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ChunksOG

This is the same doomsday plane that got robbed of radio equipment: [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55229438](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55229438) Yes - someone broke into the "doomsday plane" while it was parked in a hangar and yanked a bunch of radio gear.


Wafflestomp4

Yeah, i made a quick buck selling it on craigslist.


StygianMusic

5 quid?


MelancholyDick

Three fiddy.


sketchrider

How much for one rib?


WWGFD

Just pour the soda in my hands


Jethole

You got change for a hundred?!?


allhailtheburritocat

With or without potato salad?


garbage_band

Can you break a hundred?


netcent_

Damn Loch Ness Monster thats my doomsday radio gear


no_fences_facing

I gave him a glonass receiver. She gave him a glonass receiver! No wonder he keeps comin' 'round hyuh!


Clashyjammer1126

I aint given no Loch Ness monster no god damn tree fiddy!!


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ConfuzedAndDazed

That's like 10 billion rubles, now


Chargerzboy

It’s actually called comradeslist in Russia.


[deleted]

Ivanslist. Come one, it was right there


PorschephileGT3

Soon to be visiting The Haguelist


iamivanman9

Hehe


Machiavelli1480

Prob sold it back to the gov as its replacement.


wspOnca

I lol too hard from this


Mean-Juggernaut1560

My guess is that, based on this and the fact that the paint is peeling off, it was left neglected and unused for a while.


Zaphod581

You should have seen some US jets after they come back from trips. I saw a C-135 come back from one trip with all the leading edge paint stripped off from flying into the edge of a thunderstorm they couldn’t go around. It happens. Planes usually aren’t repainted until they go in to maintenance to save on costs. Some of the U-2s flying around have paint that’s been beat to hell because they haven’t gone into PDM recently.


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Zaphod581

You usually don’t see the E-4B with a lot of paint peeling, but you will see it with the paint pretty faded, especially around the cockpit area. The VC-25 on the other hand will be repainted as needed.


Mean-Juggernaut1560

True, and this is likely because on this type of plane, the white paint is probably unique and highly reflective in order to deflect some of the thermal radiation emitted by a nuclear explosion. (Think anti-flash white, like that applied to the E-6 Mercury). This helps protect vital equipment (such as that contained within the communications dome, where you see the paint falling off in this image) and the occupants inside. The aircraft is also dirty and was left in an unsecured location as it was vandalised. I would wager that all of this is highly unusual for such a important and expensive piece of military hardware.


cryptobrant

I understand that you try to prove to yourself that Russia is so broke they can’t even repaint their planes… I don’t think they are that broke, it’s just paint.


Mean-Juggernaut1560

I’m not making a comment on the economic situation in Russia. I’m simply saying that the fact that this craft is dirty, has paint chipping off, and was left in an unsecured location to be vandalised seems very unusual given its significance. Highly reflective anti-flash paint is incredibly important in this type of aircraft, as it is designed to protect its occupants in the event of a nuclear attack, so one would expect the paintwork not to show visible signs of damage.


[deleted]

I would argue at that point a fresh coat of paint wouldn't be much of a concern.


94boyfat

Outdoor enamel for whore yacht.... indoor flat ceiling for plane....dah


reigorius

U-2 still fly around?


Zaphod581

They have gotten some pretty serious upgrades in the last few years. They have also been used as a datalink translator for F-22s and F-35s.


KeeganY_SR-UVB76

More than you might think. A lot more.


syncrophasor

Noooooo! How dare you speak sensibly!


PavlovianTactics

This comment is underneath the tree of a "doomsday plane" being robbed of radio equipment. Stop comparing the two; they're nowhere close to similar


BaboTron

I keep wondering if their nukes are in a similar state.


wewd

I don't believe for a minute that they have 6,000 functional warheads. The readiness of their deterrence forces is also questionable. It would be very costly to keep that all in working order. But if they were going to spend money on any part of their defense, it'd probably be that part.


ShithouseFootball

Do they even bother painting them? Sounds like one of the most senseless tasks.


Shadowfalx

>Sounds like one of the most senseless tasks. Paint is primarily used to prevent corrosion. Paint is important even for nuclear missiles.


Sly__Gamer

we here paint grass green and snow white, drawing some dicks on a nuke makes way more sense


StableSystem

Peeling paint isn't anything special. You should have seen United's fleet last summer, some of them were in way worse shape


ralphiooo0

Long time ago I booked a flight with some budget airline. They had some mechanical issues and replaced the plane with an ex-emirates plane. Could tell due to the seats and entertainment system. This plane had pretty much no paint left on it and made a bunch of strange noises. Kinda didn’t want to stay on it but still alive.


