Combloc aircraft, anyone?

[Elbows]

As the son of a naval aviator, I've always appreciated aviation - though I never truly had the drive (nor the capability) to pursue it. However, I noticed at an early age (even back when the Cold War was still goin'!) I definitely prefer the looks of Combloc aircraft. I simply love Soviet/Russian designs.

I was just perusing the 3200 page photo thread over on militaryphotos.net, and scooped up some of my favorites. Anyone else love the rugged utility and brute-ugliness/beauty of these aircraft?

[joness0154]

I'm with you there. Something about their design says to me "I'm ready to fight"

[DonL]

We were in the path of the pattern for Uglovoye AFB, or Flankerville, as I started calling it.

[Elbows]

Bump as my bandwidth on Photobucket cleared up finally...sorry about that...

[B3sat16v]

As much as I like Russian Aircrafts, I will have to say that their helos are not as attractive. And the F-14 owns them all.

[SpookyReverb]

Those cargo planes with the eight props are cool, I have never seen those before.

[Elbows]

As much as I like Russian Aircrafts, I will have to say that their helos are not as attractive. And the F-14 owns them all.

That's funny, I think their helos are incredibly awesome. The Hind being up there with the best. The F-14 is up there with the F-15 as the most generic and boring looking fighter jet ever.

The South Africans even have some Super Hind upgrade options...

[B3sat16v]

That's funny, I think their helos are incredibly awesome. The Hind being up there with the best. The F-14 is up there with the F-15 as the most generic and boring looking fighter jet ever.

You are crazy. The F-14 Tomcat is far from Generic looking. The thing has curves and it was a top notch performer.

The F-15 sure is generic looking, but it certainly is better than a lot of Russian Jets. And If you like the Foxbat/Foxhound and you do not like the F-15 something is wrong with you, because they are as generic as possible. The Mig 25 and Mig 31 are basically just engines with wings and certainly are NOT pretty.

Anything after the Mig 17 was pretty generic looking and up until the Mig 29 or so is when the Russian Jets got slightly pretty. Now if we talk about other aircrafts then I can say they has some beautiful ones. Like the Ty-144, and Ty-154, as prime examples.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

[Elbows]

You are crazy. The F-14 Tomcat is far from Generic looking. The thing has curves and it was a top notch performer.

The F-15 sure is generic looking, but it certainly is better than a lot of Russian Jets. And If you like the Foxbat/Foxhound and you do not like the F-15 something is wrong with you, because they are as generic as possible. The Mig 25 and Mig 31 are basically just engines with wings and certainly are NOT pretty.

Anything after the Mig 17 was pretty generic looking and up until the Mig 29 or so is when the Russian Jets got slightly pretty. Now if we talk about other aircrafts then I can say they has some beautiful ones. Like the Ty-144, and Ty-154, as prime examples.

Eh, the F-14 looks like poop compared to the F-4 in my opinion. The Russian planes aren't pretty, and that's why I like them. They look 100% functional, in the same way that an AK-47 is a brutally simple, efficient and oddly attractive.

The F-14 to me is just...meh. Sure it's not ugly, but it never ever really moved me one way or the other. I like my aircraft to have some edge...which normally comes from odd angles, or ugly bits. I will say I like the PAK-FA best of the current crop of 5th/6th gen super jets...but as a whole they all look like crap compared to the Cold War aircraft.



Take the KA-29 for example...brutal, short, stubby, ugly as f_ck. In my opinion, that's what makes it's so incredibly cool looking.

[NickWVU]

They're all very intimidating, that's for sure.

[yz1337]

They're all very intimidating, that's for sure.

Until you see the piles of wreckage left behind after the F-14s, F-15s, etc are done

[TASVW]

As much as I like Russian Aircrafts, I will have to say that their helos are not as attractive. And the F-14 owns them all.

Lulz. Wut?









All go, no show bish

[Elbows]

I can't recall which one, but one of their two primary smaller ground attack helicopters has been a huge commercial disaster.

