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.
Please have respect for our aircraft. Our engineers have been educated in the UNITED STATES and have at least 2 year associate degrees. They can talk engineering words very well. We have 12 PENTIUM 2 computers and run 1998 engineering programs. We are very proud of this aircraft and am looking for test pilots to fly this plane, does anybody know of CHUCK YEAGERS phone number?
This plane will never and I repeat NEVER be shot down!
At best, it's a mockup. It looks like it's meant to be stealthy, but the "access panels" don't have the edge treatment you normally see on such things.
Cobra Commander called and wants his toy back.
This aircraft will increase the number of Iranion pilot martyrdooms to ten folds. The Westerner pilots don't believe in martyrdoom. Their aircrafts are not as sophisticated as the new Iran's aircraft. Therefore, there will be no martyrdoom awarded for the Westerner pilots. It is very simple logic. You guys will never understand this concept.
I do believe Americans already experienced flyboys with martyr dreams in a little scuffle known as WWII. They were called kamakaze. I can't rightly recall who won that tiny, unimportant cat fight, but the point is, pilots seeking death is nothing new to Americans.
This thing isn't a danger to anyone until the glue dries...
When a new aircraft is displayed to the world is it not the custom to see it actually fly? The point is the thing is fake, it doesn't even have the proper rivets and aircraft structure to hold it together in flight...it's a joke
Your logic is as big a joke as your pretend plane, but not as big a joke as your pretend claims about what Americans can conceive of, and not as big a joke as your pretend leaders. You live in La La Land. Have fun with your pretend jet, seeking your childish glory.
Is this being displayed in the FFA barn at the county fair?
Looks like an RC plane.
I believe the Iranians are correct when they say it's stealthy.... because it will never leave the ground.
LoLz. Just like the elephants that hide in trees. They're so good at it, you never see them.
That's the cutest model airplane ever. Good work Tehran, i bet it took alot of not-so-super glue to do it.
I'd hate the be the pilot who has to try and fly that thing. Of couse that assumes it was actually built to fly.
I remember the footage from the Cold War, of the Soviet ICBMs on the parade route...the ICBM's we were later told were literally empty casings.
I'd bet money this "jet" is an Iranian empty casing.
That thing can fly? Looking like that? You got to hand it to the Iranians: their 'Mouse that Roared' media events are the best.
This is a joke right?
Al Hurra, this is not a joke. There is nothing funny about a grown man taking his child's model airplane and passing it as your own.
Oh, but it's the F-313! 313 is a bigger number than 22 and 35, so it must be better amirite?
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