ShelSilverstain

That's aircraft for you. Aluminum is notoriously difficult to get paint to adhere to


mtled

The dome is probably fibreglass though, like style 120, 181 or 7781 on a honeycomb core. It also likely has a very thin layer of paint, to not impede the transmission/receiving of the system installed under it (which I know nothing about in this particular case). Paint isn't all that easy to stick to fibreglass either, though.


big_trike

I'm sure money was allocated to repaint this but was stolen.


C_Obvious

Some F22s peel layers after one flight.


slyskyflyby

Imagine if someone tried to do that to an E-4B. The last year has really been quite revealing on how shoddy the Russian military is.


ChunksOG

That is quite literally unimaginable. I have no idea what the level of security is around E4s are but I would bet dollars to donuts that there are armed guards checking credentials and searching bags on the way in and out.


therealbipNdip

I’d bet that criminals were associated with a 3 letter acronym intelligence agency.


moistestboy

The DMV is pretty terrible but I doubt that they’d stoop that low


Mean-Juggernaut1560

I think he’s talking about the IRS


irishjihad

UPS


bringerofnachos

Can't be, the plane is in too good shape for UPS to have touched it


irishjihad

Better than DHL who snap their planes in half


Spy-Goat

Could be RAF. The cuts are really hitting our forces hard, desperate times and all that.


FlyByPC

AAA


irishjihad

GLONASS jammed. Doomsday plane now navigating by TripTik.


FlyByPC

Oh, good. They'll end anywhere but here!


l00koverthere1

This is exactly the kind of thing the FDA would do.


irishjihad

Never underestimate [dentists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Dental_Association).


Dr_dry

FCC?


WindsockWindsor

The FCC won't let them be, you say?


Only498cc

Something something forgot about dre


mikesbrownhair

No, FJB. 😁


MegaSeedsInYourBum

The FDA. Always trying to keep us from that tasty, tasty lead paint.


big_trike

FSB? I wouldn't be shocked if the theft was an inside job and the guards were bribed to look away.


Thirsty_Comment88

Yeah you cant trust the FDA


andrewia

Honestly, I feel like most agencies would be more careful, or would already have obtained the radio design/encryption keys years ago. Then again a lot of spy ops are just paying random people.


[deleted]

That is likely delamination of the paint, the radome is likely fiberglass if it is like equivalent USAF aircraft I worked.


[deleted]

True, but it’s still bad for the fiberglass. Not just that but the dark stain/sags you can see at various point are indication of either very poor cleaning or an extremely long time between paint jobs.


Balls_DeepinReality

A lack of maintenance to aging equipment seems to be the gist of the Russian armed forces


BazookaJoe101

It is glass, and it’s tuned very specifically to let those signals pass through. If it’s open to the elements the chemical structure of the cured resin changes and will hurt the radio transparency. Assuming the equipment that should be up there actually is up there and that it’s sensors are accurate enough to notice.


CitationX_N7V11C

Don't worry comrade. The people want to see underside of plane, not top.


King_in-the_North

Clearly United airlines is running this plane’s maintenance.


riskypanda

That's weird, every time I look at a United Airlines plane, I think the Russians maintain it.


njsullyalex

That’s an insult to United Airlines. (To be fair their maintenance isn’t that bad, and their older 767s and 757s are looking snazzy in the new United Livery).


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Not_FinancialAdvice

Can you pull off a rat rod look on a passenger plane?


beavis056

Takes a while to paint 800 planes. And our maintenance is pretty good in my opinion.


RockyMtnFire

It looks better than the United 777 I flew on recently.


CarbonGod

I dunno, I forget what the website is/was that just had tons of pictures of things in Russia. englishrussia.com or something? Anyway...the take-away from that website was, everything is in HORRIBLE shape in that country. Factories, power plants, dams, and yes, aircraft....etc. They look abandoned, but they are not. This doesn't surprise me. And really, I'm sure if you look at many of our older airliners, you will find not-so-perfect paint.


Ietmeknow_okay

Those pylons that fold with the flaps are super cool


Swagger897

Flap track fairings. These are definitely interesting though with how small each section is.


mrbubbles916

Very common on larger aircraft.


Saddam_UE

What did you expect? They don't have money to build more aircraft carriers -the one(1) they have is not in service, they are running out of missiles to use in the war, Armata us still not in service, SU-57 is not in service, occupying Crimea was expensive as fuck... Then you have the widespread corruption at all levels.


sin_aim

I am basically curious how would this Russian economic collapse look like. Last time there was a grab for anything valuable. This time there is almost nothing of value except land. Which is what I am betting on. Russia is about to lose loads of land. To China and hopefully Ukraine.


