Kant(the Russian Airbase In Kirghiz)

[Hawk of prairie]

JUST ENJOY THE SCENE OF BEAUTIFUL KIRGHIZ AND THESE BIRDS,IT SEEMS LIKE KANT IS A MAJOR AIRBASE
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AN OVERVIEW OF KANT
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/64/kantdalbn8.jpg

[Friendly Fire]

[quote=Hawk of prairie;1982672]JUST ENJOY THE SCENE OF BEAUTIFUL KIRGHIZ AND THESE BIRDS,IT SEEMS LIKE KANT IS A MAJOR AIRBASE

Thank you for the confirmation, the Ka 50 has been accpeted as the co-winner of the Russian Army bid in 1999 along with the Mil 28!

Outstanding pictures...but Su25 UBK!!!! Should I suppose the Russians are waiting for someone out there?

[STIG]

Nice planes...thanks for posting :)

[Yaro]

This picture is definetly the favorite,great view:)


AN OVERVIEW OF KANT
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/64/kantdalbn8.jpg

[Fullaut0]

Beautiful photos. Some interesting birds there.

[droopy]

Very nice pics 10q.

[unpredictable]

thanks for the pics bro

[Angrykirill]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8070/img1352qm4.jpg

What on earth is that?! :O

[droopy]

it`s a Tupolev i think

[L()Csta]

thanks for the great pics

[A13x]

Brilliant photos Hawk

[Angrykirill]

it`s a Tupolev i think

I think so too but the model, this sure isn't a Tu-134/154. It looks like an interceptor/bomber converted into a civilian plane :O

[Hellfish]

I think so too but the model, this sure isn't a Tu-134/154. It looks like an interceptor/bomber converted into a civilian plane :O

It's a commercial airplane turned into a bomber trainer. It cheaper than letting crews fly Tu-160s for training flights.

[mazda]

i think it's a testbad for avionics of some bomber...

[Angrykirill]

It's a commercial airplane turned into a bomber trainer. It cheaper than letting crews fly Tu-160s for training flights.

Do you know the designation of this particular plane? If no, then thanks anyways, you have been a great help :)

BTW that would be TU-22 not 160, according to the nose section..

[Hellfish]

Do you know the designation of this particular plane? If no, then thanks anyways, you have been a great help :)

BTW that would be TU-22 not 160, according to the nose section..

No, sorry - I'm not a plane expert. I'm pretty sure I remember them using it as a Tu-160 trainer, not a Tu-22 trainer, despite the nose. I'm sure someone that knows more about aircraft will be along to sort it out momentarily...

[STIG]

Do you know the designation of this particular plane? If no, then thanks anyways, you have been a great help :)

BTW that would be TU-22 not 160, according to the nose section..


Its a Tu-134BSh navigation trainer with the TU 22 radar in its nose.

[Herrmannek]

Very nice pics. Thanks!

[Angrykirill]

Thank you both of you :)

[JVeld]

Wow....great photos !!! I had no idea that the Kant air base was a major one !!!.......

[LEGEND]

Great photos! Thanks a lot!!! Thats my homeland btw, damn I miss those mountains.:)

Just FYI, this is the only place where US and Russian Air bases are so close. US Ganci AFB is about 20km away. From what I heard sometimes Russians and Americans fly side by side, would be some great photos of "Intercepts" I guess.

I remember when I was young, Mig-21s from Kant used to fly above our heads pretty often, and the distinct bang of sound barrier being broken in the distance.

[gunman]

Thks for all beautiful pics
Gunman

[Keith]

really nice pics thanks !

[CyberSpec]

Outstanding pictures...but Su25 UBK!!!! Should I suppose the Russians are waiting for someone out there?

There's an American base near by.

Central Asia is important strategically and this base is being expanded....the 1st one since the days of the USSR

[Mr.Flint]

Great photos! Thanks a lot!!! Thats my homeland btw, damn I miss those mountains.:)

Just FYI, this is the only place where US and Russian Air bases are so close. US Ganci AFB is about 20km away. From what I heard sometimes Russians and Americans fly side by side, would be some great photos of "Intercepts" I guess.

