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The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

cnn.com

41–50 of 111 posts

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#41
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are "they"? Ukraine? Ukraine rejoining the CIS would be good for everyone, except those with an interest in selling arms and fomenting war and disruption in the area. EDIT: downvoters/flaggers: are you censoring the narrative because it doesn't jive with what you've been told, or because you simply cannot tolerate a viewpoint that is counter to the one you have subsumed through authoritarian contact? Because, on…

Given the fact that the only way Russia was able to claw back a bit of Ukrainian territory was through outright invasion I think that the Ukrainian people do not share your misguided belief that it would be good for them to rejoin the CIS. In fact, other than Russian apparatchiks I do not think there is anyone in the world who thinks that this would be a good idea.

Well, Russia didn't take a 'bit' of Ukrainian territory, they annexed Crimea, where their nuclear base and black water navy base was located, a region for which the people of Russia have had cultural ties for over 700 years as a nation, installed a buffer zone around their military assets - and then conveniently left most of the rest of the Ukraine for the people of Ukraine. Wasn't that gracious of them?

Not at all like the piles of smoking rubble, immense list of war crimes and demolished infrastructure of recent Western "police action" standards, but nevertheless, for those of us familiar with the area, not as drastic a scenario as the dis-sovereignty forced on so many nations by the West that we can't even keep count any more, not that anyone is interested... I mean, really, if you really think you know what Russia has done in Crimea, "pics or gtfo".

Citizens of the West can feign indignance at this action, and call for an immediate response from their own noble, ethical military forces who can do no wrong, whatsoever, but since the Ukraine is on my doorstep I personally know a lot of Russian citizens who live in the area who are quite content with the state of affairs, and even quite a few Ukrainians too ..

In fact, like I said, the only ones who are really pissed are those who had hoped to profit from the coup d'etat, i.e. war mongers, who are relatively disincentivized by the fact that yes, Russia has managed to de-escalate in the region, since they have the support of the people in the area, and therefore the provocateurs in Kiev won't be selling as many Stingers and Javelins as they'd hoped might be needed by the citizens in the region ..

EDIT: there is a Western narrative which most readers are familiar with. But there is a Crimea/Russia narrative which deserves your enlightened consideration too. Do not fall so easily into the warmonger trap: the Ukraine is a lot more peaceful than Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya and Syria at the moment. Precisely because there are Russian forces in the region, not in spite of it. The 5-eyes coalition would not dare do to Crimea what it has done many, many times elsewhere: i.e. committing war crimes with impunity is not going to happen. The people of Ukraine and Crimea are very, very much more informed about what the USA's War Coalition has been doing with its illegal wars than the average American citizen. There is a great deal of validity to the idea that the CIA wanted to do to Ukraine what it did to Libya - but was thwarted by Russias Little Green Men. So, take that into account. Western Media is not the only narrative for the region.

(s/Croatia/Crimea/ autocorrect brainfart)

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#42
post #4

I never knew they had a second, unfinished, airframe ready for assembly.

I remember a Discovery program showing what supposedly was an AN-225 airframe parked in a field somewhere. The story was that it was finished, but never certified for flight, and was eventually used for parts to keep the one 225 operational.

I can't find evidence online to back this story up though. Not sure of this was the second airframe shown in the article, or that this may have been a third airframe.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#43
post #40
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that's the problem. The state of Ukraine is just few months away from going bust. If Ukraine falls, EU will have big problems.

I would worry about Russia more. It will go bust sooner or later. If Russia is now a problem for everyone, then it can be not a problem but a disaster.

Yes, completely right. EU, and NATO will have a problem almost on the same scale if Russia collapses on them, as if it will launch an attack on them.

Russia has 8 times the population of Syria, and people can't live on a big part of its territory without artificial heating (and thus fuel supplies; your heating bill is pretty much a live or die price in a lot of places there,) or completely reliant for on long range freight for essential supplies.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#44
post #43
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would worry about Russia more. It will go bust sooner or later. If Russia is now a problem for everyone, then it can be not a problem but a disaster.

Yes, completely right. EU, and NATO will have a problem almost on the same scale if Russia collapses on them, as if it will launch an attack on them. Russia has 8 times the population of Syria, and people can't live on a big part of its territory without artificial heating (and thus fuel supplies; your heating bill is pretty much a live or die price in a lot of places there,) or completely reliant for on long range f…

Russia is a very, very big country and economic unit. It may have been sanctioned into oblivion by its Western enemies, but its collapse before the USA devolves into civil war is anything but certain.

>Russia has 8 times the population of Syria, and people can't live on a big part of its territory without artificial heating, or completely reliant for on long range freight for essential supplies.

What part of this makes you think Russia is dependent on the Wests' criminal sanctions being lifted?

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#45
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the fact that the only way Russia was able to claw back a bit of Ukrainian territory was through outright invasion I think that the Ukrainian people do not share your misguided belief that it would be good for them to rejoin the CIS. In fact, other than Russian apparatchiks I do not think there is anyone in the world who thinks that this would be a good idea.

Well, Russia didn't take a 'bit' of Ukrainian territory, they annexed Crimea, where their nuclear base and black water navy base was located, a region for which the people of Russia have had cultural ties for over 700 years as a nation, installed a buffer zone around their military assets - and then conveniently left most of the rest of the Ukraine for the people of Ukraine. Wasn't that gracious of them? Not at all l…

Go tell the passengers of MH-17 how peaceful Russia is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_17

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#47

2 years ago they landed this plane here in Brazil, when they camt to pick hidroeletrical generator parts. I gone with a plane enthusiast friend to see the thing take off. I know the phisics, but amazes me that something that big can fly. Theres hope that more of this are made in the next years. It looks like China is interested in making a few units;

[deleted]

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#48
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the fact that the only way Russia was able to claw back a bit of Ukrainian territory was through outright invasion I think that the Ukrainian people do not share your misguided belief that it would be good for them to rejoin the CIS. In fact, other than Russian apparatchiks I do not think there is anyone in the world who thinks that this would be a good idea.

Well, Russia didn't take a 'bit' of Ukrainian territory, they annexed Crimea, where their nuclear base and black water navy base was located, a region for which the people of Russia have had cultural ties for over 700 years as a nation, installed a buffer zone around their military assets - and then conveniently left most of the rest of the Ukraine for the people of Ukraine. Wasn't that gracious of them? Not at all l…

Croatia?

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, Russia didn't take a 'bit' of Ukrainian territory, they annexed Crimea, where their nuclear base and black water navy base was located, a region for which the people of Russia have had cultural ties for over 700 years as a nation, installed a buffer zone around their military assets - and then conveniently left most of the rest of the Ukraine for the people of Ukraine. Wasn't that gracious of them? Not at all l…

Go tell the passengers of MH-17 how peaceful Russia is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_17

War is hell. For every MH-17 ticket holder, there are 100,000 war orphans from the Wests' illegal wars currently being trafficked all over Europe. Lets talk to them as well.
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