In a message dated 1/7/02 11:26:52 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

<< > > In hindsight, that Cessna landing in Red Square in 1987 was a portent

> > of the end of Soviet Russia.

> > 

> > 1. The Soviet Air Force didn't stop it from getting there

> > 

> > 2. The pilot lives today.

> 

> What are we talking about?  Am lacking information.


You mean you missed that spectacle? It made headlines all over the world.


In 1987, a 19 years old German guy called Mathias Rust managed to fly a 
Cessna 172 B from Hamburg (Germany) to Moscow, apparently without being 
detected by the Soviet military, and landed on the Red Square near the 
Kremlin (May 28, 1987). The fact that he was not detected was a huge 
embarrasment to the Soviets. He spent 18 months in a Soviet prison and then 
returned to Germany.


Detail: it was especially embarrassing because May 28 was also (rough 
translation) "Day of the Soviet Border Forces" -- the same forces that 
despite their hundreds of fighter planes and SAM�s failed to detect a Cessna 
entering their air space... >>

I have Micro$oft Flight Simulator 2000.  A practice flight scenario on the CD 
allows you to try to make that flight in a Cessna, remaining below radar to 
land in Red Square.  It's not that hard to do, although, as I recall, I did 
wind up overshooting once or twice. 

Jon 

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