Bunker Talk: Let’s Chat About All The Stories We Did And Didn’t Report On This Week

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This week rocketed by. We had some fun material to work with news-wise. From an F-22 elephant walk, to Russia’s new military excursion in Venezuela, to freedom of navigation sorties through the Taiwan Strait, and more. Unfortunate news about the USS Gerald R. Ford and the Army’s plan to replace half its Apache fleet with a new, high-speed, armed scout helicopter also grabbed eyeballs. But the posts that got the most attention had to do with the recent flight of a 747 destined to become Air Force One, Russia’s string of Open Skies missions over America’s most sensitive military installations out west, our history piece on a potential alternative role for the Skunk Works’ D-21 drone, and especially our big piece on a little known, but potent feature of the F-35’s—built-in advanced towed decoys. 

Still, there were many subjects we didn’t get to, but it’s not too late. 

Welcome to Bunker Talk!

This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t get to. In other words, literally an off-topic thread.

We can discuss India’s anti-satellite weapon test: 

India says space debris from anti-satellite test to 'vanish' in 45 days https://t.co/WvV7WlrRrh

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 28, 2019

Or what about the fact that these AH-1Zs still haven’t made it to Pakistan: 

Nine Pakistan Army AH-1Z helicopters are currently stored at 309th AMARG, Tucson (AZ). Read more at https://t.co/ZFjWsZcY5f (photo Martin Uleman)#Avgeek #AH1Z #Viper #aviation #helicopter #Pakistan #309thAMARG pic.twitter.com/JMjPiqrog2

— Scramble (@scramble_nl) March 29, 2019

We can talk about this curious Kilo:

#Submarine #Navy Sometimes a 🇷🇺#Russian Kilo Class submarine can be closer than you expect!🙂 pic.twitter.com/Pk0ZWn2Rjh

— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) March 28, 2019

Or why don’t we just marvel at this MiG-23’s landing gear cycling: 

Friday night in admiring the compact 1960s engineering of the Mig-23 main gear cycle because #avgeek pic.twitter.com/GPz1qqikuP

— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) March 29, 2019

Then there is this awesome shot of an Il-76’s glazed navigator’s station. It has a serious Willy Wonka glass elevator vibe doesn’t it?:

Photo of the navigator’s seat in an EMERCOM Il-76TD aircraft. https://t.co/JharJerQy8 pic.twitter.com/58HnfiBj1M

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 25, 2019

Did you know USS Thomas A. Edison had a piano?:

A unique feature installed in the USS Thomas A Edison (SSBN-610) in 1961 was a full-sized Steinway piano. The "Submarine Steinway" remained on the Edison until it was decommissioned in 1983. The piano is now in the collection of the U,S, Navy Museum. #DidYouKnow #SubSunday pic.twitter.com/KMUrNLzosC

— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) March 24, 2019

What about this clip? Super eerie lighting! Looks like it is from Starship Troopers!:

👌 night training pic.twitter.com/nrZKRIZ6SP

— Kevin Sky🎖️𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰜 𐰶𐰃𐰯𐰲𐰴 (@EmirLouise) March 25, 2019

The Bunker doors are open. 

Discuss!

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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Tyler Rogoway

Editor-in-Chief

Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense media space. He was the creator of the hugely popular defense site Foxtrot Alpha before developing The War Zone.