Brits finally blow something up in war!

[Lilly]

Troops Eject Rusting Fighter Menace
Tue Feb 12, 7:07 AM ET

KABUL (Reuters) - British troops blew up a Soviet-era fighter jet at Kabul airport Monday, saying its ejector seat could be released by vandals and hit a low-flying aircraft.


The rusting SU-22 jet, abandoned at the end of the runway, was destroyed in a controlled explosion by a Royal Air Force bomb disposal squad.

"The problem we have here is an airplane fitted with a live ejector seat directly under the flight path," said Squadron Leader Mark Hollis.

"We want to stop the seat from flying."

The jet was left behind by Soviet forces who occupied Afghanistan (news - web sites) from 1979-89.

Hollis said the ejector seat could be released by simply pulling a handle and could fly 200 to 300 feet into the air.

British troops lead the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the multinational force helping to maintain security in the Afghan capital.

The airport was closed for flights for 15 minutes while the jet was blown up, sending smoke and debris into the air, and a fire extinguished.

Hollis said the ejector seat was packed heavily with explosives to stop it being activated in the operation.

An aircraft carrying Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai home from a visit to the United Arab Emirates touched down a short time later.

[old-reb]

They could have moved the plane. They could have fired the seat. I guess they just leave a lot of junk lying around the airport.

In 1959, aboard the USS kearsarge we picked up 5 Russian soldiers in an LST in the middle of the pacific ocean. After we took the soldiers we blew up the LST. It was for gun practice and also The Drifting craft poised a danger for shipping.

old reb

[the_Gipper]

Originally posted by old-reb
They could have moved the plane. They could have fired the seat. I guess they just leave a lot of junk lying around the airport.

In 1959, aboard the USS kearsarge we picked up 5 Russian soldiers in an LST in the middle of the pacific ocean. After we took the soldiers we blew up the LST. It was for gun practice and also The Drifting craft poised a danger for shipping.

old reb

Yes Reb!
But that wouldn't been any FUN!! HEE! HEE!
Ron~~