Afghanistan.

[Mi-24V]

http://photofile.ru/photo/mi-24v/2096867/large/34357276.jpg


My picture album. 1986-87.

http://photofile.ru/users/mi-24v/2096867/

[Carlo]

Are you a Soviet veteran of Afghanistan civil war? Thanks very much for sharing your album with us, really very interesting! Perhaps you would like to share some stories, also.
Did you see that there is also an Afghan MiG-21 pilot here? He fought for the Soviet side. Have a look at the thread Afghan airforces fighter pilot, inside General discussions.

[Mi-24V]

Yes. I did these photos personally. Many in flight.

[Carlo]

Excellent pictures, thanks once more! And if you can, please write something about your experiences.

[bf-fly]

Hi,

Great to have you here!

Are you familiar with the story of the Russian monument built at Bagram airbase by SU-25 crews that was uncovered by American soldiers? I don't recall the full story, I dont remember if it is being restored in place or being taken down and shipped to Russia? Have you heard of this?

Do you mind answering occaisionally difficult questions about Afghanistan, or would you rather not?

Thank you

Here's some info on the monument:

http://www.thetelegraph.com/onset?id=2073&template=article.html

[bf-fly]

I was in Destin Florida (KDTS) the other day. It's in the Panhandle (northwest Gulf Coast) near Pennsicola AFB. It's a small strip, about 4500 feet about a mile from the Gulf used by private aircraft. There was a really strange site on the ramp, 2 immaculate helocopters, a MI-8 and a MI-24. Perfect condition. First I had seen either in person. It was really quite a surprise. Obviously privately owned and in like new condition. If I can figure out how to post a picture taken with my cell phone I'll do it. Very cool.

[Carlo]

Very beautiful story, that US troops are restoring a Soviet memorial in Afghanistan. It was really a pity that US government supported the mujahedins in the 1980's, a big mistake that cost a lot, not only to the USSR and Afghanistan, but also for the USA: 3,000 civilian victims on 9/11/2001.

[bf-fly]

Carlo,

That's a very long, complex story. Mistakes were made on all sides.

[Alexej_nemov]

Mi-24V - Thats realy nice photo collection, unique. it reminds me of movie 9-ya rota..

[Mi-24V]

Hi,

Great to have you here!

Are you familiar with the story of the Russian monument built at Bagram airbase by SU-25 crews that was uncovered by American soldiers? I don't recall the full story, I dont remember if it is being restored in place or being taken down and shipped to Russia? Have you heard of this?

Do you mind answering occaisionally difficult questions about Afghanistan, or would you rather not?

Thank you

Here's some info on the monument:

http://www.thetelegraph.com/onset?id=2073&template=article.html


Questions I shall answer. But translation is necessary. At me it is bad with English language.

[bf-fly]

Questions I shall answer. But translation is necessary. At me it is bad with English language.

You're not too bad. I understand what you meant. I can't help you with the translation, maybe Pavel can. I can correct your responses if they are in Engligh if that is helpful to you.

Example:

"Question I shall answer", can works a little better- Questions I can answer, or better still, I can answer questions, or I shall answer your questions.

"At me is bad with English language"

I am bad with the English language

or better

I am poor with the english language

better still

My english language is poor.


We can both learn if you want to. I can learn about Afghanistan, you about English.

[TovarishSamsonShekovich]

You are a big member of Aviapedia, witness of history, very valuable indeed, thanks for sharing the fotos, spasibo.

[Alexej_nemov]

Did the makers of 9 Ya-Rota see this photo collection, becouse it reminds me so much, just look:

1035

[Mi-24V]

Did the makers of 9 Ya-Rota see this photo collection, becouse it reminds me so much, just look:

1035

I was the first. :) Afghanistan 1987.

http://photofile.ru/photo/mi-24v/2096867/large/34680380.jpg

http://photofile.ru/photo/mi-24v/2096867/large/34680381.jpg

[zb10948]

bf-fly, you can send MMS directly to e-mail from your cellphone. I think all mobile providers support that. Just type the address instead of cellphone number in receipient space.

If you have a camera on the phone, you have MMS support, 99%. Though i am not sure about your provider supporting the mail relay option, here (in Europe), standards are different, you should be using WCDMA network there, while im on UMTS / HSDPA.

Doesn't the thing have IR or bluetooth or something?

[bf-fly]

Yeah, I've done that, just don't know how to get it from my email to here.

[zb10948]

Well, how hard could that be? Download it to your PC, and then use it as an attachment to your post. There's a button "Manage Attachments" right below the "Submit Relpy" and "Preview Post" buttons.

[bf-fly]

Finally, kept getting an invalid file.

This is a MI-24 in perfect condition in Florida. It appears to have been just shipped there since both it and the MI-8 didn't have it's rotor blades installed. The cell phone picture doesn't do it justice. It had a very shiny very recent paint job with excellent cockpit glass, etc. (as did the Mi-8 )

[zb10948]

Cellphone's cameras are awful. I have a 2mpx on mine, and i need to be a alchemist, or a wizard, to get a nice picture. Everything needs to be great...angle, sunlight, perspective. Duh.

