Viktor belenko, a pilot who stole a mig 25 and landed in japan on sept. Yes, all the stuff about stealing a mig 25 is interesting. Why the soviets supersonic mig25 foxbat interceptor looked deadlier than it really was key point. Fp, 1790 broadway, new york, new york 10019, 21239957. When he landed he provided information on the ussrs most uptodate fighterinterceptor, stating that they had 400 mig 25ps already produced etc. So we grudgingly returned the mig25 after scrutinizing, measuring and testing everything minutely. Check out how the soviets responded towards a solution about the usas airspace intrusions with usas sr71 blackbird. On september 6, 1976, lieutenant belenko from the 5th fighter regiment, 11th air army, soviet air defence gained worldwide attention when defecting to the west, by unexpectedly landing in hakodate, japan. The mig 25rb reconnaissancestrike version and its versions were popular with their crews due to their. The final escape of lieutenant belenko, where he states that mig 25 pilots were forbidden to exceed mach 2. An excellent account of the defection of viktor belenko with his mig25 foxbat. Published on aug 25, 2016 the mikoyangurevich mig25, nato reporting name. Mig 25 jet fighter plane skip to main search results. Mikojangurevitj mig 25 russisk natorapporteringsnavn.
Unfortunately we couldnt keep the mig 25, for japan was the subject of enormous russian spleen and threats of annihilation. Sep 06, 2018 on 6 september 1976, viktor ivanovich belenko successfully defected to the west, flying his mig 25 foxbat jet fighter to hakodate, japan. The story of mig25 foxbat garuda pakistans nightmare. Essentially, the technical exploitation of belenkos foxbat was like a cudgel to practically the entire intelligence community. Viktor belenko, these large fighters commanded a respect which they hardly deserved in terms of real combat capability. Apr 25, 20 essentially, the technical exploitation of belenko s foxbat was like a cudgel to practically the entire intelligence community. Mig25 foxbat the legend in cold war documentary youtube. Cold war conduct was incredible as military secrets leaked between the two superpowers russia and the usa. The story of viktor belenko, a mig25 pilot who defected to the united states via japan on sept. How a soviet pilot brought a secret warplane to the west. Yes, all the stuff about stealing a mig25 is interesting. The story is humorous in places and engrossing from beginning to end. The mig 25 viktor belenko brought to the west in 1976 was a.
The mig 25 that belenko had landed in japan was 64 feet long, equivalent to old world war ii bombers. Viktor belenko defected to japan, after taking off from vladivostok russias far east in 1976. The reason this event had such an impact is that lt belenko used the most closely guarded secret of the soviet union as his means of escapenone other than the mig 25. Bush, the director of central intelligence at the time, called the. Viktor belenko, these large fighters commanded a respect which they hardly deserved in. It starts right out with viktors desperate and harrowing escape flight to freedom in his topsecret mig25 foxbat, then in subsequent chapters details the life events that led to his courageous decision to go for broke and make his liveordie dash to freedom. The mig31 was to gradually replace the mig25 in soviet and later in russian service. Tells o mig 25 pilot viktor belenko s escape from the soviet union, the events he precipitated in washington, moscow, and tokyo, the secrets he disclosed, and. How the crazy defection of soviet pilot viktor belenko inspired clint. This autobiography by soviet mig pilot victor belenko is an opener it was real. Foxbat is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter. Jan 08, 2018 in 1980 he cowrote his autobiography, mig pilot.
In a memorable incident recounted in mig pilot, belenko went into a store, was overwhelmed by the vast array of goods for sale, and thought it was sort of a potemkin village created for his benefitonly to learn later that all stores are like that. A mig25 foxbat, the kind of plane belenko flew to japan. Envisioned as an interceptor designed to destroy u. His name became known worldwide on september 6, 1976, when he successfully defected to the west, flying his mig 25 foxbat jet fighter to hakodate, japan.
