ehusmann wrote: ↑24 May 2022, 23:47
Here is a link to an article about that Su-25 crash with a general as the pilot. Apparently, it was an already retired Major-General. In the last paragraphs it is noted that he was kicked out because he flew a Su-27 without having the type rating for it... and then crashed it. And before that, he also flew a Su-34 without type rating. Makes you wonder, did anybody knew he was even flying in Ukraine now...? Anyway, Major-Generals flying combat sorties, not exactly something you hear about very often. https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-medi ... 00289.html
Somewhere else it was suggested that he was flying for the Wagner Group. It was also suggested that this might explain reported sightings (where?) of Su-25's lacking Russian national markings with only the infamous "Z" painted on the tail. Never saw any pictures of those Su-25s but it makes sense to explain a 63 year old retired general in the cockpit of a fighter jet.
ehusmann wrote: ↑24 May 2022, 23:47
Here is a link to an article about that Su-25 crash with a general as the pilot. Apparently, it was an already retired Major-General. In the last paragraphs it is noted that he was kicked out because he flew a Su-27 without having the type rating for it... and then crashed it. And before that, he also flew a Su-34 without type rating. Makes you wonder, did anybody knew he was even flying in Ukraine now...? Anyway, Major-Generals flying combat sorties, not exactly something you hear about very often. https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-medi ... 00289.html
Somewhere else it was suggested that he was flying for the Wagner Group. It was also suggested that this might explain reported sightings (where?) of Su-25's lacking Russian national markings with only the infamous "Z" painted on the tail. Never saw any pictures of those Su-25s but it makes sense to explain a 63 year old retired general in the cockpit of a fighter jet.
Interesting to note that the front of the helicopter looked to be white painted, as was the Mi-24 shot down on March 5th on the very well known video.
Is there a special reason for such a camouflage ?
Watching photos of Russian AF Hinds on the net, I don't see any of them wearing such a color scheme.
Shaykovka air base, Kaluga oblast just south of Moscow have around 20 combat ready Tu-22M3.
The bombers are just to take off from the base and a short ride to the Byelorussian border or the border around Belogorsk. There they release their cruise missiles against military and civilian targets in Ukraine.
On Earth Google may 2021 were was around 25 Tu-22M3 on Shaykovka, some of them derelicts.
Further Tu-22M3 are based at Monchegorsk, Ryazan and Angarsk (Belaya) in the Far East. And they are cikulated with the bombers in Shaykovka or use staging bases.
Following bombers are spotted on Shaykovka:
Tu-22M3 02 red RF-34110 2020 Shaykovka VKS grey Olenogorsk
Tu-22M3 35 red RF-94081 2021 Shaikovka VKS grey 51 rwd
Tu-22M3 46 red RF-94135 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey
Tu-22M3 36 red RF-94137 2019 Shaikovka VVS grey
Tu-22M3 29 red RF-94138 2019 Shaikovka VVS grey 43 red Gef
Tu-22M3 49 red RF-94139 2021 Shaikovka VVS grey 66357
Tu-22M3 48 red RF-94140 2020 Shaikovka VVS grey Ryazan
Tu-22M3 41 red RF-94141 2021 Shaikovka VVS grey 21 red
Tu-22M3 42 red RF-94142 2020 Shaikovka VVS grey 09549 Gef
Tu-22M3 26 red RF-94143 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey
Tu-22M3 16 red RF-94144 2022 Shaikovka VKS grey Gefecht
Tu-22M3 10 red RF-94146 2016 Shaikovka VVS grey Gef w/o 2016.06.16
Tu-22M3 11 red RF-94147 2020 Shaikovka VVS grey
Tu-22M3 15 red RF-94149 2022 Shaikovka VKS grey
Tu-22M3 17 red RF-94150 2020 Shaikovka 09135 VVS grey
Tu-22M3 21 red RF-94152 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey Olenogorsk
Tu-22M3 06 red RF-94153 2012 Shaikovka 95447 VVS grey
Tu-22M3 25 red RF-94155 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey
Tu-22M3 28 red RF-94157 2022 Shaikovka VKS grey 14857
Tu-22M3 01 red RF-94161 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey Belaya 16 red
Tu-22M3 21 red RF-94241 2019 Shaykovka 82243 VVS grey ex MR?
Tu-22M3 38 red RF-94265 2020 Shaikovka VKS grey
Tu-22M3 35 red RF-94266 2018 Shaikovka VVS grey
Tu-22M3 22 red RF-95956 2021 Shaikovka VVS grey Byelo