Actually, gyrocopter kits can be bought for around 5-10K and ya don’t need a license to fly one. Unfortunately, though I have wanted one for years, the area where we live is highly prohibitive of such things since I would probably get shot down. We live next to the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
It will play out that way no matter. I don't think much armor will be brought into the city, it would be a sitting duck. One such video shown late this evening showed what appeared to be an armored Infantry carrier, it was dark but there were human figures jumping out of the fire. It could have been a Tank hard to say for sure. The fight will break down into a rifle slug fest street to street.
I think that is what will happen, planned by the Ukrainians or not. Putin will have a hostile armed populace to control. I don't believe it will work out well for him in the end, as both the Ukrainians and the Russians will both become anti-Putin.
As of this point, it looks like there’s a full-on ground battle in Kiev so it looks like Putin wants the capital pretty much in tact so the strategy you mentioned might be a forced one anyway. That said, Ukraine reported that they knocked down two transport planes containing 100 Airborne soldiers in each aircraft. If the plan was to drop them a couple kilometers outside the city and do a sweep into Kiev then those plans are off the table. Doing the arm chair command thing, it sounds ridiculous to send transport planes with paratroopers on board since Ukraine has ground to air missiles. Better to unload in small sticks using helicopters. Less chance of massive losses. @Don Alaska may have something in that such losses make command staff a little more than ticked about the choices made from a higher echelon. Logic would dictate that indeed, Putin’s command staff is getting a tad edgy right about now and he might find himself one of the casualties of war.
Noting the differences between a gyrocopter and helicopter, I believe homebuilt aircraft that fall under the "experimental" category, must meet certain standards and be inspected by the FAA just prior to the initial flight.
I live in a pretty tough mixed neighborhood. I was surprised last night by two black friends who turned out super gung-ho for the war against Putin. None of my skepticism for the new distraction touched them.
Yeah, those parachutes aren't worth much if you can't get to the door. My early paratrooper days I was jumping out of the C-119s. It was so noisy and uncomfortable no one had to be told twice to stand in the door, everyone was more than happy to get to heck out. I always felt bad for the guy that had to carry the Bazooka bag, you can bet they always chose the shortest guy in the platoon and he needed a leg up just to get in the airplane. Someone got real good with those stingers ! I expect to see the same results with that Javelin anti tank missile. I think they have strategically stored those according to the target that needs great protection. I have to say they have some good leaders but after 8 years of war already with those Russian separatist they have learned how to hit and move and not be a target, they had to because Russia was supplying their puppets with everything they needed.
I only made one blast from a 119 thank heaven. The rest were 130’s, 141’s and Delta Huey’s. I was particularly ticklish on the bottoms of my feet at the time and the vibration was anything but fun. I really had a problem this morning when I posted that bit of news. Paratroopers are prepared to either die with their chutes open or on the ground in battle. Not in an airplane. Helicopter maybe but definitely not in a fixed wing. My heart really feels for them.
I can only imagine how each of them were staring before and when they told them their mission objectives. News... a few minutes ago Germany has sent 400 anti tank missiles and others are sending more anti air systems. People have finally been shamed into actually doing something instead of making excuses. These Ukrainians deserve to be admitted into NATO so this never happens again. It isn't over yet but you and I know how quick news travels and I would say that force sitting out there that hasn't entered the zone are not happy campers. This isn't about them saving or protecting Russia, this was all for the putz and no one else. I don't see how he survives this debacle.
Strange thing. Without going into a lot of research (yet) it looks to me it looks like Putin is using the same political and military tactics he used in 2008 against Georgia. If I remember right, it wasn’t until Georgia was attacked that they were able to join NATO.
Ukraine, Sweden, and Finland are all considering joining NATO now. That means more countries for the U.S. to defend, as the other NATO countries don't seem to be worth a lot...UK maybe, but even Germany, the largest European economy doesn't pay their NATO bills. One of Trumps complaints about NATO.
One million Russian troops had a hard time defeating Finland in 1939-40. They can take care of themselves without a lot of outside aid.