[MilCom] OT: Excuse me, I'd like to buy your B-52

[Roger Strohmeyer]

http://tinyurl.com/28ektd


MOSCOW (Reuters) - A wealthy Russian tried to buy a U.S. B-52 bomber
from a group of shocked American pilots at an airshow near Moscow, a
Russian newspaper reported Friday.

The unidentified Russian, wearing sunglasses and surrounded by
bodyguards, approached the U.S. delegation and asked to buy the
bomber, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said.

An astounded member of the U.S. delegation said the bomber was not for
sale but that it would cost at least $500 million if it were to be
sold on the spot.

"That is no problem. It is such a cool machine," the Russian was
quoted as saying by the newspaper, which said its reporter overheard
the conversation. The bomber was not sold.





Russia's new rich, who built fantastic fortunes trading commodities
and contacts after the fall of the Soviet Union, have made a name for
themselves as ostentatious purchasers of everything from British
football clubs to Faberge eggs.