Aviator. 6 years of government and public affairs experience. AAAE security and operations certified. FEMA incident command trained. Part 107 drone pilot. +400 hour SEL PPL, Virginia Private Investigator
In 1995, an Ilyushin-76 cargo aircraft had its first flight. It was built for a country that didn't exist, and would be modified for a country that didn't want it - Now its likely fallen into the wrong hands. CCCP-17563, registered RA-76900 was a airshow veteran, the aircraft performed at the Salon International de L'aeronoautique Du Bourget Airshow in 1997, and MAKS in 2001. It returned to the factory is was built in 2006 to become the third Il-76 ever to receive the -MF modification for the Royal Jordanian Air Force, becoming 21 feet longer than the standard aircraft. However, the aircraft wasn't taken up by the Jordanians and it would remain parked until December 27th, 2023. After 17 years, the aircraft has left Uzbekistan using a registration linked to the Central African Republic. The aircraft is currently untraceable to the public, the registration it was last using is shared by another active cargo aircraft utilized by the Wagner PMC. For its part, Wagner has often used dual registrations on aircraft to cover up their activities, the force is deployed to handle the dirty jobs that Russia cant be associated with. The delivery of the aircraft could point to continued operations of the Wagner PMC in Africa, despite the death of its leader, and the failed coup attempt in July. It will take a little time to become more certain about where the aircraft goes. This story joins other reporting I did this week on expectations for air cargo in 2024, Boeing deploying its secret X-37B, and the destruction of Jeffrey Epstein's infamous aircraft. As we begin the week with the FAA grounding 737-MAX 9 aircraft after an incident on an Alaska airline flights, let me be proud to recommend Simple Flying as your source for Aviation news next week. https://lnkd.in/e9yy_73x
