411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Black Tulip
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Alternative forms
en black tulip
Etymology
en black+tulip. en ru Чёрный тюльпан. From the use of the aircraft as a means to repatriate corpses of fallen soldiers. From the use of black tulips and other flowers to border obituaries. Originating as a nickname used by Soviet aircrews of the repatriation transport missions during the Afghan War, and popularized by Alexander Rezenbaum in a popular Soviet song, before migrating into English.
Noun
Black Tulip
en Nicknames en military aviation en w:en:Antonov An-12 Soviet-era turboprop cargoplane.
en Cub Flying Shed