only one at the moveable part of the wing. This modification (MLD) of the flogger did never fly with the NVA-logo.
Do you know, where some photos of the birds can be found?

sorry 'bout my english, but I do my best.

_________________
Greetings from Germany

icke

OOO the Mig 23 on that page is for sale. Wonder how much they are asking.

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

Some pics of the MiG-23 andf -29 at Goodfellow AFB are at this web site:

http://www.mylivingtree.com/Joshua/?c=208464

Dayton has two MiG-23s. The aircraft on display and a second in storage in one of the restoration hangars. No idea on the ID and they wouldn't let us take photos in that hangar.

Jim

You mean this one in storage? Why didn't they let you take pictures?

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

Yep.

They had a tarped off area that was TOP SECRET apparently. They told us they couldn't talk about it and that no photos were allowed in that bay. If that indeed was the case, they should have done a better job, because the tails sticking out made it pretty obvious what they were hiding.

Jim

Someone else mentioned that to me. Is it a F-35 or something else?

I thought it was the second F-22 at Dayton. Aren't the X-35s at Pax and Dulles?

Jim

I didn't know they were getting a second F-22 (yes I know it is a YF-22). I assumed an F-35 since they don't have one of those yet. Also, I figured that if it was "Top Secret" it would be the F-35 since the F-22 has been out in the public view for a while. That would be cool to have an actual F-22 there though!

Don't be so sure it is for the Museum. There has been a second F-22 at Dayton for a few years being used for weapons testing. So I'm not sure if it was just being stored, if it is a future display, being prepared for another museum, or for that matter if it is a different F-22 altogether.

For example, there was a twin seater MiG-29 sitting outside the restoration area for a little while. I assumed it was for the Museum, but it went to display on the base, I think in front of NAIC.

Jim

I had much to do at work the last weeks, so I couldn't see the new photos at this topic before today (nice english ).

@CorsairFreak:
Very interesting photographs!!
Do you have a photo looking inside the wheel well of the mean gears? (What is "Fahrwerksschacht" in english?) There is a hatch in it (round, 10inches diametre, with approx. 20 screws). Which 5-digit number is written there?
This hatch should be used for inspections of the engine. Normally we sneaked through the suction duct (="Ansaugschacht"??). That was much quicker!

@CorsairFreak: You'll get a PM during the next few minutes.

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Greetings from Germany

icke