Viktor belenko, a pilot who stole a mig25 and landed in japan on sept. Belenko taxied the mig 25 to the end of the taxi ramp about half a mile away. How the crazy defection of soviet pilot viktor belenko. The final escape of lieutenant belenko barron, john on. The defection of viktor belenko took place on september 6, 1976 when lieutenant viktor belenko of the soviet air defence forces flew his mikoyangurevich mig25p foxbat. Lt viktor belenko was a mig25 pilot one of russias elite warriors and the supreme. Mikoyangurevich mig25 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. The first time i heard about the mig 25 was when lt belenko defected to japan. Ironically enough the sequel, firefox down, had the firefox pursued by mig. The mig25 foxbat unveiled belenkos aircraft was a late model mig25p nato reporting name foxbata produced in february 1976 so it represented the latest soviet technology then.
Air force defector lt viktor i belenko depicts grim life at mig 25 bases to us interrogators. The western analysts who had a quick look at the aircraft were shocked by the unusual solutions mikoyan applied to the kinetic heating pr. The real value of this story is its account of life in the workers paradise known as the ussr. In his mig pilot book 1983 john barron claims that viktor belenkos. The final escape of lieutenant belenko is a 1980 biography by john barron about the life and 1976 defection of soviet mikoyangurevich mig 25 fighter pilot viktor belenko to the united states. The mig 25 foxbat unveiled belenko s aircraft was a late model mig 25p nato reporting name foxbat a produced in february 1976 so it represented the latest soviet technology then.
The story of the soviet pilot who defected to japan with a secretive. Bush, the director of central intelligence at the time, called the opportunity to examine the plane up close an intelligence bonanza for the west. Det blev designet af sovjetunionens mikojangurevitjbureau. The then lieutenant belenko was a pilot with the 5th fighter regiment, 11th air army, based in chuguyevka, primorsky krai, in the east of the country. A grande asa do aviao devese ao enorme peso do mesmo. Russias defensive front line, it will probably never be known if belenko contacted the u.
Viktor belenko, a pilot in the soviet air defense command, flew his highly classified mig 25 to japan and asked for asylum. Viktor belenko project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. If you ever thought communism was a good thing, this book. The first prototype flew in 1964, and the aircraft entered into service in 1970. Belenko took off with his flight of mig 25 for a regular training mission. The soviets retained the mig 25, but also spawned reconnaissance variants of this powerful aircraft as well. A group where we admire the mig 25 foxbat, a high performance soviet interceptor reconnaissance aircraft and arguably the first of its kind. On 6 september 1976, viktor ivanovich belenko successfully defected to the west, flying his mig 25 foxbat jet fighter to hakodate, japan. The final escape of lieutenant belenko, published in 1980.
The defection of viktor belenko, the pilot who stole the. Mig25pds foxbate born out of a crash program after a. But it was really in the aftermath of belenkos flight that the full implications to hold, as the bbc notes. If you ever thought communism was a good thing, this book will tell you what that idea does to people and society.
Aug 05, 2015 mig 25 foxbat the legend in cold war documentary the mikoyangurevich mig 25 russian. In fact as explained by lou drendel in his book sr71 blackbird in action, the. Heres why the mig25 foxbat never could touch the sr71 blackbird. On this day russian defector viktor belenko lands mig25. Mig25 foxbat deception wings of the red star youtube. Mig 25 foxbat the legend in cold war documentary the mikoyangurevich mig 25 russian.
How one soviet pilot pulled the sheet off the ghostly mig25. Why the soviets supersonic mig25 foxbat interceptor. Mikoyan mig25 foxbat overview the mig 25 foxbat family of aircraft are by all means remarkable both technically and historically, and until the 1976 defection of lt. The story of the soviet pilot who defected to japan with a secretive mig25 foxbat 40 years ago today viktor belenko, a pilot who stole a mig25 and landed in. The story of viktor belenko, a mig 25 pilot who defected to the united states via japan on sept. Published october 1st 1983 by avon books first published 1980. The defection of viktor belenko, the pilot who stole the supersecret.
