Russia Ukraine: War soon?

[gcode]

Very sad this - I'd had a walk through and climbed the ladder to the cockpit a few years ago at Farnbourgh air show  

I think they used this plane to haul one of my 50 ton parts to central Asia several years ago
It's too bad they didn't fly it to safety before the shooting started
That plane was irreplaceable

[JParis]

It's too bad they didn't fly it to safety before the shooting started

Wasn't an option, it was being repaired...have heard the engines were off for an overhaul

[RobertELee]

I think they used this plane to haul one of my 50 ton parts to central Asia several years ago
It's too bad they didn't fly it to safety before the shooting started
That plane was irreplaceable

I've been hearing it was under repair, an engine or something big removed, and wasn't operational. There is a second plane that is about 80% complete and is somewhere else that will possibly take its place.

I had seen the plane probably 6 years ago when it was delivering something for the Vikings stadium. It flew over me a few thousand feet up and you could tell it was massive, and the sound it made with its 6 engines was unforgettable.

There is a local photographer that sits at the end of an MSP runway and takes photos. Here is a collage he made up that shows the true size of the beast.

[RobertELee]

[RobertELee]

Coincidence?

[CNCAppsJames]

Confirmed. The largest plane in the world has been destroyed. The Antanov AN-225 Mriya.

I've always been a fan of BIG planes. That and the C-5 Galaxy are my favorites. The C-5 looks like the Antonov's little sister, and the C-17... is the toddler in the family.

Yeah, that's a shame. War is a cruel bitch. And when she rears her ugly head things get nasty.

[Del.]

Looks like the Russians are destroying Ukraine.

I think us and NATO will look back with regret that we let this happen when it could have been stopped.

[Incogneeto]

Looks like the Russians are destroying Ukraine.

I think us and NATO will look back with regret that we let this happen when it could have been stopped.

Putin is not stupid.

He is seizing all the energy providers....No Lectricity...No internet...No Lectricity...No pumping gas.

Not if, but when he has taken all the outlets he will control The nation.

He will break their backs...No Heat,No Power.

[RobertELee]

The US just expelled a dozen Russian diplomats/employees. There is currently a plane en-route from Russia to pick them up in DC.

*edit* I'm hearing these may be people the US has accused of being spies.

[Dan_AKA_ROY23]

Putin says sanctions akin to declaration of war.

[Dan_AKA_ROY23]

Reports: Russians shelling "humanitarian corridors" they agreed upon in negotiations.

Fick Sucks....

[RobertELee]

[gcode]

Article on the Russian Air Force

Is the Russian Air Force Actually Incapable of Complex Air Operations?
More than a week into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Air Force has yet to commence large-scale operations. Inactivity in the first few days could be ascribed to various factors, but the continued absence of major air operations now raises serious capability questions.

One of the greatest surprises from the initial phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the inability of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) fighter and fighter-bomber fleets to establish air superiority, or to deploy significant combat power in support of the under-performing Russian ground forces. On the first day of the invasion, an anticipated series of large-scale Russian air operations in the aftermath of initial cruise- and ballistic-missile strikes did not materialise. An initial analysis of the possible reasons for this identified potential Russian difficulties with deconfliction between ground-based surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries, a lack of precision-guided munitions and limited numbers of pilots with the requisite expertise to conduct precise strikes in support of initial ground operations due to low average VKS flying hours. These factors all remain relevant, but are no longer sufficient in themselves to explain the anaemic VKS activity as the ground invasion continues into its second week. Russian fast jets have conducted only limited sorties in Ukrainian airspace, in singles or pairs, always at low altitudes and mostly at night to minimise losses from Ukrainian man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and ground fire.

[gcode]

Green on the outside Red on the inside

Russia has been funding the Green movement and the antifracking movement for years

[gcode]

Rampant Corruption Affecting Russian Combat Performance

Historic corruption in Russia may have hit its military and eroded its ability to maintain its war efforts in Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and the war has not unfolded the way Russian President Vladimir Putin would have wanted. The British Ministry of Defense and U.S. officials regularly note that the Russian military has made slow progress, taking several days to even address day-one targets.

But more troubling for Russian troops would be the shortcomings in supplies and equipment: Pictures on social media indicate that troops carried rations that had expired in 2015, and the equipment appears dated, with radio communications transmitting over open channels and lacking long-range capabilities. Tanks and vehicles abandoned during combat show evidence of poor maintenance and care.

The article mentions Russian troops sent to Ukraine with rations that expired in 2015.
I'm not sure that's all that big a deal

When I was in boot camp in 1976 I remember being issued Koeran War vintage ( 1952 ) C rations.
These rations were 2 years older than I was
They were hard to eat, but they were not poisonous