Libyan Mirages in Malta

[Eric Mc]

A couple of Libyan Mirage F1s have aparently landed at Valetta.

Interesting.

Edited to get the Mirage version right.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 21st February 17:59

[eharding]

If only the Maltese Air Defence Force operated the F-16 - the Sun could have "Friends of Mister Cairo Forced Down By Maltese Falcons" as a headline.

[Eric Mc]

It seems two senior air force colonels abandoned a mission to bomb the protestors and instead headed off tho Malta which is about 1 hours flight away.

[eharding]

I was about to ask what the stores hanging off the wings were - appear to have an open void at the back, not like a drop-tank at all, more like unguided rocket pods.

If they are then a) you would have thought they would have been dumped into the water before pitching up unannounced at a foreign airfield and b) probably not the best idea to park a couple of 4x4s in front of it if they're still loaded.

[Magog]

It's got to be one of the more stylish ways of arriving to claim asylum.

[55allgold]

Magog said:

It's got to be one of the more stylish ways of arriving to claim asylum.

Like the Russki who ran off with a Foxbat, creating a bit of a stir when he landed in Japan.

[Eric Mc]

Ivan Belenko.

[bleesh]

Eric Mc said:

Ivan Belenko.

Clint Eastwood!!! C'mon Eric, everyone knows that

[Hooli]

bleesh said:

Eric Mc said:

Ivan Belenko.

Clint Eastwood!!! C'mon Eric, everyone knows that

Didn't Clint sink it into a lake in Finland?

[Pothole]

If they landed at Valletta they must have skidded down Republic Street.

Did they perhaps land at Malta International Airport in Ta Qali, quite a distance (in local terms) from the capital city?

[JerseyS2000]

Eric Mc said:

Ivan Belenko.

Isn't he more commonly known as Viktor Belenko?

I know (from Wiki) that Ivanovich was his middle name...

[Simpo Two]

Hooli said:

Didn't Clint sink it into a lake in Finland?

Sadly they never made Firefox Down into a film




- though the book was so gripping I had to make sure, as I can see the images.

[HereBeMonsters]

Any more on this? Can't find a news link on BBC?

[Groovydale]

Pothole said:

If they landed at Valletta they must have skidded down Republic Street.

Did they perhaps land at Malta International Airport in Ta Qali, quite a distance (in local terms) from the capital city?

Landed at Malta International Airport LMML locally Luqa Airport and sometimes called Valletta Airport although Valletta is about 5km away

Edited by Groovydale on Monday 21st February 23:25

[davepoth]

Groovydale said:

Landed at Malta International Airport LMML locally Luqa Airport and sometimes called Valetta Airport althogh Valetta is about 5km away

It's the other end of the bloody country for goodness' sake!

[eharding]

HereBeMonsters said:

Any more on this? Can't find a news link on BBC?

"Clint Eastwood Steals Advanced Russian Stealth Fighter, Thinks In Russian"?

- correct, no sign of it on the BBC.

Oh, the Libyan thing...the BBC are being suitably inept - head over the the Telegraph - far better coverage.

[58warren]

As mentioned, Luqa airport is Malta's International Airport. Ta Qali is one of several old fighter bases from WW2 (Luqa was also used in WW2 as well as Hal Far just to the south). Ta Qali is some distance west of Luqa and is home to the air museum.

Edited by 58warren on Monday 21st February 23:32

[Eric Mc]

Photos of Lightnings, Phantoms etc on Med dettachments at Luqa used to be common in the aviation mags in the 70s.

[58warren]

A couple of helicopters have now arrived too. Seems like the Libyan airforce are moving to Malta...

[Simpo Two]

58warren said:

A couple of helicopters have now arrived too. Seems like the Libyan airforce are moving to Malta...

Exciting times. Perhaps Libya is actually invading Malta.

Are they still in the Empire?