US BUYS 81 RUSSIAN JETS

Mover and Gonky Discuss a purchase of 81 by the United States. Subscribe to @themoverandgonkyshow to watch LIVE every Monday at 8PM ET or to see full episodes of The Mover and Gonky Show. Clips will exclusively be posted there soon! Every Monday at 8PM ET, Mover (F-16, F/A-18, T-38, 737, helicopter pilot, author, cop, and wanna be race car driver) and Gonky (F/A-18, T-38, A320, dirt bike racer, author, and awesome dad) discuss everything from aviation to racing to life and anything in between.
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[@CWLemoine]

Could be partially or completely false according to the update: www.businessinsider.com/claims-us-buying-soviet-era-aircraft-from-kazakhstan-likely-false-2024-4 Remember, this was discussed on the show last Monday. We are not a news channel. We discuss what's already out there. The article above says Kazakhstan denies a transfer to Ukraine, but it is still unclear whether the U.S. bought them. The Pentagon denied comment according to this article. We'll probably discuss this on the next show. @themoverandgonkyshow

[@SwarmerBees]

The idea that the US is sponging up parts for Ukraine's overtaxed air fleet is most probably true. How public they want that information to be is something else. Kazakhstan is still well within Russia's orbit. Medvedhev has even made threats against it due to what many russians see as their "disloyalty" to Moscow.

[@tomwilson1006]

Did you see where SecDef was grilled by congress on why only 29% of F-35’s are mission capable?

[@corvanphoenix]

Yeah, just cause the Kazakh's are denying it, doesn't mean much to me. It's not like they're incentivised to tell us anything other than what their bosses want us to hear.

[@vk45de54]

It's false. It's more than the Kazakhs actually own. They don't even have any Mig 31's.

[@JagdgeschwaderX]

If the Pentagon denies it's probably true lol

[@kobman4159]

"This is Vladimir, my neighbor. He is pain in my a-holes! I get a missile - He must get a missile! I get a drone - He must get a drone! I get an F22 - He cannot afford. Great success!"

[@artyfuffkin7805]

This is my sister ....

[@danielcannon3511]

Wa wa wee wa

[@mr6johnclark]

congrratulations i read this in Borat's accent. Great Success!

[@theProClaimer]

FYI Borat was shot in eastern Europe. Kazakhs don't look caucasian... nor Jewish

[@kobman4159]

@@theProClaimer This is correct. It was shot in a village named Glod in Romania. Ethnic Kazakhs may not look Caucasian, but there are many other people living in Kazakhstan who ARE caucasian and there are Jews living there too.

[@jpm5205]

“Russian pressurization…” Boeing says, “That’s what we’ve been saying too!”

[@mrico523]

😂

[@rbrtck]

You must have a screw loose...just like Boeing's airliners. 😉 Nah, just kidding, theirs are usually missing entirely, not just loose. Boeing's new motto: "Oh geez, it'll be fine! 🙄"

[@rainman6080]

@@rbrtck it could be “what whistleblower I see nothing?”

[@RockeeRc]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@baomao7243]

“MiG-28s ! Nobody’s been this close before…”

[@phantomf4747]

Dude when I heard that I literally LOL'd. Comic gold!

[@sancocho1718]

"I was inverted"

[@baomao7243]

@@sancocho1718 “You know, … the finger…”

[@sancocho1718]

@@baomao7243 Iceman: "coughs-bullshit"

[@fernandogangone7142]

I knew it was real!

[@doncalypso]

"Very nice... HIGH FIVE!!!!" --- Borat Sagdiyev ---

[@rbrtck]

"Much success for the US and A!" 👍

[@gojithecringe]

The thumbnail is absolute gold

[@artnull13]

Great Success! High Five!

[@gojithecringe]

@@artnull13 yeah!

[@Mithinco]

Verrry niceeeeee!

[@michaelgonzales1845]

That thumbnail is so Aladeen

[@ninjabearpress2574]

Great idea! Top Gun instructors get to work one day and their CO says, "Go out to the flight line, I think you'll be pleased."

[@ShaunRF]

It would actually cost more to fuel these for one flight than it cost to buy them, when I look up the fuel capacity and do some quick math lol.

[@markymarknj]

FOR REAL! Plus, when you look at the costs of doing a hot section inspection on the engines, overhauling them, the ejection seat, etc., pretty soon you're talking REAL money!

