iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 8h

I took a lot of pictures over the years I worked in Saudi Arabia but this is my favorite. I took it one morning on my way to work. This is something we saw all the time and we referred to the camels as ‘Saudi spare tires.’

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 9h

On 29 Sep VKS Il-62 CLASSIC RA-86559 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Ukrainka Airbase in the Amur region.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 9h

There have recently been several flights by Uz Aero Cargo (Tashkent UZB) Il-76TD CANDID UK76539 between Tashkent and Nis SRB. On 29 Sep the CANDID flew to St P-Burg Pulkovo.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 10h

After a month fighting wildfires in SRB, on 28 Sep Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76841 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Benghazi LBY and continued on the Bamako MLI on 29 Sep. It departed on 30 Sep and is en route back.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 11h

On 29 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96019 RSD420 flew from Moscow (VKO) to Bangui CAF. RSD420 has been associated with Russian Energy Minister Sergej Tsivilev.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 23h

More spoofing: On 29 Sep Abakan Air Il-76TD CANDID RA-76445 took off from Orsha BLR and was spoofed flying over UKR before tracking ceased.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

After likely air-to-air refueling operations on 28 Sep, on 29 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 flew from Belaya Airbase back to Ulyanovsk.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

On 28 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD788 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Casablanca MAR. RSD788 has historically been used for trips to the USA and this could be the aircraft’s final destination.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 must have flown undetected to Belaya Airbase and on 28 Sep took off and appears to be setting up an air-to-air refueling track near Novosibirsk.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

After a Sunday carrying out more calibration work at St P-Burg Pulkovo on 27 Sep, Letnye Proverki I Sistemy (Flight Inspections and Systems) An-26ASLK CURL RA-26008 appears to be leaving.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

On 27 Sep FSB Tu-154M CARELESS RA-85084 CS/FCN RSD64051 took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to St P-Burg (LED). After less than two hours it took off and is en route to K-Grad. This aircraft usually flies as RSD974.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last seen on 24 Sep when it exited RUS, SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82035 stopped at Khmejmim Airbase SYR and continued on to LBY, likely to al Khadim, on 27 Sep it was tracked on approach to Bamako MLI.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Iranian civil flights to CHN, THA, KWT, ARM & TUR still ongoing on 25 Sep. Likely other places as well.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

25 Sep: So I guess RUS has no problems continuing to let Iranian aircraft use its airspace and land at its airports. Then again, I did not think that it would and it did not take a lot of analytical prowess to come to that conclusion!

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Recently Letnye Proverki I Sistemy (Flight Inspections and Systems) An-26B CURL RA-26130 was active around St P-Burg on 08 – 09 Sep calibrating airport communication and navigation equipment at St P-Burg Pulkovo.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Occasionally seen VKS Il-78M2 MIDAS tanker RF-94272 took off from Moscow (ZIA) on 24 Sep and appeared to orbit to the southeast and may have engaged in air-to-air refueling; however, it is hard to tell as it was captured by the GPS spoofer at Krugloe that I have posted about earlier.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Iranian civil aircraft active on 23 Sep at 1600Z.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

On 21 Sep VKS Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78658 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR, departing and after a likely stop at al Khadim LBY continued on to Bamako MLI. After a quick turnaround it flew back to RUS via LBY and SYR.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On 21 Sep Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78667 still using CS/FCN 571 took off from Ulyanovsk and flew east. I still have a gut feeling this aircraft has been converted to a MIDAS tanker. I have no proof or logical explanation other than I feel it in my guts; I feel it in my ‘water.’ I call it ‘URINT.’

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I probably have better things to do than track Patriarch Kirill around but on 20 Sep Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64531 RSD793 (Kirill’s CS/FCN) took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to Astrakhan where Kirill visited the newly built Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Astrakhan.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Here is a video of occasionally tracked Armenian Air Force Il-76TD CANDID 76310 at Minsk (MSQ) BLR. The aircraft appears to have a new paint job and possibly had some upgrade/repair work done at the Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRL-...

youtube.com

First take-off and landing of IL-76TD after repair. What a new paint job - look at it!

