Now it is my turn to taxi to the runway and fly! The RD-33 turbofans are whistling happily behind my head as the tower clears us to line up.
Of course, there is no one to see me off, as Alexei is off on his own mission. This is not lost on Vasily, who cannot resist poking me. He is certain something is going on between Alexei and I, however we are but friends — for now. One wonders if Vasily is jealous! I mention this, slyly, as we wait for the tower. Vasily snorts, derisively.
And now, the runway is ours! I push the throttle to full military power and am pressed back into my seat as the engines’ whine crescendos.
My MiG-29 9-13, 11-Red, has been grounded as long as I and Lt. Kulikov has him in peak condition! Both of us are anxious to spread our wings once again, and we leap into the sky, at last sundering the bonds that have held me to that desk for so long. It is good to not have the duty for a change!
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We turn south as I pull up the landing gear and set our course for the Gudauta airbase. It will provide me with a bombing landmark.I will press the attack on the radio station while Vasily covers me. |
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As we near the base… |
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…my SPO-15 ‘Beryoza’ radar warning unit beeps and I look to see what it has picked up.As I do, I hear Vasily’s voice in my headset. |
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“012, mud spike 12 o’ clock.”“I see it. A short-range system. Either a ZSU, a Tunguska, God forbid, or an Osa, if the intelligence can be believed.” |
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“Only one spike, lead.”“Da. But that does not mean the Sheikh does not have others waiting. Weapons free, two. Terminate the contact.”“Roger.” |
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Vasily and I separate… |
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…and I edge out to sea to the turning point near the airbase.I begin my run on the station. I can just see its tall AM antenna now, the tallest structure in the city. |