[@AllYourBaseRBelong2Us]

I don't think Ukraine flies Mig-31s, but Russia does. Now they can't get these spares.

[@WxWaterFire]

This.

[@Bob10009]

But they can still manufacture the parts.

[@AllYourBaseRBelong2Us]

@@Bob10009 I think this is easier said than done for them. Russia's biggest import prior to their historic goof was machine parts.

[@MoralHazard-g1e]

@@Bob10009 Possibly. But the time and resource costs are much higher. A prebuilt part costs only a fraction and doesn't divert your manufacturing base from producing other, more useful and modern equipment.

[@baomao7243]

Exactly. Low dollar control of strategic resources. Low hanging fruit. Makes sense, even if there are workarounds.

[@zprkl8706]

You can't even buy a new car for that 20k in here where i live. lol

[@KOS762]

Cars these days, are more technical than those planes. If they added any parts from a modern car, to those planes... it would be an upgrade. lol

[@DEP717]

I wonder what the condition of the planes is?

[@dragonflydreamer7658]

THREADS

[@linmal2242]

@@DEP717 Scrap?

[@KOS762]

@@DEP717 they are probably not running. I bet they use them as decoys. Set them up on air strips to draw in the enemy, for an easy turkey shoot. Or they are just for parts. ...I like this decoy thing myself. lol

[@yodaisgod2]

Another possibility is to keep them out of Russia's hands.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Even if they’re just spare parts well worth it at at that price tag.

[@GOD719]

Good for opfor for training

[@TheOpethOfMastodon]

​@@GOD719 I doubt any of our pilots would wanna these

[@ironnads7975]

​@@GOD719 They are not going to spend that much money on these for OPFOR training.

[@GOD719]

@@ironnads7975 20k per plane is pretty cheap. Missiles cost more. And there have been sightings of F117s flying again. They might be using them as training for "enemy stealth planes" Which the F117s and F16s are way more expensive.

[@brianrmc1963]

This is the stuff that old fighter pilot’s dreams are made of.

[@jeebusk]

purchasing a "vehicle" is cheap, owning it is expensive...

[@baomao7243]

That, in a nutshell, PERFECTLY characterizes aviation.

[@listerdave1240]

That price seems to me less than the scrap value of the aluminium in them.

[@PaulVerhoeven2]

And if it is MiG-31, there is a lot of Titanium. Like gold. $20k per sounds very unrealistic.

[@HRM.H]

The engines alone are worth over 20K a piece

[@davidfraatz3024]

Russia can't buy them for spare parts.

[@Rob-vv5yn]

The Russians don’t need the parts the Ukrainians need them, the Ukrainians were extremely good at rebuilding and upgrading these aircraft, there own unfortunately didn’t have the latest electronics and radar and that’s why they can’t fight with the Russian fighters. They simply are outranged in radar and missiles.

[@koskok2965]

Russians can and do machine their own parts.

[@GOD719]

@@Rob-vv5yn Not many planes over Ukraine. They are getting shot down

[@Rob-vv5yn]

@@GOD719 yip both sides don’t fly over Ukraine !!, it’s still air denial zone with sniping over the borders but the Russians can get closer

[@nemanja162]

No they arent, Russians conduct 200 sorties a day. Get a clue ​@@GOD719

[@norcallump4857]

A old head (rest in peace sir) that my dad worked with (SR71, U2, -135) was one of the first crew chiefs on the Mig-21/23 said they were great planes to work on. They weee able to fly several sorties/day and easy to maintain

[@phantomf4747]

I had a neighbor who was stationed at Beale and worked on the blackbird back in the 80's.

[@baomao7243]

Russia did get some of their design doctrine right - low maintenance and assume the worst: unprepared fields with only minimal services available. Make the SIMPLER and FREQUENT repairs very easy.

[@doyouwanttogivemelekiss3097]

From what I've heard, that wasn't the case with the east German mig-29's (short service intervals etc., engine in particular) - which is why they went first to Poland, then to Ukraine.

[@WeAreLegion1904]

​@baomao7243 wasn't the mig 29 not more expensive than the su 27 long run because it was so expensive to run?

