Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (FRU)

As some of you know, I've traveled to many strange places for work this past year. Many places I was not able/allowed to take photos, and I've not shared much of what I was able to get photo-wise, and I thought that over the next few weeks I'd make a few photo-reports to share.

One of my favorite places that I was able to take photos at, was certainly Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (FRU). If you've never heard of it, it's southwest of China. I've been there three times this year I think.

Bishkek has a lot of Russian planes, to put it mildly. Here are some of what I saw there. Please keep in mind I took these with a point and shoot!

Itek Air 737-200. This aircraft is now fully painted in Itek colors.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru1.jpg

IL-76
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru2.jpg

Daalo Airlines IL-18. There are a couple here, and I'd never seen these before. Well, I've never seen most of these planes before.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru3.jpg

Johnsons Air 707. This aircraft was caught not long before this being used to smuggle arms to Somalia. how nice!
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru4.jpg

A gem for me, an Air Central Asia IL-62
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru6.jpg

Here is a photo looking back at the back ramp of the airport. You can see that this apron is packed full of crazy Russian planes. I wish I could have gotten close to see them.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/fru5.jpg

And here is a video from inside the plane of my arrival. You can see some of the above aircraft, here set up almost as though it was an assembly line of amazing aircraft lined up for me. Behind the 707, you see another Itek 732, and behind that is a gold Daalo IL-18.

[youtubetp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArkQ610mZoQ[/youtubeFeel free to ask questions, but please understand there may be some things that I cannot divulge.

Hope you enjoy!

WOW! :shock:
Those are some amazing captures, Phil! The Johnson's Air 707 and Air Central Asia IL62 are pure gold, haha. The shots are pretty decent, considering they were taken with a point-and-shoot. Thanks for sharing!

Greets,
-Omar S.

Nice shots Phil.

I love all the Russian stuff on the back ramp and that 707!

Mark

Nice shots Phil :)
Those IL-18s are awsome!
Senga

Good stuff Phil. Certainly interesting seeing this part of the world and the aviation industry over there. Nice shots!

Thanks, guys.

Of all the civilian airports I've been to out of the country, the airplanes here were certainly the most exotic, 2nd only to where my next post will be on. ;)

I would enjoy getting to go back there one day.

Phil, very nice stuff. Check out the September issue of Airlines mag, they had a story about Daalo Airlines. Very interesting stuff. It's nice that you get to see some interesting stuff while you're working. And I'm sure that you bust your butt working as well!

Thanks, I'll be sure to link this thread to my boss. haha