On that day in fact lieutenant viktor belenko, a soviet mig25 pilot. As the result of belenkos defection and the compromise of the mig25ps radar and missile systems, beginning in 1976, the soviets started to develop an advanced version, the mig25pd foxbate. It is one of the few combat aircrafts which was built primarily using stainless steel. The revelations from the dissection were nothing short of surprise and disbelieve. As explained by yefim gordon in his book mig25 foxbat mig31 foxhound. The then lieutenant belenko was a pilot with the 5th fighter regiment, 11th air army. As the cold war grew in intensity in the 1950s, and the first mach 2 aircraf.
So we grudgingly returned the mig 25 after scrutinizing, measuring and testing everything minutely. Viktor ivanovich belenko is a former soviet pilot who defected to the west while flying his mig25 foxbat jet fighter and landed in hakodate, japan. As explained by yefim gordon in his book mig25 foxbat mig31. The mig 25 foxbat is a supersonic interceptor and recce aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. In this true story from the cold war, soviet pilot lt. Viktor belenko, on a routine training mission in 1976, veers off course and heads for japan in his mig 25 foxbat. Belenko defected to japan in his mig 25 super jet in 1976. As a now highprofile soviet defector, belenko thought, during his early days in the usa, that cia officials.
Foxbat is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. The final escape of lieutenant belenko, where he states that mig25 pilots were forbidden to exceed mach 2. The story of the soviet pilot who defected to japan with a secretive mig25 foxbat 40 years ago today viktor belenko, a pilot who stole a mig25 and landed in japan on sept. The then lieutenant belenko was a pilot with the 5th fighter regiment, 11th air army, based in chuguyevka. Tells o mig 25 pilot viktor belenko s escape from the soviet union, the events he precipitated in washington, moscow, and tokyo, the secrets he disclosed, and the impact of his flight on world affairs. When he brought his mig25 foxbat to hakodate he gave the western. Belenko taxied the mig25 to the end of the taxi ramp about half a mile away. The crazy, real story behind clint eastwoods firefox and. Mikoyangurevich mig25 fighter pilot viktor belenko to the united states. Aug 25, 2016 published on aug 25, 2016 the mikoyangurevich mig 25, nato reporting name. I was so blown away by this book i had to meet viktor in person and. It was a big event and as a teenager i was very conscious of the stir it created. If you post irrelevant content, it will be removed and so.
Was the relative crudity of the mig25 a surprise to the u. On such missions, to ensure that no soviet pilot could defect and make it to japan the nearest airport in the free world, the fuel levels were always carefully recorded and limited. Four migs were ahead of him, and he had to wait until a green light authorized him to turn onto the runway. By the time viktor belenko defected to japan with his mig 25p foxbat a, the aircraft was viewed in the west as some invincible highspeed dogfighter. Sep 05, 2018 as explained by yefim gordon in his book mig25 foxbat mig31 foxhound. Investigators found out that the defection was not an impulsive action of a. But it was really in the aftermath of belenkos flight that the full implications to. Viktor belenko, a pilot who stole a mig25 and landed in. As belenko flicked switches and pushed buttons, the engines produced a soft whine that soon swelled into a roar.
What western aviation experts learned from belenko and his foxbat stunned them, not because the plane was so super, but because of what the russians had willingly sacrificed to get a plane that could climb quickly to 80,000 feet and theoretically shoot down a b52. Belenko was aware of this super foxbat and informed the us after his defection. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. On this day russian defector viktor belenko lands mig25 in. It was designed by the soviet unions mikoyangurevich bureau. When he brought his mig 25 foxbat to hakodate he gave the. Heres why the mig25 foxbat never could touch the sr71. Viktor belenko, is a mig 25 pilot who defected to the united states via japan on sept. The foxbat was a very good plane, but it looked scarier than its actual capabilities were. Lieutenant belenko was a pilot with the 5th fighter regiment, 11th air army, soviet air defence forces based in chuguyevka, primorsky krai. Foxbat was one of the most awesome, yet most misunderstood, fighters of the cold war. Unfortunately we couldnt keep the mig25, for japan was the subject of enormous russian spleen and threats of annihilation.
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