Khodynka Museum, Moscow
This is the once superb Khodynka museum - all the airframes huddled together behind a chain-link fence.
The old famous airfield named after Frunze is now a building site - and the prospects for its survival are as miserable as the weather.
A lineup of the museum exhibits suffering from the ravages of time and the elements.
The rare, one-off Sukhoi T-10-20 minus its canopy. A depressing sight.
Moscow Aviation Institute
Amongst the treasure-trove of exhibits at MAI is this aerobatic single-seater designed by the students in 1967.
It is named 'Kvant' (Quantum) and hangs just above the entrance.
A stripped-down MiG-23 showing the airframe structure. The airframe has a working wing sweep and retractable
undercarriage - complete with folding ventral fin - which was demonstrated to us.
Alongside the MiG-23 is this sectioned Yak-38 - with various examples of wing structures surrounding it.
The 'exposed' side of the Yak-38 showing the two RD-36 lift engines installed behind the cockpit.
Northrop F-5 captured in Vietnam - used to study western structural methods.
Escape module from an F-111.
Fin from a US Navy A-7 of VA-82
The fin structure from Scott O'Grady's F-16.
Experimental tracked mainwheels fitted to an Il-28.
Skid & takeoff dolly from a Messerschmitt Me-163.
Completely 'naked' Su-27 Flanker - which I photographed comprehensively!
No - not a recce pod - but an experimental personnel pod designed to be fitted to a Su-25.
Maingear from the experimental Mach 2+ Tsybin RSR R-020/3.
Wing structure from the Bell P-63 King Cobra. There were dozens of these gems dotted around the walls.
Finally, in a glass case by the entrance there were a number of models made by the MAI students.
This one appears to be a bizjet that looks like it might be based on the L-29 Delfin trainer.
Another anonymous model - this time a rendition of the MiG 1.44 perhaps?
Russian Air Force Musuem, Monino
The main buildings at Monino are being rebuilt - and when we asked to use the
toilets, we were led across this rickety, slippery bridge to the new facilities.
I just hope it is open by next year!
I did a complete walkround photoshoot of the MiG 105-11 low-speed EPOS testbed.
Still there at the rear is the Bartini 14M1P - minus its wings and booster engines.
The sad sight of the burned-out Tu-124.
Myasischev M-50 'Bounder' - the subject of a new Amodel kit!
Moscow Aircraft Repair Plant (MARZ).
This stripped-down Mi-4 looks like it might be being refurbished.
This An-2 belonging to the sports/parachute organisation - ROSTO - was having its engine worked on.
The An-2 looks quite photogenic against a leaden sky - as long as you can keep the rain off your camera.
Newly refurbished Mi-2 - note the MARZ title above the cabin door.