Not even that expensive...

http://bgr.com/2015/10/28/rent-mig-29-jet-fighter/

$18K for a 50 minute flight.

I don't know of anywhere else you can go to FL700 and mach 1+ for the price.

Mike C.

No way that thing is going to FL700. If it would I wouldn't trust it. I've been to FL540 in the Eagle and it get real quiet up there... I didn't know (because I was a stupid Lt at the time) that we are restricted to FL500 and below. Anyone that goes above that in a USAF plane is required to wear a pressure suit. (F22 has a waiver for short stints above 500). Ruski jets? No pressure suits...

50 mins is a bit optimistic, but it's a pretty cool ride. Here's me in a Bulgarian MiG29 earlier this year. They were good for about 2 fights if you can start the fight within 30 miles of the runway. Immediate RTB to land.

Ben,

Briefing a 4v4 guns only at Decimomannu in the early '80's, I humbly offered the 15's the choice of blocks; predictably, they chose 5-9's and were all searching low while we were coming out of FL 520 at the merge.

Interesting debrief.

Always like to know the rules...so I know what I'm breaking.

I bet it was more fun back before radars were so good. Now, you can only hide if there's some serious jamming or you have a severely small RCS.

Ahhh... heat and guns! Single tear rolls down the cheek...

nit picking, but FL600 is the highest flight level. 70,000ft MSL is back in class E.

More claims, now up to 74,000 ft:

http://www.space-affairs.com/index.php? ... e_of_space

It might be parabolic, not level flight.


Not sure I trust it at 0 AGL.

Mike C.

nit picking, but FL600 is the highest flight level. 70,000ft MSL is back in class E.

There's no absolute number, but 100 km (328,000 ft) is considered the start of outer space by many.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line

The height was determined by the calculation that a craft trying to develop lift would have to move so fast to get the required lift in the thin air that it would orbit instead.

Mike C.

There is no way I am going above ~10k'MSL in anything made in Russia/USSR.

I did it and lived to tell the tale!!!!

On a similar topic, it seems their warplanes are better at airshows than deployed:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... /74586002/

"Russian warplanes sent to Syria to back the regime of Bashar Assad are breaking down at a rapid rate that appears to be affecting their ability to strike targets, according to a senior Defense official.

Nearly one-third of Russian attack planes and half of its transport aircraft are grounded at any time as the harsh, desert conditions take a toll on equipment and crews, said the official who was not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive intelligence matters."

Low and slow, just like Mom always told me.

Why? It's usually the ground, not the sky, which will hurt you in an airplane.

Why? It's usually the ground, not the sky, which will hurt you in an airplane.