In an incredible journey, 3 months after the onset of a new major military phase in the Ukrainian conflict that led the majority of NATO members to strengthen their defenses and augment their readiness with supplementary aircraft and patrols, a lone Piper Aztec, a civilian General Aviation aircraft, taking off from Lithuania in northern Europe flew down the entire eastern NATO flank down to Bulgaria and the Black sea shores without flight plans, border crossing authorization and with its transponder shut down while, incredibly, being chased by Gripen and F-16 from the Hungarian, US and Romanian air forces, forcing its way into airport to land and refuel from onboard reserve transferred into its tanks before landing on a deserted former airbase in Bulgaria and its occupant vanishing.
Here is the story:,
www.avweb.com
And on a more exhaustive account found in the French press:
www.lepoint.fr
Notice how none of the rotarywing assets were brought-in for the interception, assets that can, more appropriately, exercise coercive measure in the form of a well placed, non-lethal sniper shot than what can do a 30 or 20mm high rate fire Canon salvo from a fighter aircraft.
How this could have happened and for what purpose? This is a major event reminiscent of Mathias Rurst exploit that landed on the Red Square in Moscow during the Cold war and, I am sure, worth a deep down, detailed, account.
aviatorinsider.com
Registration number: LY-LOO
Serial Nbr: 27-2250
Owner history (country): France, Switzerland, Lithuania
Here is the story:,
Twin Riles Military In Seven-Country Tour Of Eastern Europe
Investigators in eastern Europe are looking for those who took a light twin, possibly a Piper Aztec, on a seven-nation tour of the region without letting anyone know they were...
www.avweb.com
And on a more exhaustive account found in the French press:
Un avion fantôme traverse six pays de l’Otan sans autorisation
Des chasseurs ont intercepté le bimoteur, mais ses occupants se sont volatilisés après avoir atterri sur une piste désaffectée en Bulgarie. Un périple incroyable.
www.lepoint.fr
Notice how none of the rotarywing assets were brought-in for the interception, assets that can, more appropriately, exercise coercive measure in the form of a well placed, non-lethal sniper shot than what can do a 30 or 20mm high rate fire Canon salvo from a fighter aircraft.
How this could have happened and for what purpose? This is a major event reminiscent of Mathias Rurst exploit that landed on the Red Square in Moscow during the Cold war and, I am sure, worth a deep down, detailed, account.
1979 Piper Aztec F Performance and Handling Specifications
Cruise Speed (Kts) | Stall Speed (kts) (Flaps up) | 61 | ||
75% @ 4,000 ft | 177 knots | Stall Speed (kts) (Flaps down) | 55 | |
55% @ 10,000 ft | 152 knots | |||
Service Ceiling (ft) | 19,800 |
Piper Aztec Guide and Specs : A Class Of Its Own
Introduced in 1962 as a more powerful version of its older 'Apache' sibling, the first Piper PA 23 Aztec featured 250 horsepower, normally aspirated Lycoming engines, a swept tail, and seating for five. Manufactured until
aviatorinsider.com
Registration number: LY-LOO
Serial Nbr: 27-2250
Owner history (country): France, Switzerland, Lithuania
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