Back To Page 7 Standing there is a large man, with a long beard and a Kalashnikov slung across his chest. His breath is foul. He harangues me in Arabic, wildly gesticulating. I stand transfixed. He hits me in the helmet again, staggering me and points to the MiG, still yelling. When I do […]
Back To Page 6 “Colt 1-1, IP.” “Two, running in.” “Springfield flight, one minute to IP.” “788, IP.” Colonel Martin smiled into his oxygen mask as his RWR lit up with the first questing trace of the SA-8 missile system. They’d all arrived on time. And now, it’s showtime. Martin kicked left rudder, putting […]
Back To Page 5 I dress hurriedly. Kemal has brought me my G-suit, and helmet. They are in surprisingly good shape. He also has a sand-brown flight suit emblazoned with a scorpion and Arabic writing. It just fits, and I raise my eyebrows at my benefactor. “Syrian. One of their pilots is here. He […]
Back To Page 4 “Ops, Dice 3. Show line 1 crew-ready.” He still held the crackling portable radio in his hand as he stood in front of green-painted 109 on the flight line, impassively watching two harried technicians running the last ops checks on a Maverick. To his right, another tech wiped down the canopy […]
Back To Page 3 “I tell you nothing!” I spit on the floor at his feet. “Turkish dog!” He takes no notice, sitting on the corner of the bed. His brown eyes are gentle. “I have asked you nothing.” I wait, silently for him to continue. “Such a beauty. A pity you come as a […]
Back To Page 2 The Russian Commander took the podium. “Our intelligence service has struck a blow for our cause. They have discovered a new plan by Muqtadeh and his cronies. They wish to hit the Canadian base at Gudauta, with MiG aircraft which they will paint to resemble Ukranians. In this way, they […]
Back To Page 1 “What’s up, Super?” “This.” The Super thrust his clipboard at the younger man and began rattling off orders. “C.O.’s calling in the aircrews now and this just came down… it’s special loads. You remember that little Russkie gal that came over last month with the ordie packs for those 550 […]
A Lock On: Modern Air Combat Mission Report by Cat Early morning in the U.S. compound at Adler airfield. Located in hardened aircraft shelters on the east side of the base, American A-10A ground attack aircraft rested fitfully in their cradles of earth and concrete. In the ramshackle shed that served as the squad Maintenance office, […]
Back To Page 4 The 3M9M is radio-command guided. They must keep Vasily locked as the missile flies. He frantically manuevers as I call encouragement to him. The first SAM, he beams. It cannot match his flight-path and finally falls short. “Keep it up, two! Target in sight, in hot!” “Roger. Missile launch, two […]
Back To Page 3 Suddenly, my collision alarm blares… there are mountaintops here… and I cannot see them.I must fly higher! As I do, the SPO-15 “Beryoza” flashes bright red, a steady tone. Off, then on again. “Two, mud-spike twelve o’clock. A medium-range air defense system. One, we are too high. We must get lower, he […]
Back To Page 6 He desperately called for evacuation aircraft, knowing that there would be no rescue for her from the very headquarters of the enemy — if she lived. He could see a crowd of vehicles gathering near the wreck of 52 Yellow. Humvees. He choked back the bile in his mouth. “Turks.” […]
Back To Page 5 I come from the sea. Vasily, from the mountains. The “Straight Flush” is looking away from me; Vasily is calling defensive again, meaning the SAM is locking him for another shot. I line up my B-8 rockets and trigger two long salvoes, using the flaming wreck of two 3M9M launcher […]
