Post-Soviet Aircraft Graveyard Discovered on Abandoned Far East Russian Air Base

Urban Ghosts ^ | 7 September 2011 / 6 | Urban Ghosts

[WhiskeyX]

During the Cold War CIA and U.S. Air Force pilots risked life and limb to spy on the Soviet Union. Today, we too can peer behind the former Iron Curtain, all from the comfort of our personal computers. Intriguingly, such virtual exploration has revealed abandoned military bases in the far reaches of Russia that – even today – house the rusting remnants of the feared Soviet bomber force.

Littered with at least 18 gutted Tupolev Tu-22M Backfires of the 444th Heavy Bomber Regiment, Vozdvizhenka air base resembles a post-apocalyptic landscape. Entering this barren place, located near Ussuriysk in the Primorsky Krai region of Far East Russia, 60 miles north of Vladivostok and 40 miles from the Chinese border, is like taking a step back in time.

[WhiskeyX]

See the current Tupelov TU-22M Backfire bombers at the airfield nearly three years later.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vozdvizhenka/@43.9178761,131.9218259,532m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x5fb2c6c733bd32c5:0x34232933ead5bb3e

[Gaffer]

I remember seeing photographs of active Soviet runways, pads, ramps etc. What stunned me was grass, weeds, small debris (FOD we call it) being the norm.

The fighters that operated out of there were designed for that. Juxtaposed against US FOD mania and delicate engine designs (I won’t include the Warthog), it seemed funny.

[super7man]

BFL

[WhiskeyX]

The aircraft at Vozdvizhenka field are empty powerless hulls.

Published: 10 June 2011
http://russiapedia.rt.com/galleries/strategic-graveyard-bombers/powerless-aircraft-empty-field/

[bert]

house the oxidizing remnants

Aluminum and titanium don’t rust

[Jotmo]

Ha! Too true. I was an A-10 Crew Chief in the 80’s. We never did FOD walks

[Gaffer]

Aluminum will get oxidized and coated. That’s why they make DEOX for wire connections when using aluminum wiring.

[WhiskeyX]

See:

The Amazing Rusting Aluminum

Rust can hold an airplane together or dissolve it to bits

By Theodore Gray By Theodore Gray Posted September 22, 2004

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-09/amazing-rusting-aluminum

[AnalogReigns]

house the oxidizing remnants

Aluminum and titanium don’t rust

Right, but they do actually oxidize. Aluminum for example, forms a hard, protective coating of oxidation, which prevents the metal inside from oxidizing further...at least very fast.(Sandpaper is made of aluminum oxide.) None-the-less, aluminum does corrode (oxidize) and break down over time.

[GreyFriar]

cold war ping 1

[bert]

[Celtic Conservative]

Davis-Monthan AFB.

CC

[mylife]

Russkie planes are like AK 47’s, They will operate in crap.

[wjcsux]

Later

[Gaffer]

They took a note from the designs of food shredders in dishwashers and other kitchen applicances.....screen and shred if necessary.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***FOD we call it**

I picked up tons of safety wire and FOD(foreign object damage) on the flight lines. The worst was at Beale AFB.

[mylife]

Yup

[goldstategop]

I highly recommend any one interested in aviation in Russia visit the museum in Monino.

Just be sure to watch out for the carny barkers, minstrels and drunks when you take the metro train there. :)

But this is now an additional stop if you visit Russia. Seeing all the aircraft in one place is well worth your time.

They were good airplanes for their day. Now sadly superseded.

[ZOOKER]

Used to be aircraft that could carry nuclear weapons were supposed to be kept outside in clear view of satellite pictures.

Verification of their whereabouts/condition was a condition written into strategic arms treaties. Attempts to move or scrap them had to be coordinated with the enemy.

[WhiskeyX]

Yes, and that is why you see some of the agreed upon B-52 strategic bombers at Davis-Monthan AFB with their tails and wings chopped off and lying aside their fuselages. The Tupelov TU-22M were likely part of that same nuclear armaments deal.