June 8, 2009
June 8, 1989: Bailout at Le Bourget
Even 20 years later, this is an amazing piece of footage: Russian test pilot Anatoly Kvochur bailing out of his MiG-29, just 300 feet off the ground, at the 1989 Paris Air Show. I actually saw this happen—or rather, I was standing talking to a friend when we saw a cloud of black smoke and people running toward the crash site. The pilot was up and walking the grounds at Le Bourget in no time, basking in the admiration of the crowd.
I had diinner one night in Moscow back in 1991 with Anatoly when we were attempting to secure aircraft for the US and the MOD. Nice guy. All the reports were that he stayed with the ship to avoid the crowds. Not the case. He said he was along for the ride and was very lucky to get out alive. The soft ground from the previous rains were a factor.
Comment by allyson vought — January 9, 2013 @ 2:05 am