[@baomao7243]

@@WeAreLegion1904 Like communism, “stated goals and actual results tend to diverge.” 😉

[@kaylzshter6153]

"Where are we gonna fly these things?" "To Space." I love this channel

[@electric_boogaloo496]

There used to be an "Edge of space" thing in Russia where you could pay sit in the 2nd seat of a Mig 29 2 seat trainer as it flew to 20KM in altitude. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnaraZyCn9Gimq8si=xW24W2HD6l4zFQce

[@robertm8401]

That book is Red Eagles: America's Secret Migs by Steve Davies. I just got a signed copy of the paperback edition, pre-ordered a few months ago. He has a KZbin channel too: 10 Percent True. Loads of inteviews with pilots, well worth anybody's time.

[@case.98]

man 20k for a MiG 29 i‘m gonna take it!

[@richardhockey8442]

I wonder how much I could get for £90,000

[@mohawksniper79]

Back then jets were fast not just invisible 👍🏽🤠

[@Chenstrapftw]

Theres some people breathing heavily in the Nevada desert right bow

[@glenstuart7823]

Any firefox?

[@ninjabearpress2574]

Clint Eastwood got the last one.

[@Rob_F8F]

The Firefoxes are hangered with the MiG-28s.

[@level1804]

@@Rob_F8FMig 47 buddy! 😊

[@theProClaimer]

Only Opera GX and EExplorer

[@MilitantOldLady]

Around 20k for a fighter jet? How do i get in on that sale?

[@baomao7243]

They would’ve gotten more on eBay. But maybe this was a Groupon…

[@theProClaimer]

"Blinken shaking hands with... Kazakhstan..." what weirdly constructed sentence. He's at 300th handshake, only 17.5 million citizens left

[@k.h.1587]

Mig 31 for under 20k? But it probably costs 30k an hour to fly. Mig 27 and 29 pretty cool as well (27 just a ground attack modified Mig 23)

[@dgurevich1]

The first slide of that presentation evokes the only reasonable imagery of robocop TV: 'I'd buy that for a dollar'

4:45 no don't stop the banter, that's the best part! I'm so glad this channel exists, you guys are awesome.

[@dvazquez5652]

UAF doesn’t fly Mig-31s so maybe the -29s are for parts and the 31s are for Red Air

[@drewski5730]

Sadly probably not. The cost of maintaining the -31’s would be astronomical, easily worth a couple squadrons of F35 funding. Maybe they’re for study, I’ve not heard of the Air Force getting g a hold of Mig 31’s before.

[@Rob-vv5yn]

@@drewski5730 they got a mig25 many years ago a 31 one is an upgraded version, it’s not like you can dog fight in a 31 it’s a stand off platform really.

[@HankyInTheTanky]

@@Rob-vv5ynstill be useful to take a look at it even if it’s an older model especially if they haven’t had the chance to look at one yet.

[@Rob-vv5yn]

@@HankyInTheTanky sure I agree

[@Rob-vv5yn]

Cheap jets, but for individuals the disassembly and shipping would pretty expensive and you probably need three jets to make one decent one. Plus the costs to strip and overhaul and good luck getting any manuals for the maintenance.

[@Briggs1700]

There was a counter story to this post a while ago. No export was allowed and it needs to be disposed under Kazach control; so I'm not too sure it happened

[@dogsnads5634]

This entire 'story' was debunked over a week ago. The aircraft have to be scrapped in place. They're not going anywhere. The price reflects the scrap value of the aircraft only. The story came out of a Ukrainian newspaper that didn't bother to check the details..

[@ADobbin1]

they sold them as scrap.

[@imza5535]

@@dogsnads5634 straight up, ukrainian news is dog water when it comes to getting actual info, so dont bother. I mean news in general nowadays is dogshit but ukraine is the worst culprit

[@alexyoung6418]

But then they updated yet again saying the claims are likely false.

[@shenmisheshou7002]

Fake story. The Kazakhs released a statement saying, "The information disseminated on the internet [about the fighters] is not true... "

[@artnull13]

@@shenmisheshou7002after a phone call from the Russian ambassador?

[@Rob_F8F]

​@@artnull13More like after a call from the CIA acquisition officer.

[@smussiejollett3193]

The ejection seat alone is probs 10 times what the jet is worth

[@theProClaimer]

U ok there, buddy?

[@JZsBFF]

$20K? That's basically the scrap metal tariffs, isn't it?

