Afghan Landing Was a Trick Invented by Soviet Pilots to Land 200 Ton Planes Very Quick to Avoid Being Hit by Missiles

While landing, planes are very vulnerable to missile attacks from the ground. Especially when they are landing in Afghanistan. Especially during war time. Especially if those planes are huge transport IL-76 planes. So over time, Soviet pilots have developed a unique method to land their 150 ton heavy planes. They call it “An Afghan Landing”. A huge IL-76 comes to the landing strip from the opposite side, then makes a very sharp turn and… lands! Just a crazy trick for such a huge plane. Take a look at an actual Afghan landing made in Kabul, Afghanistan airport in 1989. Also inside is one more video from outside:

There was an automated system installed on those planes called “RITA”. It had to warn pilots when the maneuvers they were taking are dangerous. During this kind of landing this Rita thing was constantly off or it was untolerably screaming all the way down.

Another video, from 2014. Pilots in Orenburg decided to commemorate the anniversary of Soviet army withdrawal from Afghanistan by flying their IL-76 over Orenburg city, showing an example of an “Afghan Landing”. People were panicking and calling police en masse. You can here the “RITA” alarm squeaking inside the cabin.

Also, when one pilot was asked: “How could you come out with such a crazy idea?” he answered: “Want to live? Would land like this no problem”.

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