Libyan Mirage F-1's defect to Malta

[centuryseries]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/2011/02/libya-air-force-jets-malta-pilots-seek-asylum

 

[kilo delta]

[YOUTUBE]augJ2EF8Wv4[/YOUTUBE]


more pics here... http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=malta+airport+libyan

 

[TARPSBird]

Looks like they have rocket pods (?) on the wing stations. They did the right thing by defecting rather than blowing up their own people. Maybe before the week's out we'll see Khadaffi hanging from a street lamp Mussolini style. If it happens I'm buying the first round. :d

 

[Bjoern]

Been watching Al Jazeera English last night and today (plus Twitter). They've got an awesome coverage of the events. Way, way, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the idiots from the german press who are busier nitpicking at missing quotations in our defense minister's doctorate thesis.


Anyways, may the Libyans succeed.


P.S: Muammad is allegedly in Venezuela by now.

P.P.S: This thread shouldn't be closed. What's happening in in the north african arabic states right now ist nothing short of awesome and historic!

P.P.P.S: No rocket pods, but drop tanks.

 

[Stratobat]

P.P.P.S: No rocket pods, but drop tanks.

Rocket pods.

Regards,
Stratobat

 

[Quixoticish]

Rocket pods.

Regards,
Stratobat

They do indeed look like rocket pods.

 

[Matt Wynn]

definately look like MATRA rocket Pods, Mirage F1 has the range on internal tanks to get to Malta easilly...

 

[Allen]

They do indeed look like rocket pods.

They are R-Pods...

"VALLETTA (Reuters) – Two Libyan Air Force fighter pilots defected on Monday and flew their jets to Malta where they told authorities they had been ordered to bomb protesters, Maltese government officials said."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110221...pY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDdHdvbGlieWFuZmln

 

[Stratobat]

Here you go... These should clear up any confusion.

- http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image123006.html

- http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image123011.html

Regards,
Stratobat

 

[Allen]

Stratobat's link show there not drop tanks.

 

[thisizma]

I think they're drop tanks. Just kidding.

 

[deathfromafar]

They are R-Pods...

"VALLETTA (Reuters) – Two Libyan Air Force fighter pilots defected on Monday and flew their jets to Malta where they told authorities they had been ordered to bomb protesters, Maltese government officials said."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110221...pY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDdHdvbGlieWFuZmln

The top photo shows a fully loaded rocket pod. I have heard reports this evening that some Libyan AF assets have fired on different locations inside the country but I have seen no confirmation on that yet.

 

[Allen]

The top photo shows a fully loaded rocket pod. I have heard reports this evening that some Libyan AF assets have fired on different locations inside the country but I have seen no confirmation on that yet.

Sadly I read the same thing too...

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/news.php?p=929
The link above has 1400x952 of the plane/planes and photos of the two civilian helicopters which flew out of Libya and landed at the same place too!

 

[wombat666]

Been watching Al Jazeera English last night and today (plus Twitter). They've got an awesome coverage of the events.

*P.P.S: This thread shouldn't be closed. What's happening in in the North African Arabic states right now is nothing short of awesome and historic!

Could not agree more re Al Jazeera and their coverage of most of the North African regional news, I, me, myself, find them to be very even handed.

*As to closing the thread, as always, that remains entirely in the hands of the people who are posting.

 

[TARPSBird]

Al Jazeera English has a live blog in progress for the Libya unrest, should be a good source of updates as events play out today. Had to laugh at Gadhafi's "I'm not in Venezuela" sound bite while holding his umbrella. Better pack yer bags Mo-Mo. :d

 

[HvyEng]

It pleases my soul to see the Libyan professional military officers willing to make tough ethical decisions to protect the populous they serve. Good on them!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o> </o>
Any bets on how long before two slightly used Mirage F1's w/Rocket pods (and maybe drop-tanks) pop up on E-Bay? I can see the listing now; Buyer protection, 30 day return policy, cool sunglasses not included.<o></o>
<o> </o>
--Dan<o></o>

 

[centuryseries]

While not wishing to sstart a heated debate, I've always seen defectors as being traitors. Afterall the role of the military is to execute the orders of the country's leader, as such 'not being paid to think'.

I do applaud them, it must've taken a load of courage to fly to Malta. Surprised they didn't get shot down by the US Navy on their way across.........thank god we're not back in the eighties where the tension between Libya and the West hit boiling point.

 

[Astoroth]

While not wishing to sstart a heated debate, I've always seen defectors as being traitors. Afterall the role of the military is to execute the orders of the country's leader, as such 'not being paid to think'.

I do applaud them, it must've taken a load of courage to fly to Malta. Surprised they didn't get shot down by the US Navy on their way across.........thank god we're not back in the eighties where the tension between Libya and the West hit boiling point.

In this circumstance, I would much rather have a couple "traitors" than non-thinking robots willing to bomb their own people just because some dictator desperate to remain in power tells them to.

 

[centuryseries]

In this circumstance, I would much rather have a couple "traitors" than non-thinking robots willing to bomb their own people just because some dictator desperate to remain in power tells them to.

Totally agree.

 

[TARPSBird]

Looking at the shots of the F-1's landing in Malta, I was impressed by the material condition of the planes. They looked like they were ready for the airshow circuit. If you're gonna defect you may as well do it in a flashy bird and not some old clapped-out MiG. :d