Crash!

This is coolbert:

Regret that recent events in Russian only confirming the lack of airworthiness of the Soviet/Russian Su-24 [Fencer] a contingent of which have just been recently sold to Argentina. Thanks to MARCO POLO through Harry.

"in Russia, flights of the Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bombers . . . have been banned until the cause of the Wednesday morning crash of this type of aircraft, which took place outside of the city 'Volgograd'"

"The Su-24 jet crashed seven kilometers from the runway. The fate of the two crew-members is unknown so far. According to a law enforcement source, the pilots have presumably ejected."

"On the order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Force, flights of the Su-24 planes are suspended until the cause of the accident is investigated."

"The Russian Defense Ministry has established a special commission to investigate the crash, and a search and rescue team has been dispatched. The Su-24 flight was being performed without combat ammunition load, by experienced pilots who had logged more than 1,000 flight hours each."

Even this plane flown CLEAN by experience aviators and this happens.

MILITARY COMBAT AVIATION IN PEACETIME FRAUGHT WITH GREAT DANGER AT ALL TIMES! FENCER A LOW-LEVEL FLIGHT TACTICAL AIRCRAFT ABLE TO AVOID CONVENTIONAL RADARS USING TERRAIN FOLLOWING RADAR.

Fencer too not so airworthy an aircraft any longer.  See previous blog entry regarding Fencer. Argentina would be better off purchasing FULLBACK type aircraft from the Russian but those probably too expensive.

coolbert.