Iraqi aircraft in the sand

If you look at the runways you can see the spots where we repaired JDAM craters we made earlier in the war.

First we busted it up so the Iraqi air force couldn't use it, then we fixed it up so we could use it.

Farther to the south, four destroyed fighters still litter their taxiways and many of their hardened shelters sport holes in the top.

There is something that looks like a UAV on runway 30.

Those are not F-18s and an A-10, they are actually old Iraqi military jets, two of which are Mig-29's, onw that is tipped up on its tail. The other is some sort of support aircraft, similar to our fighter/bombers. The only reason I know this is that I was at the base and took a few pictures in and around these aircraft.

That explains a lot. I thought it was curious the military would park its aircraft in the sand where rocks and debris could easily be ingested. And the combination of F-18s and A-10s would be an unusual teaming of Navy and Airforce aircraft.

Yea, that area is VERY bumpy on the ground also, even in a HMMWV. I would not want to taxi down that taxiway. Who knows.. the rocks could make great lubricant in the turbine.

Keep up the good satellite pictures. A lot of them that I have seen from you bring back some memories of the old sandbox.

Those are two MiG-29s and a lone Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft, the Soviet version of the A-10.

Due north of the NW end of the runway you'll see eight Il-28 Beagle light bombers. Probably haven't flown in years.

Here's a links to an incredible photos of a MiG-25 Foxbat being dug out of a large sand dune near Al Taqadum Airfield:
http://www.newsmax.com/images/headlines/mig25c.jpg

http://www.newsmax.com/images/headlines/mig25d.jpg

Here is the link to the accompanying article:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/8/6/105528.shtml

Here is an even better photo-stream of the Migs being unearthed:
http://www.defendamerica.mil/photoessays/aug2003/p080603b1.html