I'd love to see it with one of the US shuttles side by side. The Smithsonian would make a great home for it.
Soviet shuttles for gullible tourists to gawk at thinking it was *the* Buran
I am also curious, is the nose of the Buran shuttle longer than that of the US shuttle or are they the same size?
They could replace all those missing tiles, bolt on the wings, give her a fresh paint-job with 'Buran" on the side like OK-ML and the one in Gorky Park and presto! There'd be *three* Soviet shuttles for gullible tourists to gawk at thinking it was *the* Buran
I'm much rather they stabilise the decay and explain her history, it is far more interesting to see her structure and what economics can do to aspirations.
simonbp, you do realize the 'flight' Buran was destroyed in a hanger roof collapse..?
Probably be cheaper to build a new one from scratch.