YouTube video by D.D. Denisin

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

On 19 Sep SFS Tu-154B CARELESS RA-85843 again flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR returning to RUS after less than two hours on the ground. This aircraft flew to Khmejmim Airbase on 04, 09, 16 & 19 Sep. That is five trips in 16 days.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Although tracking was a bit weird, it appears that Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 was active early on 19 Sep working to the east of Belaya Airbase possibly conducting air-to-air refueling. The MIDAS deploy to Belaya on 18 Sep.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

After deploying to Nis SRB on 19 Aug and flying 65 missions fighting wildfires, on 18 Sep Ministry of Emergency Situations Il-76TD CANDID RA-76841 SUM9126 departed Nis and returned to RUS.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

After a couple of days in Jeddah SAU (the Corniche is nice this time of year) Iranian Government Avro RJ85 EP-IGF IRAN06 flew back to Tehran IRN.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

After probable air-to-air refueling at Belaya Airbase on 14 & 15 Sep, on 16 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 flew to Akhtubinsk and on 17 Sep to Moscow (ZIA). On 18 Sep it took off and is eastbound possibly deploying east for more air-to-air refueling.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I don’t know what this is but it looks like fun. Mobility/dispersal exercise?

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

On 16 Sep SFS Tu-154B CARELESS RA-85843 again flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR returning to RUS after approximately four hours on the ground. This aircraft also flew to Khmejmim Airbase on 04, 09 & 14 Sep. That is four trips in 13 days. The CARELESS can carry 128 – 180 passengers.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Russia’s support for the military junta in MLI continues along with its ‘Hearts and Minds’ campaign. On 14 Sep VKS Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78658 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR departing and flying south on 15 Sep.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is the first time I have seen this aircraft active: On 17 Sep Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78667 CS/FCN 571 is active out of Ulyanovsk orbiting to the northwest. It reportedly entered service at the end of 2022.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On 16 Sep Iranian Government Avro RJ85 EP-IGF IRAN06 (Eskandar Momeni, Minister of the Interior and/or Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Petroleum) flew from Riyadh (RUH) SAU to Jeddah (after a little holding pattern). I wonder if this has anything to do with the Houthis?

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Heli spoofer up again on 16 Sep.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

One thing I did not notice (but should have) on the bomber flight up north yesterday was that the Tu-95MS BEAR-H were carrying Kh-101 (AS-23 KODIAK) cruise missiles. One missile was carried on the fuselage, not on a wing pylon: www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/bom...

thebarentsobserver.com

Bombers carrying Kh-101 missiles flew off Northern Norway

The strategic Tu-95MS bombers were escorted by Su-33 fighter jets and intercepted by a pair of Norwegian F-35s scrambled from Evenes Air Base to monitor the Russian aircraft.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On 16 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96018 RSD780 flew from Moscow (VKO) to Köln DEU and is scheduled to return shortly. RSD78X has been used for international flights.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On 16 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 flew from Belaya to Akhtubinsk. We may see some air-to-air refueling from there.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

On 16 Sep ROSKOSMOS Tu-204 RA-64053 flew from Moscow (VKO) to the airfield at Baikonur Cosmodrome.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Story from tvzvezda on a flight by a (yes – it appears just one) Tu-95MS BEAR-H (likely flying out of Olenegorsk) that carried out a five-hour (WOW - five whole hours!) mission over the Barents and Norwegian Seas.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

More heli spoofing out of Minsk BLR. The Mode-3 of 1AFFFF is always the dead giveaway.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

On 15 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 is again active out of the bomber base at Belaya. It deployed on 11 Sep and was active on 14 Sep. This is the VKS’s only Il-78M-90A tanker and this it likely conducting air-to-air refueling training with Tu-95MS BEAR-H and/or Tu-160 BLACKJACK bombers.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

On 15 Sep Iranian Government Avro RJ85 EP-IGF IRAN06 flew from Tehran (THR) IRN to Riyadh (RUH) SAU. IRAN06 has been used by Eskandar Momeni, Minister of the Interior and also by Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Petroleum. Paknejad is also head of the Iran-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Committee.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

On 14 Sep SFS Tu-154B CARELESS RA-85843 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR returning to RUS after approximately two hours on the ground. This aircraft also flew to Khmejmim Airbase on 04 & 09 Sep.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

On 10 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 deployed to the strategic bomber base at Belaya. It is active on 14 Sep possibly doing air-to-air refueling with bombers.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

More silliness and spoofing on 13 Sep from BLR Il-76TD CANDID EW-005DE as it flew to Astrakhan.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

On 13 Sep Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Posts RA-96022 RSD161 & RA-96025 RSD171 are airborne from New Delhi Ind. Putin flew down on RA-96022. I wonder which one he is on for the trip home?

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I recently posted on flights to Minsk BLR by OFAC blacklisted Fars Air Qeshm B747 EP-FAB. Here is a recently posted video of the aircraft, and from what I can tell, I think it was its departure from Minsk on 28 Aug. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm7H...

youtube.com

Old Iranian Boeing 747-200 took off like an youth. There is still powder in the flasks!

YouTube video by D.D. Denisin

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