Tu-154
- Thread starter boondr
- Start date
SmoothLanderJ
Well-Known Member
Seriously! LOL! Orange Anchor is the man when it come to back in the day flight stories. His storis of past experiences are some of the best that I've read.... :beer:
SmoothLanderJ
Well-Known Member
Now that Im thinking about it, there was a grey military looking TU-154 the other day in MEM. Unfortunately I didnt hear the call sign because it was taking off the same time I was.
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
Yeah, try flying a Learjet, as fragile as they are, over here in Ukraine. Same mentality...block taxiways, and runways that could pass for moguls. It gets interesting over here.
irate:I'm still trying to figure out who to meet to get some TU time...heck, I'd even love to fly a Yak, or some other Russian machines.
Orange Anchor
New Member
No but Old Dog may fit. The trick is doing a bit of writing. Some doors not open to a pilot are open to a writer and some not open to a writer are open to a pilot. Truth is, as I look back even I am amazed at some of the things I have been permitted to do. And FWIW, the list of things YET TO DO is long as the likelihood it will happen grows smaller.
Orange Anchor
New Member
Orange Anchor
New Member
Yeah, try flying a Learjet, as fragile as they are, over here in Ukraine. Same mentality...block taxiways, and runways that could pass for moguls. It gets interesting over here.
I'm still trying to figure out who to meet to get some TU time...heck, I'd even love to fly a Yak, or some other Russian machines.
I was told the blocks allowed for quick repair after being bombed. Unfortunately since the blocks are sort of independent, they shift with the wx making for a very uneven runway.
Didn't fly it but did jumpseat on the Yak-142 which is not really well known outside of Russia. A smaller version was also made.
Where are you flying Lears and which ones?
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
Flying Lear 60's out of Kiev, Ukraine. We were based in Boryspil on the military side to "save money" where they had the block taxiways. It beat the living crap out of the airplane. We are now based in Zhoulani airport in Kiev, Ukraine. It only has an approach to rwy 8, which makes it interesting when storms come through.
And, yes, I have been told the same thing about the blocks... quicker to rebuild if needed.
How long did you spend on this side of the world?
jdlilfan
Well-Known Member
I rode on a Yak-42 once. We usually take the trains when we get in country off of KLM, but it was around new years and the trains were sold out. Flew from UKBB to UKFF. It was pretty interesting to say the least. No overhead bins, interior that rivaled a 1960's bus, and a cabin attendant who only served water from a pitcher into plastic cups. And as soon as we landed, in typical Ukrainian fashion, everyone gets up and rushes to the front door and or stands in the aisle.
When we were boarding:
When we were boarding:
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
How did you like Ukraine?:beer: Did you stay in Simferopol or go to Yalta? Yeah, I still do not trust tap water here.
In my apartment, it comes out yellow unless I let it run for a few minutes. Everything either gets boiled or comes from a bottle.
Orange Anchor
New Member
I spent about 10 days with Aeroflot when it was still just one organization. I started in Moscow. Went to St Petersburg and then Ulyanovsk. St Petersburg was where they had their academy and Ulyanovsk was one of their major training bases and a large Aeroflot museum. One of the Tu-144s was there although it was not open. Went over on an IL-62 and came home on a Pan Am 747. Interesting times. The country was coming apart. Peristroika and glasnost. I was in St Petersburg for the May Day parades and we also visited the mass graves. Many are not aware the Russians lost more men than ALL the other combatants COMBINED. The city, then Leningrad, was under seige for 900 days. Tens of thousands and thousands men, women and children died. These graves covered acres.
jdlilfan
Well-Known Member
I've been there a few times now. It is definitely an interesting place to visit. I have had a lot of fun going there. Food is mixed, I have had some good, some bad, never really got sick though. Tried to eat more "local" like fare and cooked some of our own meals as well. Usually always get bottled water, niet gaz, haha. The first time we stayed for nearly a month. Mostly in Mykolayiv. Also spent some time in Warsaw because you had to transition to there from Ukraine due to visa reasons, some political thing I guess? That time we flew on Aerosvit back when they had the old 737's to Poland. We had great service and full meals! The second time was to Simferopol and we only stayed a week. I have always wanted to visit yalta and the castles. My parents travel there about every 6 months, mostly to the south on the peninsula but do spend some time in Kyiv. They have gotten to see a lot of the sights. They also got to see a lot of some WW2 history which I would love to see someday there. Really cool pictures.