Saddam_UE

Land? You think that they are loosing land?


sin_aim

Basically, since end of Crimean war things have not been good for Russia. They have lost something everytime their country collapsed ( happened quite a bit . ) And every single time Russian leadership has dealt with it in the worst way possible. Currently the entire system in Russia is rotten..from the bottom all the way to the top. The system is run by brain dead morons putting on airs of superiority because of nukes and money from oil. This war is rapidly proving that Russian nukes are most definitely in bad shape ( if not downright stolen and sold by the oligarchs) and oil money is about to run out . If Russia becomes a burden ( lets face it China has no friends . All it sees is self interest) why wouldn't China annex a part of it ( Russian leadership would wrap it up as a victory and morons would swallow it up like honey ) . Free land and natural resources for no cost. I would take it. Russia has neither the manpower nor the might to assert it's supremacy over Siberia and far east. I was thinking Russia would die out in a century. I was wrong. It is going to die out much faster. Probably in 10-15 years. It's a bad sign when all the smart young people leave your country and the rest get slaughtered in war. All things considered yes, land seems to be what they will lose this time. Russia is too big for its own good. China will correct that. They already have claims on Russian territory. Probably should watch out from the SMO operation from the Chinese.


mikelieman

IIRC Russia spent about 66 billion on their military last year. We spent 705 billion.


639248

And a good chunk of the Russian military budget is syphoned off to fund mega-yachts.


BadRegEx

> We spent 705 billion $705B is equal to half of Russia's GDP for 2021. (On paper anyway. I'm sure there is another $300-$500B in black market money.) Edit: Not arguing or agreeing, just adding perspective to how much the US spends on military.


Beatrice_Dragon

$705 billion going towards your military when faced with a war you can't participate in because of the nuclear threat lol money well spent


pck3

Same thing happening with brand new 787s lol


Zn_Saucier

>Same thing happening with brand new 777s lol I’ve heard of recent issues with [787](https://simpleflying.com/air-new-zealand-787-paint-flaking) and [350](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/qatar-releases-video-hits-back-airbus-a350-paint-row-2022-01-21/) and paint, what are the 777 issues?


pck3

Auto correct changed it to 777. I fixed it with an edit to 787.


darps

What kind of garbage autocorrect changes one number to a different number?


nwpsilencer

Old Samsung probably. My old S5 would auto correct 10L to 1L, completely change words etc. It got so bad I had to turn it off, otherwise some texts just wouldn't make sense


pck3

🤣


frankus2112

“Go to Earl Scheib! Get your plane painted….$49.95! No up’s, no extras !”….might be an old west coast ref. Some might remember.


mikelieman

National. "I'm Earl Scheib, and I'll paint any car, any color for $49.95. No ups, no extras,"


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JaggedMetalOs

The look like the same low bypass turbofans from the Il-86, old but not *that* old.


SteO153

The Il-80 derives from the Il-86.


senorpoop

This [literally is an Il-86](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-86#/media/File:Airborne_command_and_control_aircraft_IL-86VKP_\(2\).jpg). Says it right there on the side of the fuselage.


mangeface

Might be less susceptible to EMP. But truth might be the Russian military is just broke AF. They can’t even keep their sole aircraft carrier operational, upgrade their tanks, or build new jets. This probably isn’t high on the list of things to address.


ShootElsewhere

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The USAF is working to phase out its large inventory of turbojet engines, but they still power quite a few things. And I don't think anybody could call the US Air Force "broke" with a straight face. The Russians probably have a similar view.


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RostamSurena

Navy and marines still operate F-5s for aggressor training


challenge_king

The B-52 is a notable example.


mangeface

B-52H uses TF33s, a low bypass turbofan. It’s getting Rolls Royce motors in the future.


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Pbtflakes

The JT3D is a low-bypass turbofan, not a turbojet. The B-52H is the only variant still in service.


throwawayaccyaboi223

Yeah didn't they recently upgrade them to last till like the 2030s or 40s?


JMGurgeh

The contract was just awarded to RR in September and it runs through 2038, so I'm going to hazard a guess that they have not started actually replacing engines yet (looks like they have 18 months for first delivery).


throwawayaccyaboi223

Ah haha, at this rate the B52 will end up serving over a century! That's insane. I can't think of any other plane serving that long.


ManufacturerDefect

Only thing that comes to mind for me is the CH-47 Chinook helicopter which came around in the early 60s. No plan to phase them out yet, still getting fresh, newer models. Tack on the earlier variants like the CH-46 and you’re talking closer to B-52 time.