They were trying to sell India some, but it was up against old Apaches or something, and the Russian aircraft were more expensive, and nowhere near as good. I guess even they screw up something once in a while.

Interestingly enough a helo guy was praising the older model Mi-17's etc. being used in Afghanistan, saying they were significantly better suited to flying at high altitude over the mountains than most of our current helos...and hence were real work horses.

Sadly, like most of their military endeavors, the commercial export models of their aircraft are often better, more advanced (and more expensive) than their own. Some of the best models of their aircraft even the Russian military can't afford.

[B3sat16v]

Lulz. Wut?

All go, no show bish

What? Are you twelve? I do not find Russian Helos as attractive. And how much experience do you have with them to be saying all go no show?

And as for the Mil-17, Mil 26, they are true work horses. But like with anything you cannot take one or two persons opinions about it. The Mil 26 for sure is huge and can lift more than anything we have, but that is what the Russians always do, built huge and when you add enough power and size anything is possible.

[ambat]

they were trying to sell India some, but it was up against old Apaches or something, and the Russian aircraft were more expensive, and nowhere near as good. I guess even they screw up something once in a while.

That because the AH-64 Longbow is battle tested in "similar conditions" (very high temps and desert conditions). The Mi-28 (KA-50 is not even in contention) has too many unknowns. And most importantly-the Apache is actually for sale with all accessories (Hellfire missiles in both IIR and MMW seekers).

The Russians are kept happy because the Indians will buy lots of Mi-17v which is their workhorse medium lift helo.

[dubraycer36]

I don't care what anyone says, the Russians know how to make some pretty planes.

[20DYNAMITE07]

These are some amazing photographs.

I too love Russian birds... In particular, I love their livery. It just takes them to the next level. I wish we would bring back some more unique schemes than our standard nato gray planes. At the very least, I wish our birds had some nose art.

[dubraycer36]

These are some amazing photographs.

I too love Russian birds... In particular, I love their livery. It just takes them to the next level. I wish we would bring back some more unique schemes than our standard nato gray planes. At the very least, I wish our birds had some nose art.

Ask and ye shall receive
B-52


B-1

There's more but I can't do flicker at work

[Elbows]

I have to agree though, our front line aviation units are boring as hell nowdays.

[B3sat16v]

I like this, but I might be biased....

[yz1337]

I like this, but I might be biased....

no, you're not biased. It is far better looking than any Russian helo. Some of their airplanes are gorgeous, but their helos are hideous, not even A-10 "so ugly its gorgeous" type hideous.

[Elbows]

Oh piss off, we have nothing this cool looking!



PS: On the Hawk up there --- those air dropped torpedoes or actual anti-ship missiles on the outer pylons?

[B3sat16v]

PS: On the Hawk up there --- those air dropped torpedoes or actual anti-ship missiles on the outer pylons?

Here is your answer...

[Elbows]

Is this a secret-squirrel, cryptic answer...in that it's top secret, or did you forget to post a picture?

[B3sat16v]

Hahaha!

Lets try it again!

[Elbows]

Gotcha, so is it anti-vessel, or air?

[Geekengineer]

Gotcha, so is it anti-vessel, or air?

Those are Hellfires, so typically anti-ship/anti-shore/anti-whatever. Theoretically they can be used air-to-air, as in this attempt: http://www.military.com/video/aircra...1507888242001/

[Elbows]

I thought they bore a resemblance to hellfires, so just good ole' multipurpose. Gotcha.

[Jettavr666]

[dblueS40]

I like this, but I might be biased....

Its ok, cause i am bias to these...

[B3sat16v]

Its ok, cause i am bias to these...

Apache

Are you an Army Aviator?

[dblueS40]

Are you an Army Aviator?

Roger. 8/229th out of Ft. Knox

[.LSinLV.]

nice c0ck!!!

[B3sat16v]

Roger. 8/229th out of Ft. Knox

Good to know there are other rotorheads around.....