Mystery Crashed Plane?

Monday, 27th October 2008 by

English Russia recently published a report on a "crashed" plane in the Russian forest near St. Petersburg. The plane in question is an AN-8 light military transport aircraft of a type which was used by the Soviets up until the 1970s.

However on closer examination of the satellite shot, as well as the ground level pictures posted to English Russia, it looks that this plane is highly unlikely to have crashed!

Whilst it is sitting at the end of a paved clearing (which could maybe be a very short runway), the aircraft is facing the wrong direction to have simply overshot an attempted landing. Furthermore, the lack of damage to the exterior suggests it probably didn't come down in the forest, as the trees would have torn at the wings.

Which leaves us with the question of who put this plane here, and why?