Americans in BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan
Big Clash, Freedom of Choice, Times&Spaces, From the Road, Clash Add comments
It was my first ever sighting of so many American military aircraft flocked together at one spot. Although they looked quiet, it was obvious that they hadn’t been like that over most of the time, and their presence here were ‘on purpose’. ‘Here‘ was at Manas, the Kyrgyzstan capital’s (Bishkek) airport.
We were on an Aeroflot scheduled flight from Moscow to Bishkek, - a ‘red-eye’ deal, not unusual on the Tu-154. I guess the main reason why the Tu-154s had a sufficient number of red-eye flights in the company’s timetable was an objective of achieving better utilization of aircraft within the 24-hour operating cycle. Besides, as the type is considered a ‘medium range plane’, the best economies with regard to the cost of ‘available passenger-mile’ could be achieved on the round trips where the block was something around 9 hrs.. Dispatching the eastbound flight at late night from Moscow would mean the early morning arrival to a destination located somewhere on the edge of that 4-hour range. Which might be convenient for the clients.
I took this shot of ‘Moscow at night’ shortly after departure from Sheremetyevo (UUEE). A data box in the picture’s file shows the local time of 10:06 p.m.
A few days before this trip I bought my first digital camera, - it was the Cannon PowerShot A80, and believe me - I was so keen to try it! 
I would take it with me on every flight. There’s another reason why I was so ‘eager’: we would be leaving Russia quite soon, and chances were that I wouldn’t get back to flying with Aeroflot any more. I wanted to use all those few flights left on my schedule as an opportunity to ‘record’ every detail around, - for the ‘time chronicle’ in my memory.. Uh, - ‘Compact Flash‘ memory, - in case of the Cannon I had Moreover, some guys who were on previous Bishkek flights reported they saw American F-16s flying out of Manas. They said it was ‘kinda cool’. I was looking forward to see some too
After an eventful flight we arrived to Bishkek. However, it was dead quiet - in the air, and on the ground.
(to be continued..)
August 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
This is great and I’m sure glad you bought that digital camera. That photo of Moscow Int’l. Airport on departure at night was great. One of my daughters just gave me a beautiful Canon V-560 digital camera for Christmas and I’m like you. I carry it everywhere in my top shirt picket. I just learned how to put the photos on the computer so I’ll send you a few during the next week, when I javge a few minutes of spare time. Sergie, I’m so pleased that WestJet is doing great. I always knew they would and I’m especially pleased to hear of the new alliance with Southwest airlines. The real winners in the airline business are airlines like WestJet and Southwest that stick to “One Type” aircraft. The cost of training crews, maintenance, etc. etc. can be very costly as different types of aircraft are added to the fleet. Regards. Mac
August 30th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Hi, Mac,
It is a great pleasure to have you here!
And whenever I go back to that time when we just began considering a ‘Big Move’, I always remember you.
Certainly we should communicate more.
And I believe, not only digital photos taken just recently with your new camera would be a great asset on this site, but also those ones dates the years when you served to your country - and to the good of the entire world - on the fronts of WW II as a hero pilot.
I’m very glad, Mac, you are strong and full of energy to ‘rock ‘em’!
We are looking forward to visiting San Diego one day, no kidding! - and - watch your archive then 
Talk to you soon, Sir!
S
October 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Hola,
My name is Federico Martinez, and I am a glider pilot member of the Ocaña gliding club (Spain). Since more than two years ago, I am writing a handbook about wave soaring. It is a holistic approach to this phenomenon, with special emphasis on gliding.
In order to illustrate the mountain waves chapter I would like to count with your permission to use the photos in the following links:
http://flickr.com/photos/clashmaker/529078215/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clashmaker/463606177/
I want to illustrate de Wave Archs chapter with one of them. With the other, the very nice pileus cloud crowning the top of a big Cb trespassing a well settled inversion layer.
I can give your credits as you wish, including the link to your Flickr page. Of course, you will always held the copyright.
I will appreciate to count with your collaboration,
Federico
Pd: Can you please provide me with a higher resolution file?? Gracias.
federico.martinez@gfk-emer.com
October 26th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Federico,
thank you for stopping by. Glad you found something interesting in my works
Sure you can use the mentioned photos, no problem. I would love to see soon pages of your book illustrated with them.
Soaring is great. And it is true, - a soaring pilot should have a knowledge of environment which is immediate to him/her. It is a sort of ‘bird’s knowledge’.. I’m thinking.. how some kind of soaring birds (like hawks and eagles) pass that knowledge onto the next generations?
I’ll send you higher resolution pictures right on. I wouldn’t mind to be credited by a link to ‘Clashmaker’ photostream, and I appreciate you have suggested it.
Great to talk to you,
Sergey,
aka ‘Clashmaker’.
P.S. You maybe want to have a look at this too:
CHINOOK AT CALGARY