First it was monkeys in space (or not) and now it’s “GI Joe” fighter jets. Not the best of times for Iran’s aviation and aerospace programs, at least if you listen to the skeptics.
First there were doubts about Tehran’s claim it sent a monkey into space in late January. After photos of two different monkeys that were aboard the alleged one-monkey space shot surfaced, Iran media said there was a photo mix-up and, yes, there was just one Iranian monkey in space.
Then this week Iran unveiled what it said was its new high-tech stealth fighter plane. The jet shown in pictures on the website of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been the butt of jokes all week from aviation bloggers.
“This aircraft looks a lot like an old GI Joe toy,” wrote one blogger.
And from another, “This has to be a joke, right?”
Click through the gallery above to see the bloggers' comments and evidence in the photos.
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Nice pic at it's maximun height and speed
I am sure engineers can estimate the tire pressure in the landing gear and determine how much the plane weighs. You can see that there is no weight on the tires. They are still perfectly round.
Hey! Didn't I see this airplane in the movie FIREFOX with Clint Eastwood years ago???
"...must...think...in...Russian"
Not to worry , only need to carry atom bomb to israel, then not come back.
There's no doubt what country leads in military hardware, ships airplanes, drones, guns and bombs; it's the US hands down. I think I'd rater my country be best at soemthing els however. Being the best at war is chilling; killing people is what we do best?
No doubt they are good at making model planes. Maybe they will send that into space next time.
This is a fake plane !...
I'm not sure why...R they trying to fool the world or Iranian people... or there is a real thing somewhere.........
They can't, the only qualified pilot is still up there.
I doubt this thing can pull 1.1G without falling apart. In WWII the germans made jets out of wood and glue. Then you have to put real engines in them that don't blow up. Electronics...these islamists are so delusional. The IDF uses target practice drones that are more advanced than this plastic toy.
Our "Top Guns" would have a real Turkey Shoot! WOOOOOO, WEEEEEE!
If this plane really exist, it looks like it is a very uncomfortable aircraft to fly by looks at how little leg room the pilot has in the pictures.
Iran's version of 5 o'clock Charlie.
Looks fake as a $3 bill. Is this what Iran must resort to just to look mighty? Says a lot about the regime there. I won't even get into the reasons why this looks fake. Most people can pick out the flaws.
well they were going to make it look like one of our predator drones that they supposedly shot down (as opposed to crashing), but they couldn't figure out how to get a pilot on top to fly it. Maybe the monkey if he lands could operate it perhaps, but no word on the poor monkey frozen now in space.
In all Honesty, the only advantage the Jet has against all other's is that the Pilot has a crazy view around him. Looks like he sits up in the window more then anything. For the real Pilots of the USA... ya it s duck hunt in the making..... with an Iranian Mario...
Picture #6- no canopy latches!
Poor Iranians...anything to try and look legit. This is as funny as their Aqua Blue Submarine.
Didn't I see a REVELL Sticker on this somewhere? Or maybe Trumpeter?
This plane looks a bit small but I'm sure it is well glued together ,I particurly like the target under the wing.