Deep in Russia - 1996 visit on Ivanovo Severny Airbase for the mighty Antonov AN-22

 Actually and since too many years already I whould not recommand a visit in this country. But back in the millenium years I've visited regularly, my last visit was 1998. 

Anyway - since Ukrainian Air Defence / Air Force is playing turkey shoot at russian warplanes like Su-34/35 and the russian AWACS called A-50 Mainstay those days, a name of an air base reappeared in the media I was visiting back in 1996 - IVANOVO SEVERNY. There should be the main base of those A-50 and discussions are going on about the still airworthy aircrafts.

For more information about the actual knowledge please visit Tom Cooper's article about A50 on substack

Actual discussion about airworthy cells on MT_Anderson's Twitter account

No A-50 seen on my visit in 1996, but already the arrival was spectacular - in Il-18D RA-75496 operated by 223 LO out of Chkalovski !

This big building in the center is the 308th ARZ, the main reparation/revision/overhaul center for the AN-22.

Main target where the famous Antonov AN-22 COCK - some already broken up but most of them just staying there and awaiting there faith.

The crews started one of those beast for some nice photos in rolling - impressive is too little as word to describe

Surprise - the only known COCK in camouflage. Still active in 2023, but received standard (Aeroflot) colors.

Unfortunally our visit was not including the many, many lines of Il-76 transport aircrafts, we where lucky though with those three in the colors of different eras.

I hope you enjoyed the small visit of the past where we all believed that Russia is no thread anymore. We all underestimated the butcher named Putler (Copyright Tom Cooper) and some politicians still are friends with him - so we, the people, have to pay the price. 

Slava Ukraini - Слава Україні

Treaty on Open Skies at end ? we hope not

With United States decision to withdraw from the 1992 established Treaty, the other 33 signatory states has to make decisions to continue the mission - a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants.

The program was established for mutual understanding and confidence between those States with allowing unarmed surveillance flights over there territory.

The actual decision is a political one, but not to the best of the people living on this small blue planet.


I had the chance to see some of those special equipped aircrafts back in 1999 at RIAT Fairford, UK. One of the special themes there was Open Skies.

Some nice pictures of those missions you can watch here: https://www.osce.org/fsc/66205

Czech Republic Air Force's Antonov An-30FG (cn 1107), wfu 2003 and dismantled/moved to Zruc Air Park

Royal Air Force's Hawker Siddeley HS-780 Andover C1(PR), XS596 (cn 1574)

Russia Air Force's Antonov An-30B BLACK 04 (cn 0704), w/o 23may12 on landing at Cáslav after an Open Skies mission over Czechia when came in too fast, caught fire and burnt out. 6 of 23 crew injured. Actual Open Skies aircrafts are Tupolev Tu-154M LK-1 and Tupolev Tu-214ON.

This Boeing OC-135B (717-158) 61-2670 / OF (cn 18346) is the Open Skies aircraft of the USA. With the actual discussion the missions will be flown by specialised military aircrafts in the future - like those RC-135V Rivet Joint:

USAF Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint (739-445B), 62-4132 / OF (cn 18472)