April 10, 2006: On April 2nd, Hong Kong port officials were checking cargo coming in, and being sent off to the United States, and discovered containers holding all the components (except the engines, electronics and such) for a MiG-29 jet fighter. This aircraft, roughly equivalent to the U.S. F-16, is still being manufactured, and sold, worldwide. The paperwork accompanying the MiG-29 did not state why it was going to the United States. What was going on here?

After a number of phone calls, it was revealed that the MiG-29 had been sold to a U.S. museum, by the Ukraine, as an exhibit. That deal went through in late 2005. The American museum was responsible for shipping to the United States, and apparently the firm handling the delivery did not have all their papers in order.

When the Cold War ended in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were suddenly thousands of surplus Russian aircraft available. Over a hundred were sold, in "demilitarized" form, to foreign collectors and museums. The demilitarization process involves removing the engines, weapons, and any parts that could reused in another aircraft. Fuel and lubricant tanks are drained and purged of fumes. Any other toxic or explosive materials are removed. Sometimes, dummy, or demilitarized, components are put back in, so what is now the shell of the original aircraft, looks as realistic as possible. This process would involve installing dummy missiles, and guns that had their barrels plugged and firing pins removed. Dummy engine parts are added, so it all looks, well, real.

But remember, the Chinese tend to be touchy when unknown warplanes enter their airspace, even via a cargo container port.