Monday, August 20, 2007

The Cold War!! It's on again!!



Cold War air warrior returns

Those pesky Russians, no doubt as a response to the Shrub's attempt to plant a Missle Shield on their very doorstep (namely, in Poland and the Czech Republic) have resumed Bear aircraft overflights. These flights, once the bane of SAC and NORAD, had been suspended with the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

With a range of thousands of miles (approx. 15,000 kilometers) and capable of delivering megatons of nuclear bombs - or several atomic-warheaded cruise missiles - into the heartland of America, the Tu-95 Tupolev (NATO code name "Bear") gave the boys at Strategic Air Command their paycheck's worth of interception training, not to mention keeping their radar skills sharp.

As an aircraft buff, it's nice to see these relics up and flying and providing the Air National Guard with some real-time training.

Look for contrails near you soon.

Update: UK scrambles new Typhoons