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Soviet plane grounded by U.S. court fight
MARQUETTE, Mich., -- A Soviet-era Russian military plane remained grounded in the upper peninsula of Michigan because of its owner's dispute with a creditor.
The Ilyushin IL-78, originally designed to refuel other military planes in flight, has mystified residents, The Detroit News reports. It sits at an airport in Gwinn, its tires chained and heavy equipment placed to block any takeoff.
"It's weird looking," said Sara Brand, who lives near the airport. "I don't know where it came from."
Where it actually came from was Texas. Air Support Systems, a company that deals in used military aircraft, bought the plane from Ukraine in 2005, planning to convert it for use in aerial firefighting.
More recently, Gary Fears, whose family owns the company, said it had a deal for its use by the U.S. military in Pakistan. But Victor Miller, owner of a Texas maintenance firm, had placed a lien on the plane, claiming he was owed $62,000.
Fears said he was not trying to duck a restraining order when the plane was flown north. It landed in Michigan after being denied permission to cross the Canadian border.
Last week a judge finally gave the plane clearance to leave after Miller got his money.
"I think the judge was saying, 'Just get that plane out of here,'" Cheryl Hill, a Marquette County assistant prosecutor, told the News.