[@kittyhawk9707]

I am sure out of 81 aircraft they could make a few of them flyable ... I suggest they said they where "for spares or repairs" for "legal" / Arms export reasons ..

[@ticotube2501]

My favorite line in there was "Blinken shaking hands with ... Kazakhstan" (2:40). The difference between Air Force and State Department in a nutshell. ;-)

[@johnnyzippo7109]

I personally saw 11 Mirage F1 fuselage with wings on separate tractor trailers , very well wrapped , but very much Mirage F1s . A few months later Combat Aircraft Magazine had a long piece on these new aggressor airframes . Then the Trotskyites took over and then crickets .

[@benshakespeare268]

These two buying these jets kinda reminding me of the car rental scene out of Days of a Thunder 😄

[@pin0teres]

I heard somewhere these jets will be used in UA as a decoy.

[@No_ReGretzkys99]

The timed out engines and seat, THEY ARE TOMORROWS PROBLEMS 😂❤❤😂

[@PeteVA-212]

Draken, ATSI, Top ACEs, etc. were providing more advisary air support for dissimilar ACM and Red Air a few years ago. It is on a lower scale now with more support for JTAC training, I think?

[@00calvinlee00]

Yes and most continue to provide support for the missions you mentioned. Draken and Atac are flying missions almost everyday. Last May Draken was supporting 4th Wing F-15Es while Top Aces supported a multinational Operation at Langley. ADS B will show the various East Coast Ops much of the time. Draken is also active in the UK.

[@castlekingside76]

Not to mention, the US has a whole arsenal of Russian weapons stored in Alabama. Including tanks and jets.

[@brisbare10]

Mig 29 cockpit only would make a great setup for a vid game.

[@tobyallred4413]

Why would you be afraid to say Constant Peg?

[@cdyjv118]

OSI

[@markcoveryourassets]

Mooch says it all the time. BUT....... Area 52? Now that's when you need some extra care.

[@romainlerallut1409]

Because they do not have doughnut ? 😂

[@stupidburp]

Not worth the risk of a phone call to nag them about it.

[@jsdc002]

The original Red Eagles were disbanded after the Cold War ended. There were recent rumors that the program was reactivated with very little fanfare but had the same mission: learn about foreign fighters and give USAF and USN pilots more familiarity in simulated combat. Getting parts is a close secondary mission. Who knows?

[@jamcguire100]

If you do manage to get a jet, I believe you promised me a go.

[@andrewkessinger5966]

Habitual Line Crosser is going to have a field day with this one.

[@pj7362]

I really appreciate the reservation of certain information. It shows your integrity as an officer .

[@andersjjensen]

A) To prevent Russia from buying them. Kazakhstan is doing a lot of "polite middle fingers" to Russia these days, so this fit into their narrative as well. B) To provide Ukraine with parts Russia obviously won't sell them. C) To have some on hand for nations who used to buy Soviet kit but are (more or less) western aligned. Dangling a working jet or two in front of a poorer nation can some times move things along.

[@Wannes_]

A bomber for 20K is a steal ! To get one from Northrop, it's 20 Billion Great all-weather capability too, ie they can be left outside in the sun , rain or snow

[@Rob_F8F]

I got a $30 garden gnome that can do the same!

[@baomao7243]

…and they have been !

[@madaxe606]

Now we just need some DCS developers to pretty-please ask for some time with them, and a look at any manuals they got with the jets, and just maaaaybe we can get another Redfor module or two out of it. ;)

[@tkelly5422]

I want in on this action. But reserve me a two-seater, because Ima need someone to fly me in it.

[@Wannes_]

You must eject from the backseat of someone else's jet or it doesn't count

[@tippership]

I know this is unconfirmed, and probably for good reason(since Kaz is technically a Russian ally still, so this is a little...spicy)- But, the idea of the US getting FOXHOUNDS , is INSANE- and i hope so- I know it wasn't exported- unlike the Foxbat - but, a Mach 3, 80 to 100k interceptor- no way it's not good for training since Russia till uses Foxhounds. And it helps us train against foes who have Foxhounds or Foxbats- as fighting Mach 3 jets with Kinzhals or R37s- isn't something we can properly simulate. We don't have A-12s or Blackbirds anymore- we DO have the F-15EX, but even if it can hit Mach 2.9, that's in a clean config, probably a dive on it's best day- so still not quite fighting a Foxhound ...It'd be the coolest training to see, seeing Raptors and Eagle EX's chasing Foxhounds for practice against Mach 3 capable interceptors