I remember when I was young, Mig-21s from Kant used to fly above our heads pretty often, and the distinct bang of sound barrier being broken in the distance.
Where in Kyrgyzstan you lived? in Frunze?

[Ordie]

This picture is definetly the favorite,great view:)

Tien Shan Mountians?

I understand that Kyrghizstan was an aviation training site for the Soviet Air Forces. Is it true that many foriegn military personnel from Africa, Cuba, and Asia attended the aviation school? I read somewhere that some of these foriegners stayed behind and settled in Bishkek because of a coup or political situation back home.

[Heron]

great pics!!
thanks for posting!

[PatricVadec]

Pretty Cool photos,Thanks Hawk!

[Sirpad]

few questions:
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/586/img0974lp3.jpg
what are the white objects under the wings - cluster containers perhaps?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/135/img1120dy9.jpg
what's the operational status of the Ka-50? i thought only two of them were actually fielded to the caucasus

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7539/img1048mo7.jpg
Il-18/20?! is it operational, or rotting away like most of these (awesome) birds?

[STIG]

few questions:
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/586/img0974lp3.jpg
what are the white objects under the wings - cluster containers perhaps?

Nope they are fuel tanks.



http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/135/img1120dy9.jpg
what's the operational status of the Ka-50? i thought only two of them were actually fielded to the caucasus
I think about eight Ka-50s havebeen delivered. 12 Ka-52 were to be procured for Russian Air Force in 2005 but due to lack of funding the plan was shelved.


http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7539/img1048mo7.jpg
Il-18/20?! is it operational, or rotting away like most of these (awesome) birds?

Aeroflot has stopped using them for a while now. Most Il-18s are now flown by secondary operators on regional routes and on charters as they have been replaced by more modern and efficient jet equipment on primary routes

[Friendly Fire]

Great photos! Thanks a lot!!! Thats my homeland btw, damn I miss those mountains.:)

Just FYI, this is the only place where US and Russian Air bases are so close. US Ganci AFB is about 20km away. From what I heard sometimes Russians and Americans fly side by side, would be some great photos of "Intercepts" I guess.

I remember when I was young, Mig-21s from Kant used to fly above our heads pretty often, and the distinct bang of sound barrier being broken in the distance.

I was suspecting that thanks for the Info. Having top notch gear sent to Kirghizia seemed a bit too far fetched even for russians.

[sgabbio]

beautiful images

[Mr.K]

I was suspecting that thanks for the Info. Having top notch gear sent to Kirghizia seemed a bit too far fetched even for russians.
Well there is Tadjikistan that has routes used by drug trafficants and the border with China to be looked after.

[Scotus]

JUST ENJOY THE SCENE OF BEAUTIFUL KIRGHIZ AND THESE BIRDS,IT SEEMS LIKE KANT IS A MAJOR AIRBASE

Excellent photos, Hawk of prairie, thank you very much. I have been looking for decent quality photos of Kant.

May I ask who took them and at what date? Perhaps you can PM me the details.

[LEGEND]

Where in Kyrgyzstan you lived? in Frunze?
Yep, but it hasn't been called Frunze for a while, now its Bishkek.

[LEGEND]

Tien Shan Mountians?

I understand that Kyrghizstan was an aviation training site for the Soviet Air Forces. Is it true that many foriegn military personnel from Africa, Cuba, and Asia attended the aviation school? I read somewhere that some of these foriegners stayed behind and settled in Bishkek because of a coup or political situation back home.

Besides the Aviation Pilot school there was helicopter training facilities, i believe one of the major ones in the USSR. A lot of people came from abroad to train there, there was a black trollybus driver (black people are VERY rare in that part of the world) who had to stay in Bishkek because of a revolution that took place in his homelad while he was on training.

[Mr.Flint]

Yep, but it hasn't been called Frunze for a while, now its Bishkek.
I know:)
But we left it before the name change and i just never liked that old/new name...
How can one name a city "Stick for making Kumis"?rofl

[nick_ua]

remeber posting this picture from some joint training
some of the like Ka 50 essembly u don't have :-)

[Flamming_Python]

Besides the Aviation Pilot school there was helicopter training facilities, i believe one of the major ones in the USSR. A lot of people came from abroad to train there, there was a black trollybus driver (black people are VERY rare in that part of the world) who had to stay in Bishkek because of a revolution that took place in his homelad while he was on training.

