Viktor Belenko died.

[CajunBass]

I don't know, maybe it got reported and I missed it, but I found out earlier that Viktor Belenko passed away back in September. He was the Soviet fighter pilot who defected to the west, bringing along his MIG-25 fighter plane in 1976. At the time the MIG-25 was one of the great mysteries of the era, with very little know about it, and a lot of speculation about how good it was.

His book "Mig Pilot" is a good read. I still have a copy on my nightstand.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Knew the AF dude assigned to the Debrief.
Victor’s low day was when he listened to a tape of his Mother begging him to come home.
So the CIA requested that our AF Guy drive out to the VA Safe House and take Victor on a Road Trip.
He was very interested in Super Markets. The Russian Stores in large towns were well stocked for Party insiders. Not so much as you went to the Boonies.
They drove down to Langley AFB, VA. Not to be confused with the CIA Langley!
He was quite impressed with the massive parking lots filled with cars.
Back then we had Color Coded Base Stickers.
Blue for Officers, Yellow- NCOS, Red -Airmen, Green - Civilians.
He had trouble processing that Airmen had such nice rides!
And he got to fly a Fighter Simulator.
It was unfortunate that he landed that Bird in Japan!
After we tore it apart, they returned it to the Ruskies!
No, it didn’t fly home.
It was carried in pieces in Cargo Planes!

 

[WR Moore]

I recall how amazed the intelligence folks were at how backward the plane was. Apparently we expected materials and gear similar to ours. OTOH, the vacuum tube comm gear would survive an EMP event.

Hope we took real good care of him.

 

[LVSteve]

I recall how amazed the intelligence folks were at how backward the plane was. Apparently we expected materials and gear similar to ours. OTOH, the vacuum tube comm gear would survive an EMP event.

Hope we took real good care of him.

The MiG-25 was a triumph of Turmansky over technology.

Belenko also gave up the existence of a "Super Foxbat" in development. In time it emerged as the MiG-31, a very nasty missile truck with a monster radar.

 

[Rudi]

I remember reading his story. A well planed escape.

 

[WR Moore]

The MiG-25 was a triumph of Turmansky over technology.

Is Turmansky the Marxist equivalent of bean counters or does it refer to political doctrine overruling engineers? Or might that be the egotist overseeing the program?

 

[kpoesq369]

Is that the one that was a rip off of the Avro Arrow?

 

[muddocktor]

Is Turmansky the Marxist equivalent of bean counters or does it refer to political doctrine overruling engineers? Or might that be the egotist overseeing the program?

No, that was the maker of the massive turbojets the Mig 25 used.