* * * * *
14th January 1987 found me sitting at Nevada, in the bottom of a valley called “Cactus Flat,” with ranges of desert mountains to the west and east of me. It was after three in the afternoon, on a gloriously clear day, with a sky so blue it hurt my eyes.
We had just parked our 737 inside the run-up area of Runway Three Two (320°/140° magnetic, NW/SE), at a covert USAF base code-named “Silverbow.”
Officially it was known as the Tonopah Test
Range Airport, containing a super-long airstrip at 12,000 feet, with an
elevation of 5,549 feet. It was located
31 miles southeast of the sleepy mining town of Tonopah, Nevada, and 140 miles
northwest of Las Vegas. 
Previously the “Silverbow” Tower had requested we hold our position in the run-up area, so the tower could release two “Fast-Movers” ahead of us. Initially, as we parked, I became excited. Since I hadn’t seen a solitary thing on this airfield, from the time I started flying here almost two months ago. Despite the fact I had signed a contract with the Air Force, during my security clearance last November, to wit: Anything I should observe “shall be kept secret, upon threat of federal prosecution, and incarceration up to 20 years at Leavenworth.”
Silverbow mining ghost town.
“Silverbow” was named after a mining ghost town out here that went bust in 1908. So far this covert airport, with over 50 buttoned-up hangars, was living up to its code name. I could personally verify that,”...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,” on this empty ghost airport.
Once again, dear reader, that old adage, “Be careful what you wish for,” bit me squarely on the ass!
Under that Nevada sun, a sparkling, picture-perfect Russian MiG-21, supersonic fighter, in Warsaw Pact camouflage - its brilliant red stars striking fear in my heart – taxied past my right window.
The Soviet MiG-21 at Silverbow.
The Soviet fighter’s highly-waxed paint lacked any chips, grease or grime – its perfection was stunning! I sat much higher than the MiG, affording me a bird’s eye view of the cockpit. The pilot looked up at me and threw me a salute – causing my jaw to drop open. He wore a white Russian helmet – tinted visor and oxygen mask concealing his face.
He was immediately followed by an equally pristine, swing-wing, MiG-23 fighter; the Russian replacement for the MiG-21. It was all white – also glistening and immaculate - with startling red stars.
The Soviet MiG-23 at Silverbow.
And as this pair of Soviet fighters literally thundered off that runway into the burning blue above, dear reader, my addled brain went “PING!”
* * * * *
Comments
Post a Comment