Now on topic. Are you sure that's not private owned helo? Croatian Air Force is selling a fleet of Mi-24's for some laughable amount of money, like $30,000 a piece or so. They are beyond service conditions, but we had a discussion on the local forums, and concurred that several of them could be scrapped into a fully flying one. Flying, not shooting ATGM's and such. Point is, it's not really hard for someone that has enough money, to purchase a good Hind for civilian flights.

[Mi-24V]

It is badly visible. But it is very similar to a gun variant of helicopter Mi-24

http://foto.mail.ru/mail/mi-24v/1/i-164.jpg

[zb10948]

What "gun variant" would that be? Mi-24D, P?

[bf-fly]

I'm quite sure they were privately owned. They had US registration tail numbers

[zb10948]

Though i wouldn't go for Mi-24 myself, if i were to buy a Soviet helicopter for private use. The winglets could have been removed, because they are a part of weapons system. And without them, it just doesn't look like good'ol Hind.

I'd go for an Mi-8. Cheaper, and easier to maintain. Lower fuel consumption. A lot of them are flying around for civilian usage (my country uses them for civilian search and rescue, MEDEVAC, even sometimes for superhighway monitoring, when police Bell's aren't available), thus spare parts would be less of a problem than for Mi-24.

I'm very fond of Mi-8. Flown in it, and i literally see it in flight every day. My city is very densly populated, so the medical and patrol heliports are only a few miles from the western city center, where are my usual whereabouts. Sitting on the shore, having a cup of coffee, whop there goes the Hip, whop there goes another one :)

[bf-fly]

The winglets could have been removed, because they are a part of weapons system. And without them, it just doesn't look like good'ol Hind.

They're there - look right over the roof of the pickup truck.

Next time I'm in Destin, if they are still there I'll get some better photos.

[bf-fly]

Here is the actual MI-24 in destin.


http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1212058&WxsIERv=Zvy%20Zv-24Q&Wm=1&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Qrfgva%20-%20Sbeg%20Jnygba%20Ornpu%20Nvecbeg%20%28QGF%20%2F% 20XQGF%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Sybevqn&ktODMp=Znepu%2018%2C%202007&BP=0&WNEb25u=Cnhy%20Svyzre%20-%20fxvcclfpntr%20cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=A114IF&MgTUQtODMgKE=&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=350&NEb25uZWxs=2007-05-18%2020%3A53%3A31&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=04395&static=yes&width=1000&height=679&sok=JURER%20%20%28cynpr%20%3D%20%27Qrfgva%20-%20Sbeg%20Jnygba%20Ornpu%20Nvecbeg%20%28QGF%20%2F% 20XQGF%29%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=3&prev_id=1212059&next_id=NEXTID

Here's the Hip

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1212072&WxsIERv=Zvy%20Zv-8ZGO-1&Wm=1&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Qrfgva%20-%20Sbeg%20Jnygba%20Ornpu%20Nvecbeg%20%28QGF%20%2F% 20XQGF%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Sybevqn&ktODMp=Znepu%2018%2C%202007&BP=0&WNEb25u=Cnhy%20Svyzre%20-%20fxvcclfpntr%20cubgbtencul&xsIERvdWdsY=A2502A&MgTUQtODMgKE=&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=371&NEb25uZWxs=2007-05-18%2021%3A07%3A04&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=96138&static=yes&width=1000&height=679&sok=JURER%20%20%28cynpr%20%3D%20%27Qrfgva%20-%20Sbeg%20Jnygba%20Ornpu%20Nvecbeg%20%28QGF%20%2F% 20XQGF%29%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=1212059


They belong to these guys

http://www.vscglobal.com/index.html

[Richthofen88]

A Hind in Destin, Florida. i live in Cape Coral, but had i know a hind was there i would've traveled up to see it. one of my favorite helicopter gunships. Thanks for the photos, bi fly.:)

[sicsok]

Yes, the Mi-8 is an overall winner! But it's best private use would be like the one I saw being done with a Sikorsky by Winnebago: Flying RV!
From the rear ramp your Corvette (or Vodnik-see "Strange cars" topic) can come into the garage-level, but if no urban use is your bag-have a small hovercraft there...
above it the bedroom-living quarters and even a little office could be tucked in.
For water, marsh or snow-landing :- compressor-inflatable pontoons.
Since the heaters are good too- you can even go to the arctic for a weekend expedition.

[sicsok]

Interesting things fly in the neighbouring airspace of Afghanistan. Not only Pakistan develops own fighterjets...
Who knows what's inside? I dunno...but they are beautiful and more fighter-sized than Raptors or Flankers, eagles or Tomcats. But that is subjective-as it may be: just like girls' skirts are: the mini-er they are, the prettier they are.