Viktor Belenko
Lieutenant Viktor Ivanovich Belenko was a pilot with the 513th Fighter Regiment of the Soviet Air Defense Command based in Sakharovka,
Siberia. He achieved wordwide fame on
September 6th,
1976 when he defected to the west, flying his
MiG 25 "Foxbat to
Hakodate,
Japan. This was the first time the west was able to get a close look at the aircraft, and it revealed many secrets and surprises.
Belenko was granted asylum by then US President Gerald Ford, and a trust fund was set up for him, granting him a very comfortable living in later years. The US interrogated and questioned him for 5 months after his defection.
Belenko is now an aerospace consultant and lecturer.
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