Libyan Mirages Defect to Malta.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Interestingly they asked for re-fuelling, no doubt they were heading for the UK having heard . . .

That Quadaffi's son has a mansion here - nice target.

Or, as Mrs PN says, "What price the Ark sitting off Tripoli?"

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Excuse me for asking, PN, but what would 'Ark' contribute to solving the mess in Libya? No sarcasm meant, just honest curiosity.

[Pontius Navigator]

An RN presence has often served to calm a situation however she would also be useful in any ex-pat evacuation.

I think you would find most FCO contingency plans include the RN; hopeful rather than realistic maybe.

[langleybaston]

FCO contingency plans? Only the Israelis have them, these days.

[TEEEJ]

Image links to one of the Mirage F.1s coming into land at Malta.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/ima.../21/123005.jpg

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/ima.../21/123032.jpg

TJ

[Pontius Navigator]

You have to admit those aircraft are smart unlike some of the jets we used to have.

Anyone notice the flying boots? They are not French pattern and look more like UK '67 pattern or maybe the later pattern.

[Runaway Gun]

Perhaps they were from the recently stolen truckload of boots in Oxfordshire...

[BEagle]

Anyone notice the flying boots? They are not French pattern and look more like UK '67 pattern or maybe the later pattern.

So now we have boot spotters on PPRuNe....

Actually I was more interested in the fact that the rocket pods seemed to contain actual projectiles.

[TBM-Legend]

When the riots start in London at least the "new" RAF can't be called on to suppress the 'locals' with jets.

[sitigeltfel]

Originally Posted by TBM-Legend

well done to the pilots who defected. Some moral courage shown there. Their families are now probably being rounded up, tortured and who knows what.

I read that the pilots were Colonels. Were their families on the choppers that also "defected".

[Airborne Aircrew]

I would like to think that someone like say the Italian Air Force was aware that EU airspace was being entered into by the Libyan Mirages.

Don't worry, they saw them very early on and withdrew to Milan...

[TEEEJ]

Sitigeltfel,

The helos (French registered) belonged to Heli Union. This is a company that provides support to the oil and gas industry in Libya. Link to image of one of them arriving in Malta.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/ima.../21/123040.jpg

TJ

[TEEEJ]

Meanwhile in Egypt earlier today....

Two Iranian warships, the frigate Avland and the supply ship Kharg, entered the Suez Canal at 05:45 (03:45 GMT) on transit to Syria.


Israel concerned as two Iranian warships transit the Suez Canal | The Economic Voice

TJ

[BEagle]

Enough to keep the Malta-based Nimrods really busy.....

.....about 35 years ago

But hey, Dave and his MoD pongoes know best...

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle, don't you remember your CSRE lectures all those years ago and the 'advantages' of the unique pattern of the '51 boots - no tread at all - or the unique tread of the '67 boots - Ah, RAF Aircrew!

The latest boots have a different tread again.

The other E&E giveaway was the distinctive white with black thread paracord that you might leave around.

[Green Flash]

The F1's look very tidy, I beleive they've just come out of deep spannering with Dassault? Good news for Malta though - bit of a step change in capability for the Maltese Air Arm - hope they aren't thinking of handing them back?!

[Thelma Viaduct]

Or, as Mrs PN says, "What price the Ark sitting off Tripoli?"

Yeah, I'm sure they would be sh1tting bricks at the thought of half a dozen Harriers with the RCS of a barn door laying just off the coast.

Ark Royal would last about 2 mins if 'Colonel G' gave the order.

P.S. Why is he only a Colonel, I'd have thought you would need to be at least a General to get away with a Goatee.

[RetiredSHRigger]

Mirages at Luqa

Excellent pictures on Aviation Forum including this close up showing the SNEB pod from the rear!! 502 - Libya - Air Force Dassault Mirage F1 Aircraft Photo | Airplane-Pictures.net

Just noticed the hanging bomb ring at the rear of the inboard pylon which would suggest he has jettisoned stores prior to landing!

[Willard Whyte]

As a mere Flt Lt I've sported a goatee whilst on det. (only whilst the aircraft were u/s of course).

[ormeside]

Libyan pilots to Malta.

At the end of April 1958, on detachment with 120 at Luqa, the Maltese got nasty, threw rocks at Luqa Mess, and we had to take our Shackletons to Idris in Libya so that the aircraft would not be targets at Luqa. How times change!! It all passed after a couple of days and we returned. We had an MPA Force then. Happy days.