Is he still there lol?

[LEGEND]

Is he still there lol?
Heh, not sure. But probably got an asylum in some european country as a political refugee.

[Mr.K]

Heh, not sure. But probably got an asylum in some european country as a political refugee.
Because his life in USSR was oh so awful :)

[fantomas]

Hawk, excelent pics man. Are you located in Ulan Batar?

[DanteXavier]

Heh, not sure. But probably got an asylum in some european country as a political refugee.

Black dudes in Kyrgystan...that's an interesting and unusual thought.p-)

[Hawk of prairie]

Hawk, excelent pics man. Are you located in Ulan Batar?No,but my grandpa lived in a small village far from Ulan Batar.He has even never been there:(

[Pluggie]

It's a Tu-134Bsh. UBL is the Tu-160 trainer. Nice picts, thanks !

[Paparazzi]

Nice photos anyway..

BTW, can you post some photos with regard to your country's military industry/armament. i ll appreciate......

[Hawk of prairie]

Nice photos anyway..

BTW, can you post some photos with regard to your country's military industry/armament. i ll appreciate......There's another fellow on board, you can PM him(those photos are personal so it's rare to see)

[LEGEND]

Heres a link to goole maps for the KANT AFB
I counted about 50 MIG-21s that we see in the opening post photos. And a whole bunch of those Mig-21s were moved away to be used as a stationary monuments all around the country (most are now in horrible shape because whatever can be unbolted off of them was unbolted) I remember when I was a kid, one of those "monuments" was one of my favourite places to play, just to climb on a Mig-21 and imagine myself being its pilot:).

With that number of figheter jets, looks like it was a pretty formidable air force base. So sad to see its present shape.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=42.857913,74.849269&spn=0.002713,0.005032&t=k

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2194/untitled1ez9.jpg

[LEGEND]

Heres a link to the American base not far from the Kant air force base

Manas Airport:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=43.055186,74.474645&spn=0.010819,0.020127&t=k

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2929/untitledgp3.jpg

[MOSTEAKA]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/841/img1270cg4.jpghttp://img209.imageshack.us/img209/841/img1270cg4.jpg

This looks more like a back yard do it yourself operation.

[nick_ua]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72505

[LEGEND]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72505


yep, I knew I saw them before in your post but some are not redundunt, do you have any more?

[Area Denial]

I was stationed at Manas AB from August 05 to Feb 06. Kyrgyzstan by far was my best deployment. I really enjoyed my patrols of the countryside and all the trips I got to take into Bishkek with the team I was on. Its a shame to see what a bad state many of the building were in. Many of the locals I knew said that Bishkek was one of the most beautiful cities in Russia at one time. I drove by Khant many times and always wanted to see the airbase there. A couple of years ago one of our security patrols stumbles upon the base because they got "lost" and they were court martialed for it. I miss Kyrgyzstan and I go back in a heartbeat.

[LEGEND]

I was stationed at Manas AB from August 05 to Feb 06. Kyrgyzstan by far was my best deployment. I really enjoyed my patrols of the countryside and all the trips I got to take into Bishkek with the team I was on. Its a shame to see what a bad state many of the building were in. Many of the locals I knew said that Bishkek was one of the most beautiful cities in Russia at one time. I drove by Khant many times and always wanted to see the airbase there. A couple of years ago one of our security patrols stumbles upon the base because they got "lost" and they were court martialed for it. I miss Kyrgyzstan and I go back in a heartbeat.

I'm glad you liked it there. What was an American patrol doing so close to Kant? so far from its base? For airplanes its close but to drive there its a pretty long drive, at least an hour.
Do you have any photos you could share from your deployment? It would be very interesting to see.

Using google earth I was able to find the actual house I used to live in:)

[Hellfish]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/841/img1270cg4.jpghttp://img209.imageshack.us/img209/841/img1270cg4.jpg

This looks more like a back yard do it yourself operation.

Thats the way rocket pods are reloaded, whether its a Longbow Apache, a Hokum or a UH-1B gunship.

