Alfred Fartknocker:
I don't think a MiG-19 has ever visited the UK and I never really thought I'd see one. This Bulgarian MiG-19S is 030 red, preserved at Krumovo. This variant is a day fighter with three 30mm cannon and unguided rockets. 'FARMER-C'.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This is an unusual version of the Mi-8- an Mi-17PP. 431 white here would accompany normal choppers during assaults and try to jam the radar on SPAAGs like the Gepard. These are particularly effective against helos. This is stored at Krumovo, near Plovdiv.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Not sure if this MiG-19 is preserved or abandoned. These are called 'monuments' in Bulgaria and this MiG-19P, 544, is located in Tsaramir, not far from Graf Ignatievo AB. This was a day fighter equipped to shoot the AA-2 'ATOLL' AAM. 'FARMER-B'.
Alfred Fartknocker:
936 red is a MiG-19PM, one of four preserved at Krumovo, near Plovdiv. The PM is a missile shooter with no guns. It fired Russias first AAM, known as the AA-1 'ALKALI' in the West. 'FARMER-E'. Zoom right in to check out the 46Mp detail. Thanks Nikon!
Alfred Fartknocker:
There were nine Mi-24s stored at Krumovo AB, including 140 white, an Mi-24V 'HIND-E'. This version carried eight AT-6 'SPIRAL' anti tank guided missiles.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Learjet is actually an Air Ambulance, seen accepting a patient in Bermuda, probably for a flight to the USA. It's C-GAJS.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The UK version of the Folland (H.S.) Gnat was the T.1- the Lightning was sometimes described as a good 'lead-in' trainer for the Gnat. The F.1 version was a proper fighter, but here's T.1 XR977 preserved in the RAF Museum at Hendon.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This NA P-51D Mustang is preserved in the RAF Museum at Hendon, London. It's marked '413317' but is actually 44-74409 and N6319T.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Hawkers did rather well with the Hurricane- and compared with its more famous sister, it's often left in the shade. P2617 is an early Hurricane I, preserved at Hendon.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The Japs named the Bristol Beaufighter the 'Whispering Death' as it was relatively quiet, but with a massive punch- four 30mm cannons plus eight RPs. Few have survived but TF.10 RD253 persists at Hendon, UK.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The Me-163 was an operational rocket powered fighter that was rather hazardous to operate and wasn't even very effective. Quite a few survive today, including 191461 at the RAF Museum, Hendon.
Alfred Fartknocker:
There are a few Spitfires at Hendon, X4590 is an early Mark 1a that was completed in Sept' 1940 and retired 8 months later as surplus. This a/c had a part share in a Ju-88 kill, and was itself damaged by Bf-109s.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Grumman US-2C Tracker survives in St.Louis, MO. Bu.Aer 133381/ 12 came here from Consolidated in Tucson, and before that it was stored as IS327. This is a private collection owned by local trucker Dan Bissell.
Alfred Fartknocker:
I was in St.Louis, MO for a sim ride, so visited Dan Bissells collection there. Nearest is NA F-86L Sabre 52-10079 with ex Yugoslav AF 52-4138, an F-86D behind it. It flew in Yugoslavia as 14085.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The St. Louis Transportation museum in Missouri is huge. They keep this smart C-47A, 43-15635/ H and a T-33. This Skytrain did a fair bit of glider towing in 1944 and has certainly earned its retirement.
Alfred Fartknocker:
I'm not sure why exactly, but many USAF aircraft have had their serials crudely painted out, particularly if they are 'sensitive' a/c. This MC-130J used the c/s SWASH 96 and turned out to be 20-5943. Seen here at Bermuda.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Dan Bissell Auto & Body had 26 aircraft at their premises in St. Louis, MO including four H-34s. The green one here is ex USMC UH-34G Seahorse Bu.Aer 141580. The closer one had XJ094 on the side, so ex Army CH-34C Choctaw 56-4319 which I'd seen before in
Alfred Fartknocker:
HAL designed and produced the HAL HF-24 Marut 1 in India, although Kurt Tank, the famous Focke-Wulf designer gave them a hand. It looks fast, but these are subsonic and rather let down by the engines. BR-463 survives at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai.
Alfred Fartknocker:
I've always liked Tupolevs Tu-134. LZ-TUD ended up in Pordim after its sevice with Balkan. It's a 'CRUSTY' to NATO, and this one definitely looks a bit crusty.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Only in 2024 did I see a MiG-15 fly- and she is a mover! NATO initially proposed to code name it 'FALCON' but this was deemed a bit too flattering, so they went for 'FAGOT'. There are six in the Krumovo AMs back yard and this one is 111.
Alfred Fartknocker:
LZ-AFA is a Zlin 242L, seen here during an open day at Graf Ignatievo AB in Bulgaria. This is a primary trainer for the Bulgarian AF and is serial 603 although it isn't worn on the aircraft. Everyone gets a close-up look.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The Bulgarian AF must have liked their big Sukhoi Su-22M4s as they just distributed them in villages when they were wfu. 501 has ended up in Banya. The 'FITTER-K' is variable geometry, but only the outer panels move.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The little grass strip at Maritsa, near Plovdiv keep this mighty MiG-21bis-SAU, 388- I expect they got it from the nearby airbase. This version of the MiG-21 can actually be flown by ground control during an intercept. 'FISHBED-N'.
Alfred Fartknocker:
B-52s and C-130s come apart in AMARC. I suspect these F-4 Phantoms will be beer tins by now. The tour bus is nice, but this is the easiest way to get a proper look. My daughter Louise is flying the Cessna.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The cockpit of a Grumman OV-1C Mohawk waits for Dan Bissell to collect it in National Aircraft, Tucson. It has YA085 on the other side, so this is 66-18892. It hasn't been reported since, but might be in St. Louis.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The Canberra PR.9 is quite different to most other versions. It had a different wing & engines and forward fuselage. XH135 ended up at Kemble after demobbing with Mid Air Sqn. Sadly, they went bust and this was scrapped in 2022.
Alfred Fartknocker:
There were loads of Douglas Skyhawks at Avra Valley RAP, CA. Nearest is A-4L Bu.Aer 147669/ N135AT. Stored as 3A0460, this was in ARM/ DMI by 2000, destined for Malaysia. It was built as an A4D-2N (A-4C) and l/n here in 2015.
Alfred Fartknocker:
If you find yourself in Arizona, the Pima AM in Tucson is worth a look. This RF-84F Thunderflash is the photo-recce version of the Thunderjet. 51-1944 was retired from the Nebraska ANG in 1970, and stored in MASDC as FA085.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Built for the USAAC as C-47A 42-92688, this joined the Navy as R4D-8 Bu.Aer 17160. It was converted TC-117D in 1962 and stored at MASDC in 1969 as 6C005. It's in ARM/ DMI here, but l/n in 2010.
Alfred Fartknocker:
AMARC had most of the T-43s in 2010, including the recently stored 'Janet' 737s. 71-1403 "RA" was the first T-43A into service and was stored as TH004. It's on Celebrity Row here, but in 2018 it was hauled off to HVF West and scrapped.
