How did the West find out about STOL performance of the Soviet aircraft?

[River]

This comes from a top secret recording describing what happened in a soviet cockpit during approach to JFK at IFR conditions:

 

Captain: “500 ft. low visibility, runway seems to be short. Co-pilot, lower flaps to 30 degrees…”

 

Co-Pilot: “Flaps down at 30.. check.”

 

Captain: “300 ft, low visibility, runway looks very short… Co-pilot, lower to 45 degrees !!!”

 

Co-Pilot: “Flaps down at 45…check.”

 

Captain: “100 ft !!! Runway very short !!! “Co-pilot, lower flaps to emergency – 90 degrees down!!!

 

Co-Pilot: “Flaps down to 90 degrees ready to land…check.” Aircraft lands and breaks immediately…

 

Captain: “*wipes off the sweets and sighs*… “Ohh they make the runways very so short in the west….”

 

Co-pilot: “Yes…*pointing out the window*…but they are so very very wide…”

 

 

 

[Guernsey]

It must have been a cross wind landing.

 

Alan.

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

Always thought that was an Irish joke!