[Area Denial]

I'm glad you liked it there. What was an American patrol doing so close to Kant? so far from its base? For airplanes its close but to drive there its a pretty long drive, at least an hour.
Do you have any photos you could share from your deployment? It would be very interesting to see.

Using google earth I was able to find the actual house I used to live in:)

As far as I was able to gather the patrol was just out on patrol and ended up in Khant. The incident happened a year or two before I was there. On some of the patrols we went on we went as far as the Chuy River along the border with Kazakstan. We also went down to the Bishkek City dump. As a part of the Wing Commanders Security detail I went into Bishkek 3 to 4 times a week. We went fishing one time south of Tokmok, hiking in the Ala-too range and saw the Burana Hot Springs. I really enjoyed helping Habitat for Humanity build a house for a Kyrgyz family. That was in a village east of the base. There I actually got to meet a WW2 veteran and spoke with him about his experiences through an interpreter. I thought Kyrgystan was a beautiful country and every now and then I miss it a bit. I lived there for 7 months and got quite used to it there. I evn picked up some Russian too. Pity I can't remember much of it now. Stand by for pictures.

[Area Denial]

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[Area Denial]

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[Area Denial]

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[Area Denial]

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[Area Denial]

My contribution to the War on Terrorism.
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9313/dsc01281yw3.jpg

[Area Denial]

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2695/dsc01308ok3.jpg

[Area Denial]

Legend, I'm sure you remember this place. For everyone else, this is the ZUM, or Central Department Store. Its a big indoor market where you can get almost anything. I significantly enchanced my Soviet collection there.
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6167/dsc01320ot0.jpg

[Area Denial]

Thats about it for now I have some more pics on my laptop but my wife has it now. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. If you have any questions please ask and I'll answer as best as I can.

[Brute]

Tell me, why those dudes got court martialled? What rule did they break by stumbling upon the Russian airbase? Seems a little too harsh to me.

[Area Denial]

I wasn't around for what happened. I only heard all this second hand a cyear or two after it happened. As a USAF Security Forces member I can answer that they were way outside their patrol area and ended up in the middle of a foreign military base. Our off base patrols are only supposed to go no more than 10 klicks form the base. Even though the gate guard let them in, the Russian leadership didn't exactly appreciate the fact that 4 heavily armed American cops were in the middle of their base. They were also caught with booze too. Thats a big no-no under General Order #1. There were also a number other other things that happened that went on that the details are hazy and can't be discussed. Basically you can say those 4 guys made a really bad decision and got hammered for it.

[LEGEND]

Thats about it for now I have some more pics on my laptop but my wife has it now. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. If you have any questions please ask and I'll answer as best as I can.

Thanks a lot for the pics, good photos, always a pleasure to see my homeland (besides the times when the riots took place)

Sure I remember ZUM:) One question, did you use hummers to go to Bishkek and other parts of KG besides patrolling around the base? Were you allowed to go to Bishkek with weapons?

[Area Denial]

Thanks a lot for the pics, good photos, always a pleasure to see my homeland (besides the times when the riots took place)

Sure I remember ZUM:) One question, did you use hummers to go to Bishkek and other parts of KG besides patrolling around the base? Were you allowed to go to Bishkek with weapons?

The hum-vees stayed close to base (10 km) and were only used by Security Forces. I carried a concealed M-9 pistol while on protection duties for the wing commander when he would go about town. It was our policy in Kyrgyzstan to not show force or act like an occupying force. We were guests of the people of Kyrgyzstan and we did not want to do anything to wear out our welcome.

[Hawk of prairie]

My contribution to the War on Terrorism.
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9313/dsc01281yw3.jpg

Hi,thanks
Can you post some pics of your wings Sir?American base there will be also OK

[Friendly Fire]

Legend, I'm sure you remember this place. For everyone else, this is the ZUM, or Central Department Store. Its a big indoor market where you can get almost anything. I significantly enchanced my Soviet collection there.
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6167/dsc01320ot0.jpg


Eheheh Central Univer Mag MAPO!

[AlphaOneSix]

Thats the way rocket pods are reloaded, whether its a Longbow Apache, a Hokum or a UH-1B gunship.

