Ecuador gets three Mirage from Venezuela

sloopskipper says on Oct 30, 2009, 23:57:

It's strange that they came from Panamá (?) and that there was a question about Colombian airspace. Perhaps they can't navigate over the water, and fly low level looking for the street signs?

Ya' sure as hell can fly from Panamá to Ecuador, while easily avoiding Colombian (and Mexican) airspace.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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tasco66 says on Oct 31, 2009, 05:03:

The picture shows 2 F15 not 2 Mirage.

The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win (Leonid Brezhnev)

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sloopskipper says on Oct 31, 2009, 06:49:

You'll have to address your complaints to el Universal.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Aji1 says on Oct 31, 2009, 06:57:

They only know how to fly IFR (I Follow Roads) flight rules

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

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sloopskipper says on Oct 31, 2009, 07:01:

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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dguittar says on Oct 31, 2009, 07:58:

That's 2 F15 not 3 Mirage, one lost already? It probably does not matter to their highly trained and supplied ground maintenance crews.

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sloopskipper says on Oct 31, 2009, 08:05:

I just sent an e-mail to Don Winner at Panama-Guide to ask if he knows anything about this. He is retired USAF, and it's tough to imagine that he wouldn't know about if, if they did in fact transit Panamá.

But, we did have a Russian destroyer visiting not long ago.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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dguittar says on Oct 31, 2009, 08:18:

Reuters photo yesterday

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sloopskipper says on Oct 31, 2009, 11:25:

Intermixed Spanish and machine translated English from http://www.panamanewsbriefs.com/?p=120946 adds a bit of detail, like these old planes were "repowered" and rebuilt 13 years ago (by Venezuelans? Maybe the same ones who maintained the Russian tanks which couldn't make it to the Colombian frontier). Don't think I'd wana ride in one.

"International - Ecuador Reach planes donated by Venezuela
Published by prensa.com :: Ultima Hora Panamá at 2:36 pm under Uncategorized Published by prensa.com:: Ultima Hora Panama at 2:36 pm under Uncategorized

QUITO, Ecuador (EFE) -Los tres primeros aviones Mirage-50 de los seis donados por Venezuela llegaron hoy a Ecuador procedentes de Panamá, informó una fuente de la Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE). QUITO, Ecuador (AFP)-The first three aircraft Mirage-50 of six donated by Venezuela to Ecuador arrive today from Panama, a source of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE).

La fuente dijo a Efe que los tres aviones realizaron primero un sobrevuelo en la base aérea de Taura, en el suroeste del país, antes de participar en una ceremonia de recepción. The source told Efe that the three planes will perform a flyover at the Taura Air Base, southwest of the country, before taking part in a reception ceremony.

En la ceremonia estuvieron presentes, entre otros, el general Alonso Espinosa, jefe del Comando de operaciones Aéreas y de Defensa de la FAE, así como una delegación de oficiales venezolanos. The ceremony was attended, among others, General Alonso Espinosa, chief of the Air Operations Command and the Defense of AEDs, and a delegation of Venezuelan officers.

El pasado miércoles el comandante de la FAE, Rodrigo Bohórquez, informó de que los aviones procedentes de Venezuela se encontraban temporalmente en Panamá a la espera del permiso para sobrevolar territorio colombiano. On Wednesday the commander of the SAF, Rodrigo Bohorquez, reported that the aircraft from Venezuela in Panama were temporarily awaiting permission to fly over Colombian territory.

A principios de mes el jefe de Estado de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, confirmó que se trataba de seis aviones Mirage-50 dados de baja por Venezuela, y anunció que el país negocia la adquisición de otros doce Mirage-Cheetah a Sudáfrica. Earlier this month the head of state of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, confirmed it was six Mirage-50 discharged for Venezuela, and announced that the country is negotiating the acquisition of Mirage-Cheetah twelve to South Africa.

"Los seis aviones Mirage que generosamente nos está donando Venezuela, fueron totalmente repotenciados y reconstruidos en 1996. Los que saben de aviación saben que eso significa tener aviones prácticamente nuevos en el 96 y apenas, entonces, han pasado trece años desde esa repotenciación integral", explicó. "The six Mirage aircraft that Venezuela is donating generously, were completely re-powering and rebuilt in 1996. Those who know aviation know that it means having virtually new aircraft in 96 and only then, have been thirteen years since that comprehensive repowering" he said.

Dijo entonces que Ecuador va a "comprar doce Mirage, que se llaman Cheetah, repotenciados también, a Sudáfrica", como parte de "un proceso de transición" para renovar la "flota supersónica, que está hecha un desastre". He then said that Ecuador will "buy twelve Mirage, called Cheetah, also re-powering, South Africa", as part of a "transition" to renew the "supersonic fleet, which is a mess."

Los tres aviones Mirage-50 llegaron en momentos en que en Ecuador se ha desatado una polémica por la compra de aeronaves después de que el pasado martes se accidentase un helicóptero comprado este año a la India, que dejó como saldo dos personas heridas. The three aircraft Mirage-50 came at a time in Ecuador has sparked a controversy over the purchase of aircraft after an accident last Tuesday, a helicopter was purchased this year to India, which left two people wounded."

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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dguittar says on Oct 31, 2009, 11:39:

Most likely they will only hurt themselves.

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lampltr says on Oct 31, 2009, 18:40:

Good eye Tasco!

Ecuador will lose 3 within 1 years time anyways....

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RobbieRobNJ says on Oct 31, 2009, 20:21:

That thing in the reuters photo look like a dinosaur !

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excavator59 says on Nov 2, 2009, 11:16:

Yes but they only have one forward speed & 16 reverse so they can go back quicker then they came je-je!

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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