[@marvinsannes9397]

40 yrs. ago I read a book about the cold war going hot and an air-war over Asia. The theme was the Rooskie Mig could fly with a crew of 3 or 4 on the ground, a tool box with baling wire in it, land and take-off on a wheat stubble field, while the US jets required swept runways, a ground crew of 18. Maybe the Air Force needs to back-engineer a jet they can use over Asia? Maybe they're working on an option to invade Asia that does not include nukes? Anything that makes sense ain't an option.

[@christosswc]

Maybe I'm wrong but my understanding is, included in any arms-selling contract is a clause that said arms cannot be provided to a 3rd country without the consent of the original seller/manufacturing country.

[@tboydot1]

Well, that seller country was the Soviet Union that's now defunct. And don't forget all the now independent republics like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, the Baltics, Czech Rep etc all contributed to the fiscuss and ingenuity of everything that came out of the Soviet Union. So Russia cannot solely claim the rights to anything Soviet since it was a collective efforts from all the now sovereign States.

[@christosswc]

@@tboydot1 That's a valid point though it's a wide variety of machinery and maybe that is not relevant in all cases, I couldn't tell. But I've heard no reaction from the Russian side to this so perhaps you are right. They certainly didn't take very kindly to Greece handing over their S-300s to Ukraine even though Greece is trying to do it coverttly and pretend they haven't.

[@baomao7243]

Pretty cute to think paper rules will stop a transfer. Hahahahaha…

[@sebastien3351]

When the USSR collapsed, the US (and other nations) purchased any and every weapon system Russia would sell. That included torpedoes, ZSU-23 AA systems, missile systems, tanks armored personnel equipment of all types, ECM / ECCM equipment, MiG-23s, 29s, Su-27s, torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, etc.

[@No_ReGretzkys99]

Money talks ,bullshit walks, thats why im still walking 😂😂😂😂

[@jsvideos2261]

KZbin's comment censorship is getting out of control.

[@rainieresguerra6519]

It has gotten so ridiculous that one might be forgiven if he believes China, Russia and the islamists have already found a way to control the comment section of videos. 😩

[@GalootWrangler]

A Nobel awaits whoever first unravels the logic of their deletions.

[@Les537]

@@rainieresguerra6519 Close. Try Israel.

[@captaintoyota3171]

I remember when u could curse and say what u wanted its youtube. Then society got involved and these puritanical ideals

[@kentl7228]

There is a company called the IRA (not the Irish one) in St Petersburg. The Kremlin gets the 100+ workers to create propaganda and misinformation online. It isn't hard to delete reply comments by clicking the 3 dots and choose misinformation or hate speech etc...

[@Warhorse500]

Time was, back in the early-mid 1990s you could walk into a disposal yard in Czechoslovakia or Yugoslavia with $50k and come out with about 1/2 dozen MiG-21s and all the parts. It was more expensive to pay off the Customs guys to fudge the books so you could get 'em home. The Chinese were selling off MiG-15s and -17s by the handful. Some rich guy bought a bunch of -15s and the Chinese were so anxious to deliver them that they forgot to remove the guns and ammo. That was an awkward Customs moment in the port of Long Beach...ATF got a phone call when the Customs bubbas cracked open those shipping crates....

[@doimus]

Neither Czechoslovakia nor Yugoslavia existed by 1992. You're confusing them with ex-soviet republics which did such things with their air forces. Matter of fact, ex-Yu countries were buying those aircraft from ex-Soviets, not selling them in the middle of bloody wars. Most notably Croatia, who got around 40 of those MiG-21s.

[@fredericlepeltier3435]

@@doimus Sorry but you could not be more wrong! Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia were not part of the USSR or ex-soviet republics but independant (communist/socialist pre 1989-90) countries. They were part of the warsaw pact however. Every ex-communist euro country post 1990 was like a giant military surplus store. Short of ships, everything was for sale. Even in thrift markets in the middle of Moscow you could find what you wanted! Getting it passed airport security and customs was an other story!

