VKS Russian Aerospace Forces: News #2

I am surprised they don't have zero zero ejection seats...

Ejection during preflight checks is unusual, and the fact that they mention three when it is a four seat aircraft...

RIP.

GarryB wrote:I am surprised they don't have zero zero ejection seats...

Ejection during preflight checks is unusual, and the fact that they mention three when it is a four seat aircraft...

RIP.

From another article, the aircraft commanders seat has 2 ejection handles. One allows him to eject the other 3 crew members before using the second to eject himself. Story is a new pilot was being evaluated by the regiment commander and he may have accidentally hit this switch during preflight checks.

Busy birds

Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

Okay... so maybe Russian airplanes are not heated

franco wrote:

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

Okay... so maybe Russian airplanes are not heated

I would believe if you said its not Ac'd as joke but for sure they are heated.

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

just look at american navy seals and you will be suprised how fat they are

flamming_python wrote:

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

Because they're older. It takes years to train such specialists and years more to gain experience

Young pilots are just as slim as everyone else.

I thought pilots and submariners have strict physicals, so always was a bit puzzled.

gbu48098 wrote:

flamming_python wrote:

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

Because they're older. It takes years to train such specialists and years more to gain experience

Young pilots are just as slim as everyone else.

I thought pilots and submariners have strict physicals, so always was a bit puzzled.

At the time Russia had the MiG-15 they typically chose pilots with a stocky build because it is easier for the blood to reach the brain from the heart if you are shorter, this makes them more resistant to blackouts, and at the time you needed a lot of physical strength to handle the controls. Today with pressure suits that is not a problem anymore.

lancelot wrote:

gbu48098 wrote:

flamming_python wrote:

gbu48098 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread but curious why are the Russian pilots fat and generally stocky build?

Because they're older. It takes years to train such specialists and years more to gain experience

Young pilots are just as slim as everyone else.

I thought pilots and submariners have strict physicals, so always was a bit puzzled.

At the time Russia had the MiG-15 they typically chose pilots with a stocky build because it is easier for the blood to reach the brain from the heart if you are shorter, this makes them more resistant to blackouts, and at the time you needed a lot of physical strength to handle the controls. Today with pressure suits that is not a problem anymore.

And remember under those blue suits is a pressure suit.

Su-35S, Su-30SM, Su-34 and Su-57 fighters, as well as the Okhotnik (Eng: Hunter) heavy attack UAV at the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region. Satellite image of May 14, 2021.

If I worked there it would be so tempting to make something out of clear plastic and tow it out there and leave it in front of these aircraft for an hour and then hurriedly tow it back inside.... Hahahahhahahaha...

Lots of toys in Hmeimim:

Given them an excuse to be less nice about it when the cross swords again though... if they want to play stupid games then they should not expect to be treated with any respect any more... not till the clown is removed from office and someone with a bit more sense is in power and control.

Didn't know whether to put this in the general VKS news thread or here. Can Garry or George move it if they think it better there?

I found this pretty good on balance from a top UK Royal United Services Institute RUSI analyst, albeit with the normal digs that you would expect given who pays his wages. Also pre the MAKS-21 revelations. The backdrop he uses, clever but makes him a bit of a poser but what he says is OK.

The channel, Military Aviation History, puts some good stuff out.

I'll take a look. I quite like Justin Bronk/ RUSI's coverage of Russian and Chinese air power topics.

I managed to find that myself a day or two ago and of the time I spent watching it I was wondering why should anyone rate Russian pilots in western terms.

Russia has proven in Syria that they can find targets that are elusive and are not fixed like Bridges, but hard to track down like HQs and weapon production sites and munition storage areas... its C4IR works just fine thank you very much.

Also the Russian Air Force is not as mobile as western air power... Russia probably could not go to Venezuela and start bombing and attacking neighbouring countries like the west can and does, but the funny thing about Russian Air Power is that is has a use and a goal and a mission... to protect Russian interests from external threats and unlike HATO forces the external threat is pretty clear and comes from HATO countries.

In that context, Russian Air Power is backed up by the worlds most comprehensive and most formidable IADS on the planet, so its lack of new planes is not a huge problem because any attacking force will have their navy sunk with MiG-31Ks no enemy could stop, and Russian territory is surrounded by thousands of air defence rings created by tens of thousands of air defence systems and sensors and aircraft all working to keep Russia aerospace safe.

The museum complex of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company of military and automotive equipment in Verkhnyaya Pyshma is restoring the first serial Soviet M-4 strategic jet bomber.