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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.....about 35 years ago :{

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

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.

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?!:}

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.

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 :mad:

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

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

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.:)