[@doimus]

@@fredericlepeltier3435 You've misinterpreted my comment, I've never mentioned them being Soviet republics. Also, Yugoslavia was never a member of Warsaw pact. But Yu itself dissolved in a series of rather messy wars in the 90s and now independent states were in fact *buying* weapons, not selling. Croatia bought most of its 40+ MiG21s from ex-Soviet republics. It also bought most of its transport and attack helicopters from Russia, through Ukraine, Mi-8s brand new in 1993 (and "returned" back to Ukraine just a few months ago). Never sold anything of that. Serbia even less. Macedonia also bought quite a few Mi24s and Su25s from Ukraine. Point is: nobody ex-yu sold anything to anyone in that period. Croatian Migs were cannibalized for thirty years, winding down to only 8 in flying condition, down from more than 40, and are finally being replaced by Rafale as we speak.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

MiG21s are still in use in India and Pakistan, having shot down F16s. They are much faster than F35s.

[@FactCheckerGuy]

​@@VidarLund-k5q The lesson since Vietnam is that fighters almost never fly much faster than mach 1 for any length of time in combat. For one thing, while a Mig-21s top speed exceeds that of an F-35, the (short-legged) Mig-21 could only maintain that speed for a minute or two (literally) before running low on fuel. That is why post Gen4 fighters don't emphasize top speed and don't make the sacrifices necessary to get a high top speed. It just isn't useful. As far as Mig-21s shooting down F-16s, I am not familiar with the conflict but could imagine that happening. Of course, a well flown F-16 would consistently eat up a Mig-21 in a "fair fight" but there are lots of "unfair fights" in the air and otherwise.

[@citizenblue]

I just had to come here and say I think this is the best thumbnail I have ever seen. Ever.

[@jg3000]

If the MIG 31 is up to date it would see everything.

[@k.h.1587]

I don't think it is, soviet union collapsed in 91, I think the 31m was after that

[@jg3000]

@@k.h.1587 In that case it's big radar is probably better at giving you cancer than drtecting anything.

[@pistonburner6448]

The ad said: "Zis airplen ran when parked"

[@sloboz8787]

Imagine the tech leap for US Air Force.

[@nedj10]

As of May 1 Business Insider has issued a new article stating this story is likely false.

[@CWLemoine]

Pinned comment.

[@baomao7243]

$20k was actually the price for the Discovery Flight.

[@brianward7550]

3:34 is that it will run reference? Some of my co-workers were there when that happened they saw that cloud of smoke

[@fcscouto]

the Navy also used the F-16N, supposedly the Hot Rod of the F-16s

[@counterstrifekid]

Having some inventory of Mig31 would be awesome.

[@rwhunt99]

I agree with Gonky, and also what as important is tactics they would use against us, which is very important, especially with the MiG-29's having the irst, unless that's past tense now.I didn't catch if they were all flyable or not.

[@Zupdood2]

So really curious, what book are you referring to? Might be good to read…

[@worldwanderer91]

Borat: Nice

[@Christolclear101]

I’d happily buy a former Soviet combat jet for $20K! Where can I buy mine?! 😮

[@davidrockdale]

Buying that many airframes is different that buying flight ready aircraft.

[@HankyInTheTanky]

Man they can send 1 MiG-27 and MiG-31 along with a SU-24 to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. They could add them to their MiG and Sukhoi collection.

[@geodkyt]

I agree with the idea these are likely spare parts, maybe a few adversary air, and possibly a three cornered deal, but, a small amount of MiG-31s could (presuming the Ukrainians can get trained up on them, and appropriate ordnance is available) give them a long range, heavy missile interceptor capability to think the herd of Russian long range cruise missile platforms. Taking out bombers and cruise missiles us literally what the MiG-31 was designed for, and current Russian long range standoff strike platforms are comparable in tech maturity to the US threats (Carter/Reagan era B-1, B-52, A-6, Tomahawk, etc.) the Foxhound was built to handle.

[@James-lz6eh]

Best Episode ever, like two teens ready to steal a Fire Fox

[@74360CUDA]

They answered the "parting out" ad on Craig's.

[@Maverick7154]

Maverick will be pleased! Now there can be real props for Top Gun 3!

[@AKlover]

Spare parts for the "Adversarial Program" they may or may not still have.

