February 8th, 2013
11:55 AM ET

Iran's newest warplane something from 'GI Joe?'

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.

Iran unveils "flying boats"

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Filed under: Aviation • Iran • Military
soundoff (1,349 Responses)
  1. Ahmadinejad, President Mahmoud

    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?

    February 8, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Report abuse |
  2. steve

    This plane will never and I repeat NEVER be shot down!

    February 8, 2013 at 8:47 pm | Report abuse |
  3. billmosby

    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.

    February 8, 2013 at 8:48 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Duke

    Cobra Commander called and wants his toy back.

    February 8, 2013 at 8:53 pm | Report abuse |
  5. vesau

    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.

    February 8, 2013 at 8:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • vjacob

      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.

      February 8, 2013 at 10:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tanker

      This thing isn't a danger to anyone until the glue dries...

      February 8, 2013 at 10:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • jonat

      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

      February 8, 2013 at 10:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • wbiro

      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.

      February 8, 2013 at 11:58 pm | Report abuse |
  6. thermion7

    Is this being displayed in the FFA barn at the county fair?

    February 8, 2013 at 8:56 pm | Report abuse |
  7. FF

    Looks like an RC plane.

    February 8, 2013 at 8:57 pm | Report abuse |
  8. bryan

    I believe the Iranians are correct when they say it's stealthy.... because it will never leave the ground.

    February 8, 2013 at 9:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Carl

      LoLz. Just like the elephants that hide in trees. They're so good at it, you never see them.

      February 8, 2013 at 9:57 pm | Report abuse |
  9. mjcharron

    That's the cutest model airplane ever. Good work Tehran, i bet it took alot of not-so-super glue to do it.

    February 8, 2013 at 9:16 pm | Report abuse |
  10. William

    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.

    February 8, 2013 at 9:19 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Veritas

    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.

    February 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Joke

    That thing can fly? Looking like that? You got to hand it to the Iranians: their 'Mouse that Roared' media events are the best.

    February 8, 2013 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Al Hurra

    This is a joke right?

    February 8, 2013 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • BXStyle

      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.

      February 8, 2013 at 9:45 pm | Report abuse |
  14. yujinchia

    Oh, but it's the F-313! 313 is a bigger number than 22 and 35, so it must be better amirite?

    February 8, 2013 at 9:32 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Maverick

    TOP GUN

    February 8, 2013 at 9:54 pm | Report abuse |
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