I would love to go back again sometime. Also want to visit Moscow and Russia.
I would love to go back again sometime. Also want to visit Moscow and Russia.
R
Roger, Roger
Guest
Fixed it for yathe -134
Fencer
Experimentalist
That's correct. 1985-1992 in three modifications.
I was in St Petersburg for the May Day parades and we also visited the mass graves. Many are not aware the Russians lost more men than ALL the other combatants COMBINED. The city, then Leningrad, was under seige for 900 days. Tens of thousands and thousands men, women and children died. These graves covered acres.
Thanks for remembering. My family tree lost my both grandfathers and 8 other relatives in that war.
A bit of deviation I hope OP will forgive
There were modified Tu-134UBL for training pilots in military schools. Mostly for strategic bombers. Machines looked funny with those noses.
boondr
Penalty Vectorer
That's correct. 1985-1992 in three modifications.
Thanks for remembering. My family tree lost my both grandfathers and 8 other relatives in that war.
A bit of deviation I hope OP will forgive
Deviate all you like man, this is a educational tangent the thread has taken, so the more the merrier.
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
A bit of deviation I hope OP will forgive
Those were for training the TU-22 Blinder and TU-22M Backfinder crews, correct?
I've always thought the SU-24 was a great looking aircraft, very much comparable to the FB-111.
The Tupolev group really hit the ball out of the park with the TU-160 Blackjack, that is a BEAUTIFUL aicraft!
When the TU-114 came to the US with Kruzchev onboard, it made him happy that the US didn't have airstairs that could reach the aircraft!
Orange Anchor
New Member
I will have to read up on the variants. True story. I was at Farnborough the year the Fencer showed up for the first time. As I remember the Russians had brought a bunch of machines not previously seen outside Russian including the Forger. I was wandering the flt line and there was a pilot standing beside the Fencer. I asked if I could look at his airplane and he replied, "Da!". I did sort of a exterior preflight just looking around. There was a ladder and I asked if I could look in the cockpit and again he replied, "Da!" and smiled. I climbed up. I asked if I could take some pictures and with a very stern face he replied, "NYET!! NYET!!" I thought there must be something super secret or something and the he held out his hand and said, "FIVE POUNDS!" I could take the pictures. I just had to fork over 5 British pounds. Capitalism was alive. I had to laugh. I thought a few years earlier I probably would have been shot trying to climb into a Fencer cockpit and now it was costing me only a few pounds.
Where did you fly on Fencers and how many hours. Ever fly the -22M?
More stories about my trip maybe later. I was treated very kindly while there. I will say however the Russian attempt at beer.. wow.. Now the brandies were superb but the beer was BAD BAD BAD.
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
You should see what they think of our "Vodka". Fascinating thread. Would love to hear more about the flying the Su-24...
Oh, and whatever we think of Uncle Joe, there are lots of Americans (and others, I'm sure) who haven't forgotten what the former USSR sacrificed in the second world war. Stunning.
Oh, and whatever we think of Uncle Joe, there are lots of Americans (and others, I'm sure) who haven't forgotten what the former USSR sacrificed in the second world war. Stunning.
Fencer
Experimentalist
Thanks boon driver
Yes, on forth year of training in some pilot military schools the cadets were sent to certain units to get some visibility off pointy nose
I logged in right seat about one thousand hours. As a navigator and WSO and had a good time. Was stationed all over the place including third countries. Many times saw 22s mostly in Crimea even climbed in the cockpit once. Have buddies who made careers in them.
As for flying Fencers it's all "regular" stuff Boris, not worth a newspaper article. I also met many pilots with great knowledge of military history. They show great respect and understanding indeed. Vodka
??? I don't like vodka it's bitter I prefer good wine or beer. Spotted Cow type...
Piperflyer
Well-Known Member
I love the Tu-154 what an amazing aircraft, with great sound! But my favorite will always be the Tu-134A-3
I've flown on lots of Soviet planes (An24, Tu134, Tu154, Yak42, IL86). Once I sat in the nose for landing on a flight from Domodedovo - Kuromoch in the Tu-134. That was an unforgettable experience.
I've flown on lots of Soviet planes (An24, Tu134, Tu154, Yak42, IL86). Once I sat in the nose for landing on a flight from Domodedovo - Kuromoch in the Tu-134. That was an unforgettable experience.