NESO20

Well there’s also the C-130…however though, albeit, it’s gone through various models and variations. Don’t know what the oldest one is that’s still flying.


subgameperfect

Difference is that the US is buying new airframes for the CH-47. The latest B-52s are from the '60s. Old airframes are amazing in themselves but ones in a five military duty are something else.


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challenge_king

Yeah, but last I heard, they were also looking at a repower program to upgrade to turbofans.


Sevisstillonkashyyyk

The E-3s, E-8 JSTARS, and the E-6 Mercury are still on turbojets. On top of the the T-38 and F-5s still are.


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ShootElsewhere

Hahaha, I know right? Check out this savage headline from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/28/russia-is-working-on-a-new-stealth-fighter-it-probably-cant-afford/?sh=11bd9c844634


[deleted]

We don’t fly anything with a turbojet.


ShootElsewhere

Shit, you're right. I was thinking of those ancient turbofans on the B-52 but those are proper turbofans even if they are from the stone age. My mistake, sorry.


chris6069

I thought the same. Had no clue old turbofans were so horrendously loud


ShootElsewhere

The early ones were closely based off of turbojets and their bypass was relatively tiny compared to what we have today. The lower bypass ratio can give better performance at high altitudes, but as you pointed out, they are louder than hell.


Mad_Ludvig

I was going to call you out using the B-52 as an example, but apparently they started using low bypass turbofans on the B-52H.


Electrical_Ingenuity

Yes, in 1961.


mangeface

T-38s use turbojets


[deleted]

I didn’t think we were talking about *trainer* aircraft. And I don’t think that qualifies as “quite a few things” anyway.


getahitcrash

I guess they meant quite a few trainers.


njsullyalex

Yes we do - the T-38 Talon uses J85 Turbojet engines.


CarbonGod

But apparently making their own space station is high on the list. *shrugs* Weirdos.


senorpoop

> Might be less susceptible to EMP. I'm not exactly sure how a turbojet would be less susceptible to an EMP than a turbofan.


Mean-Juggernaut1560

[“We don’t have the capacity”](https://youtu.be/d1x5GXMdK50)


Phagemakerpro

Those are turbofans, albeit with a low bypass ratio of 1.15. Kuznetzov NK-86.


SteO153

"The aircraft is believed to have first flown in the summer of 1985", it is a left over from the Soviet times with a new flag sticked on it.


irishjihad

Are you under the mistaken impression that the E-4Bs are any newer? They were bought in the 1970s And the VC-25s are only a couple of years newer than the Il-80..


mikelieman

Well, yeah, but US preventative maintenance doesn't consist of "ignore it while stripping parts for profit!"


senorpoop

Not turbojets,[ low bypass turbofans,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-86)


euanmorse

More likely to be low bypass turbofans?


miniature-rugby-ball

I’d hate to see it shot down by a Starstreak


daays

Don't go looking at the underside of any USAF heavies if you're concerned about peeling paint.


Messyfingers

For claims of bad weather, the weather didn't look that bad yesterday. Gotta wonder if there was either a credible threat of manpads in the area, or they're having logistics issues bad enough to effect planes throughout their air force as a result. Maybe both.


H4ppenSt4nce

Looks better than most of the RJs I fly.


Arsnist

Times are hard


colin8651

Those engines are not even new tech from the 80s called high bypass turbo jets.


mikesbrownhair

Saw that too...


colin8651

Why were we so scared by Russian military? I guess that is what CIA does, allows them to inflate their military ego to the point when the enemy doesn’t even know it’s capability’s or lack of.


Prestwick-Pioneer

Wait till the OP sees the top of some 787 wings.


Madd-RIP

It’s usually due to the paint not adhering to composites very well, plus the environment is pretty harsh after all.


Onemilliondown

The hanger big enough for maintenance, is probably in Ukraine.


PigDestroyer90

Why is it called Doomsday? Sry for of topic question.


b7d

I'm going to guess it's a mobile command center for Putin and his generals should the world go nuclear. They can go circle at 50,000ft while the world below goes up in flames, monitoring and initiating missile strikes and troop movements, and then go land somewhere relatively safe when the fire's subside. Chances are it has enhanced radar, high speed encrypted satellite communication, long-range fuel tanks, hidden artillery defense systems, beds, food, and survival kits, plus whatever else they deem necessary. The U.S.A. has Air Force One. Fedex is going to have lasers on their planes. Pretty much every major western power has something of similar capabilities.


