And America did manage to finally get one.
But more on that in a moment.
Despite that fact, the Mi-24 Hind has seen service in dozens of conflicts around the world.
A U.S. Army MH-47 Chinook carrying a Libyan Hind as a slung load on June 11, 1988. Image: U.S. Army
Russia has also claimed to have downed several in service with Kyivs forces.
So let the big wheels in Managua beware Soldier of Fortune wants a Hind.
Brown also confirmed, Wed probably sell it to the U.S. government.
A Mi-24 Hind helicopter operated by the United States acts as the opposition force in a Search And Rescue (SAR) training exercise at Fallon Naval Air Station, Nevada in 2001. Image: NARA
Of course that never happened, but nor did it actually need to!
Instead, the U.S. sought to attempt to obtain an Mi-24 supplied to another operator.
The helicopter was transported back to the United States aboard a C-6 Galaxy cargo plane.
U.S. AH-64 Apaches fly in formation with Hungarian Mi-24 Hinds during Saber Guardian in Varpalota, Hungary, June 9, 2021. Image: Maj. Robert Fellingham/U.S. Army
Libyan forces were believed to have been just miles from the position but were none the wiser.
However, the helicopter had been presented in previous films via the magic of Hollywood.
Other films also used mocked-up versions, but none came as close to the real deal.
A ground-to-air left side view of two Soviet Mi-24 Hind assault helicopters stirring up dust as they make a low-altitude pass circa 1988. Image: NARA
Perhaps it is time Hollywood finally makes a movie about Operation Mount Hope III and we can only hope!
A few more wrecks are now likely in the Libyan desert but everyone stopped caring three decades ago!
Two UV-32-57 rocket pods and an AT-2 Swatter anti-tank missile on the winglet of an Iraqi MIL Mi-24 Hind-D assault helicopter captured during Operation Desert Storm. Image: NARA
One member of a two-man Stinger missile team holds an FIM-92 Stinger trainer while the other member scans the horizon for incoming aircraft during an exercise in 1988. Image: NARA
A 1986 artist’s concept of Soviet Mi-24 Hind helicopters delivering chemical warfare agents. Image: NARA
Mi-24 Hind helicopters in a combined arms operation in Afghanistan, circa 1984. Image: NARA/Soviet Military Power
The Hind helicopter being loaded into a C-5 Galaxy at N’Djamena. Image: U.S. Army
MI-24 Hind Czechoslovakian helicopters take off on a training exercise in July 1996. Image: NARA
A mocked-up Mi-24 as seen in the 1984 filmRed Dawn— it is actually a French Aérospatiale Puma. Image: United Artists
A Royal Air Force Puma (foreground) in flight over Cyprus. The Puma served as the platform for the Hollywood version of a Hind in Red Dawn. Image: Sgt. Lynny Hughes/Royal Air ForceOGL
Shown is a modern Russian Air Force Mil Mi-24P attack helicopter. Image: Igor Dvurekov/CC BY-SA 3.0
Maj. Brian Clegg prepares to fly a Russian Mil Mi-24 Hind during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Image: S.Sgt. Artur Shvartsberg/U.S.M.C.