[@markymarknj]

Back in the 1980s during the Cold War, I recall reading an article where LTV offered some MiG-21s for USAF aggressor training. Their pitch was why use a facsimile of the MiG-21 (the F-5) when you can have the real thing? They wouldn't say where they GOT said MiG-21s! That was always a mystery. Anyway, it appears that history is rhyming here... 😁 Oh and Fellas, there's nothing more EXPENSIVE than a "cheap" jet! I remember watching a KZbin video where a guy got an old Cessna Citation for $50K, and it needed a bunch of work to be legal to fly; it needed hot section inspection on the engines (or was it an overhaul?), among other things. Anyway, they had to spend six figures on that old Citation to make it legal.

[@TXHusker05]

If MiGs are falling off of trucks, I can probably find $20K. I don’t even need a 31, I’ll take a Foxbat and be on my way. The 4477th Test and Eval Squadron, Project Constant Peg (so to speak) and all the HAVE programs were a huge success for the Air Force in the 70s and 80s. Not only because they were able to provide dissimilar training, but they also trained other Red Air (mainly T-38 and F-5 guys) to fly and fight like Soviets. It was a tremendously useful program because at the time we just didn’t have a lot of real world intel to work with. None of these jets will likely be useful in that role since we probably know all we would need to know about them already but there is nothing wrong with having them available. We might learn something new, Ukraine might learn something new, maybe the parts can be useful to someone. At $20K each I say we buy the lot of them. We’ll find a use.

[@mrico523]

Turns out this was fake

[@moonasha]

I think those jets were so cheap because they were basically unflyable. Would be cool if a few get donated to the US Airforce's museum though, I assume they don't have a MiG-31

[@PlaneSaddles]

Talk to Randy Ball why he is excited to get checked out on Mig-29, but not to own one.

[@irontale1834]

I spent my tax refund on the wrong thing 😢

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

The title of the book is called America’s secret megs! It tells the story of the red flag operations that took place during the 1980s. We bought traded and stole Soviet era megs kept them at a base up in Tonopah and flew them against our jets. It’s a very good book and a very interesting read.

[@33moneyball]

Less than 2 million bucks for 81 jets…

[@markanderton4901]

Maybe, if the USA buys them then Russia can't buy them to replace worn parts.

[@hardlymovinson9405]

It would be interesting to have Ward Carroll on the show to discuss the 81 jets too…

[@Wolfgulfur]

4:28 *Hi, Phil Swift here for Flex Seal!*

[@ADobbin1]

From what I've read about it technically they bought 81 jets worth of parts.

[@eddiepearl536]

Don’t see much aggressor use for them due to stealth and bvr missiles. More likely parts and decoys. 20k decoy for cost if 599k plus medium and long range missiles sounds like a good deal

[@clausbohm9807]

"who's got the least amount of gas loses" Lol!

[@misterbig9025]

Does the package include Borat Sagdiyev?

[@Reivach777]

"Hey Ukraine, you will never get this! You will never get this! An they get this!!! High five!!"

[@sd_pjwal]

I mean, to deny Russia the parts

[@citizenblue]

"For 15 grand I'll just ride that thing on in" 😂😂

[@Foxstein]

The Ukrainian Air Force has never used the MiG-31, since the 90s we have not used the MiG-23 and MiG-27, and the MiG-29 in their (probably) terrible condition is also only suitable as decoys. And, by the way, the MiG-31 is not nearly as fast as is commonly believed. The Russians converted them into carriers of “almost hypersonic” missiles and now these aircraft can hardly accelerate faster than M 1.5 (without air-to-air weapons on board).

[@johnstewart9591]

What does ukraine fly? Just the 25?

[@johnosbourn4312]

The name of said book is Red Eagles, and I own a copy of it.

[@aramos3639]

What sorcery did the US pull to get these for 20k

[@shenmisheshou7002]

This is not a true story. They did sell a bunch of jets, but these jets were reported to be in such poor condition that they would not be worth bringing to serviceable condition and were being sold as scrap. The Kazakhs released a statement saying, "The information disseminated on the internet [about the fighters] is not true... " The US also denies buying any jets from them.

[@Seasonstobecheerful]

One way pillotless decoys or just part donation, they are cheaper than the shipping costs.

[@chrischang3002]

Cost of the planes are going to be cheaper than the cost of getting the planes to US