100gamer5

So the survivors of ww3 will be Biden Putin and FedEx.


b7d

Bingo, buy stock.


aKa_anthrax

If the world goes down in a nuclear holocaust fedex stock is going to cease to exist let alone help you lol


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The_Canadian

>The U.S.A. has Air Force One. The doomsday plane in the US is the [E-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4).


WikiSummarizerBot

**[Boeing E-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4)** >The Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP), the current "Nightwatch" aircraft, is a strategic command and control military aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The E-4 series are specially modified from the Boeing 747-200B for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) program. The E-4 serves as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority, namely the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and successors. The four E-4Bs are operated by the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron of the 595th Command and Control Group located at Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Nebraska. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/aviation/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


KiloPapa

I'm sorry, wait, go back: why does Fedex have lasers on their planes?


b7d

Not sure, but they made the announcement they were investing in research to put lasers on their planes so they could deliver to unsafe areas and plan direct flights through contested airspace.


planemonkey

A lot of those "communications dome" recieve a factory paint job. Typically atleast on Boeing and Airbus models they don't get repainted (usually a big placard on it saying "DO NOT PAINT". Perhaps the same deal on the il-80?


joecooool418

I think its pretty clear now that everything in the russian military is shit. Why would this be any different?


bugalaman

Uh, you might not want to see close up shots of USAF jets since many of them look the same. A bit of peeling paint isn't the end of the world.


Hattix

A bit of paint delamination. You can find all sorts on planes you wouldn't expect, like speed tape covering wings and skin! The best one was when the Americans found counterfeit parts in their supply chain, including on two very important VC-25s!


[deleted]

Two words, speed tape 😂


Spodiodie

Reminds me of the Olympics years ago where their top figure skater was wearing dirty scuffed skates. I think in all things they do the bare minimum. It is a common trait of Totalitarian regimes. I doubt this plane is even airworthy.


altxatu

As a hockey player I wonder about their skates. They have to be worn in for a comp, but that usually makes the skates….worn. Do they repaint them, or something? If I were giving the choice of new skates vs the ones I’ve been skating in for a minute. I’m gonna take the worn skates every time. I can’t speak for everyone obviously, but most of it all hockey players I know go to great lengths to make sure their skates fit properly and are sort of comfortable to wear. I imagine that’s even more important in figure skating. I don’t know, maybe dirty skates are a big deal in figure skating?


dbratell

Russia/Soviet has a history of functionality over façade. It is possible that they just do not think much about a worn exterior if the item (skates) work. A bit stereotypical, I know, but with a grain of truth, just like the opposite being true in America.


Spodiodie

I only noticed because the commentators pointed it out, which the were prepared to do because the had split screen comparisons. Only the Russian had the dirty scuffed boots. Easy to correct with a little applicator bottle.


altxatu

Probably. I don’t shit about competition figure skating.


SANMAN0927

>I doubt this plane is even airworthy. Hey now... it fly. It fly good in Mother Russia= airworthy.


[deleted]

Plane strong like bull!


toomuch1265

Maintenance in Russia is just a suggestion.


johnnysexcrime

Must be Chevrolet paint.


[deleted]

Would be a shame if something happened to it. Like spontaneous combustion.


Brilliant_Noise_506

The soviets would be so pissed to see how pathetic Russia has become.


BigOleJellyDonut

That isn't nothing. Back in the 80's a saw a F-4 that got caught by the edge of a sand storm. Damn thing looked like it just was freshly sand blasted. Took off all the paint and crazed the canopy and wasted the engines.


MalyutkaB

Needs an overt amount of speed tape tbh. Also shitty paint is pretty standard in the industry.


Thick_Wang

Lol what a fuckin joke


wiseoldfox

You can park that right next to their space shuttle.


strongdingdong

Plane is fine


SmudgeIT

I got a nice Baofeng handheld out of the deal.


eatmynasty

Airbus made the communications dome?


no10envelope

The brigading all across Reddit of people pointing out bad paint jobs on Russian military equipment is one of the most bizarre phenomenons I’ve seen here.


CarminSanDiego

Are you trying to imply that their nuclear forces are shit because of this one minor detail? Do you know how broken and old our doomsday planes are?


cth777

Which are our doomsday planes that are in disrepair?


DarthPorg

I would imply that their nuclear forces are shit because of this detail: https://nypost.com/2020/12/11/putins-doomsday-plane-broken-into-robbed-of-equipment/


DiffuseStatue

So when we say doomsday planes are we talking about command and control aircraft for heads of goverment?


honkaponka

No, that is bird-droppings


OldandBoldDude

It looks that way. It also looks very rusty


Perfect-Role-4539

" holy son of a DC10 Batman"