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.

us army chinook carrying libyan hind

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.

mi-24 operated by us army

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.

mi-24 hind and ah-64 apache helicopters in flight

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.

mi-24 photos from defense intelligence agency

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!

weapons on the mi-24 hind

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

us troops with stinger missile

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

artist rendition of mi-24 delivering chemicals

A 1986 artist’s concept of Soviet Mi-24 Hind helicopters delivering chemical warfare agents. Image: NARA

mi-24 hind in afghanistan

Mi-24 Hind helicopters in a combined arms operation in Afghanistan, circa 1984. Image: NARA/Soviet Military Power

hind being loaded in to c-5 galaxy

The Hind helicopter being loaded into a C-5 Galaxy at N’Djamena. Image: U.S. Army

czechoslovakian mi-24 hind helicopters

MI-24 Hind Czechoslovakian helicopters take off on a training exercise in July 1996. Image: NARA

mi-24 in red dawn

A mocked-up Mi-24 as seen in the 1984 filmRed Dawn— it is actually a French Aérospatiale Puma. Image: United Artists

84 Sqn Handover from Griffin HA2 to Puma HC2

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

mi-24p hind

Shown is a modern Russian Air Force Mil Mi-24P attack helicopter. Image: Igor Dvurekov/CC BY-SA 3.0

usmc pilot flying mi-24 hind

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.

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