American rocket launchers are loaded from the front, unless that's not what you were referring to, in which case I apologize. :D

[Area Denial]

Hi,thanks
Can you post some pics of your wings Sir?American base there will be also OK


I don't have any wings. I'm not aircrew. I'm in the Security Forces. They guard airbases. I don't have any photos of the flightline because photgraphy for the most part is not allowed and the planes we had in K-stan were boring. Sorry.

[Flyboy]

I don't have any wings. I'm not aircrew. I'm in the Security Forces. They guard airbases. I don't have any photos of the flightline because photgraphy for the most part is not allowed and the planes we had in K-stan were boring. Sorry.

Do they still allow 2 beers a Saturday over there? That was the case 2 years ago. They didn't let us off base b/c they were in FPCON Delta back then. I guess that was a valid excuse, haha.

[Hellfish]

American rocket launchers are loaded from the front, unless that's not what you were referring to, in which case I apologize. :D

Yeah, I just meant manually. There's no fancy gizmos - just a couple privates manhandling them.

My only experience as a ground crew was as an undercover 77F - aircraft fueler. I had about 30 minutes of OJT and then had to refuel a Cobra at a FARP. Still amazed that I remembered to ground the damn thing. :roll:

[Area Denial]

When I was at Manas we could have 2 beers daily that added up to 6 per week. They didnt have my brand of beer and people acted like retards after two beers at the beer tent so I didnt go in there much. They also took the Russian beer away because they found out it had a higher alcohol content than American beer.

[shilka234]

I don't have any wings. I'm not aircrew. I'm in the Security Forces. They guard airbases. I don't have any photos of the flightline because photgraphy for the most part is not allowed and the planes we had in K-stan were boring. Sorry.

It might be boring for you guys but I have eared that is a such a nice place, so I would like to know one thing, you may can help me... How safe is the country right now? I mean can you just go for tourism purpose and not get in any king of religious trouble with the locals? Or -it can sounds ingenious, never been thats why i am asking...- are they just nice open minded people?

Thanks sir

[LEGEND]

It might be boring for you guys but I have eared that is a such a nice place, so I would like to know one thing, you may can help me... How safe is the country right now? I mean can you just go for tourism purpose and not get in any king of religious trouble with the locals? Or -it can sounds ingenious, never been thats why i am asking...- are they just nice open minded people?

Thanks sir

The answer depends on where you are from originally and if you are going with a guide or not.

[Flyboy]

Yeah, I remember when we first went in the R&R tent they were selling Russian Vodka. I still have the bottles and shot glasses from it back in '04. $20 for a bottle and 3 shot glasses was worth it to me. Unfortunately we didn't go through there again this year. I would've loved to see how Manas is and go off-base.

[Area Denial]

It might be boring for you guys but I have eared that is a such a nice place, so I would like to know one thing, you may can help me... How safe is the country right now? I mean can you just go for tourism purpose and not get in any king of religious trouble with the locals? Or -it can sounds ingenious, never been thats why i am asking...- are they just nice open minded people?

Thanks sir

I always found the Kyrgyz to be very nice people. When we were out on patrols in the villages, the kids would always ask for candy and the older kids and adults would always hang back and when the kids got their fill of candy, or when we ran out, the older people would always want to talk and ask a bunch of questions.
When I was downtown in Bishkek or in Kant, I found it to be just like any city, the slums were areas to be avoided and the other parts of town were quite safe. I always had an M-9 with 3 mags, ASP, and a switch blade on me so I never felt ill at ease anywhere. The locals always knew we weren't like the other yard 'tards that would be out on a cultural tour and that we were all business. So we were never messed with.
I met some British tourists and they said they didn't have any problems. Be smart, use common sense, and pay attention to your surroundings and you won't have any trouble. I think the majority of bad things that you hear happen to tourists is because they put themselves in that situation. If I had the opportunity, I would go back to Kyrgyzstan in a heartbeat as a tourist.

[shilka234]

Thanks for the info sir

[ARA662]

nice pics! here's a nice video clip
dont know how old this is though
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/6131/tvrip1161623694i3678fulaz2.jpg
http://rapidshare.com/files/390565/__1058___1042___1062__-___1041___1072___1079___1072____1042___1042___1057____1074____1050___1072___1.html
.rar extension
35mb no password

[Hawk of prairie]

Thanks dude,very good a thing:)