Russians at Red Flag in October

[Chris Kennedy]

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_07_03/80124065/

[Joe Copalman]

I wonder if shirtless Putin will be riding in the back of one of their aircraft.

[Jeff D. Welker]

I wonder if shirtless Putin will be riding in the back of one of their aircraft.

I envision him [Putin] astride a Mig's fuselage (ala Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove) yelling that Obama is his personal hand puppet as he triumptantly lands at Nellis in Alaska 

[Joe Copalman]

The article linked made it sound like it was happening at Nellis.  But kudos to whoever sleuthed it on FC.  I'm sure Alaska Airlines is going to appreciate the upsurge in off-season traffic.

[Chris Kennedy]

This was on the Nellis AFB Facebook page early this afternoon.

Reports of Russian Federation Air Force participation in Red Flag exercises at Nellis in the near future are inaccurate. For questions about Russian Federation Air Force participation in Red Flag-Alaska, please contact the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs through the switchboard at the Pentagon.

[scottcolbath]

I envision him [Putin] astride a Mig's fuselage (ala Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove) yelling that Obama is his personal hand puppet as he triumptantly lands at Nellis in Alaska 

I don't think there is any one-upping this.

S.C.

[Paul Dumm]

No Russians in Alaska.      They ask to come play and the U.S. said no.

[Joe Copalman]

Source for what Paul is talking about: http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Fourth story down this morning.

Quoted:

No Krasni Flag: Russia won't be participating in an Air Force Red Flag exercise this year, according to an exercise spokesman at Eielson AFB, Alaska. What? Russia at Red Flag? Several media outlets—including the Voice of Russia radio network's English-language website—ran stories last week suggesting Russia would indeed be sending fighters to a Red Flag exercise in October, either at Nellis AFB, Nev., or in Alaska. This would be an extraordinary first if true, and a watershed development in US-Russian relations. But, alas, no red-starred Flankers and Fulcrums will be populating the ramps at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson, or anywhere else. Air Force officials told the Daily Report on July 6 that Russia had requested sending observers—not aircraft—to a Red Flag exercise this fall, but it won't be happening. While it would have been interesting to see those Sukhoi and MiG fighters at Red Flag—playing Red Air, perhaps?—modern Russian-designed fighters have already played in a Red Flag. In 2008, India brought its Su-30s MKI fighters to Nellis.
—John A. Tirpak

[Paul Dumm]

Sorry, should have added that. It was WAY too early this morning.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Screw the Russian aircraft, what about the shirtless Putin     

[Paul Dumm]

Here, Now can we PLEASE get back to some aircraft.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Here, Now can we PLEASE get back to some aircraft.

Now if this doesn't demand a red flag; I don't know what does