Posted on May 28, 2022
UAE dismantles plane of gunrunner Russia wants for Americans
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The hulking, Soviet-era cargo plane has sat for decades under the blazing sun in a remote corner of the United Arab Emirates, its four jet engines silent after years in the employ of a Russian gunrunner known as the “Merchant of Death.”
But instead of a missile or gunfire finally taking out this Ilyushin Il-76 tied to arms smuggler Viktor Bout, the plane appears to be doomed, destined for scrap to make way for a force more powerful in this federation of seven sheikhdoms: Luxury real estate.
The emirate of Umm al-Quwain plans a $675 million development on a island just across a lagoon from the deactivated airport where Bout's plane sits.
His legacy, however, lives on even as workers disassemble the aircraft's wings — Bout is in the news again as Russia has suggested America trade him for U.S. citizens held by Moscow amid its war on Ukraine.
But instead of a missile or gunfire finally taking out this Ilyushin Il-76 tied to arms smuggler Viktor Bout, the plane appears to be doomed, destined for scrap to make way for a force more powerful in this federation of seven sheikhdoms: Luxury real estate.
The emirate of Umm al-Quwain plans a $675 million development on a island just across a lagoon from the deactivated airport where Bout's plane sits.
His legacy, however, lives on even as workers disassemble the aircraft's wings — Bout is in the news again as Russia has suggested America trade him for U.S. citizens held by Moscow amid its war on Ukraine.
UAE dismantles plane of gunrunner Russia wants for Americans
Posted from independent.co.uk
Russia
United Arab Emirates
Flying
Weapons
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Mammoth plane almost failed its final journey
But when the Ilyushin became too dangerous to fly even for Bout's daredevil pilots, he came up with a plan to sell the plane to serve as advertising, Braun said. After convincing a pilot to fly the aircraft on just three of its four engines, the plane just barely made it into Umm al-Quwain.
"It was touch and go, but they managed to belly up along the highway just outside of Sharjah," said Braun, a former investigative journalist and editor at The Associated Press. "And so they pocketed, I think, 20 grand out of the deal."...
..."Mammoth plane almost failed its final journey
But when the Ilyushin became too dangerous to fly even for Bout's daredevil pilots, he came up with a plan to sell the plane to serve as advertising, Braun said. After convincing a pilot to fly the aircraft on just three of its four engines, the plane just barely made it into Umm al-Quwain.
"It was touch and go, but they managed to belly up along the highway just outside of Sharjah," said Braun, a former investigative journalist and editor at The Associated Press. "And so they pocketed, I think, 20 grand out of the deal."...
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