Libyan Arab Air Force

The day 70 Libyan Fighters were Scrambled to Intercept US Navy F-4 and F-14 Aircraft that Crossed the Line of Death in the Gulf of Sidra

The day 70 Libyan Fighters were Scrambled to Intercept US Navy F-4 and F-14 Aircraft that Crossed the Line of Death in the Gulf of Sidra

On Aug. 18, 1981 no less than 35 pairs of Libyan interceptors, including a total of 70 MiG-23MS’s, MiG-25Ps, Mirage… Read More

4 months ago

Tomcat Vs Foxbat: when US Navy F-14s outmanoeuvred Gaddafi’s MiG-25s over the Gulf of Sidra

Although MiG-25 Foxbats are not particularly manoeuvrable aircraft, their aggressive manoeuvring during approach, ‘painting’ of US Navy aircraft with their… Read More

4 months ago

Libyan MiG-23 pilot tells the story of a memorable dogfight he had with US Navy F-14 Tomcats

“I pushed my throttle to full dry power while my aircraft went through the vertical and pointed at the Tomcats… Read More

7 months ago

VF-41 Black Aces F-14 Tomcat crew members who took part in Gulf of Sidra Incident recall the shooting down of Gaddafi Sukhoi Su-22M Fitter fighter bombers

‘The F-14 had incredible superiority in the turn rate and radius over the Su-22, especially because we flew the F-14A… Read More

2 years ago

Tomcat 4-Qaddafi 0: how two U.S. Navy F-14s shot down two Libyan MiG-23s over the Gulf of Sidra on Jan. 4, 1989

After returning to the carrier, both the F-14s received single FLOGGER 'kill' markings above the nose MODEX, although these were… Read More

2 years ago

The Libyan MiG-23 pilot that fled to a Greek WW II airfield and all the skirmishes between Gaddafi’s fighters and US and French reconnaissance aircraft until early 1981

MiG-23 pilot Hazem al-Bajigni subsequently found himself accused of intending to steal a C-130 transport and fly the plotters out… Read More

3 years ago

When Gaddafi ordered a MiG-23 to collide with a Libyan Arab Airlines Boeing 727 to demonstrate negative effects of international sanctions imposed on Libya

The MiG-23UB crew were shocked to sense a detonation on the underside or below their aircraft. A fire broke out.… Read More

3 years ago

Engaging MiG-23 Fighters and Buzzing Helicopters: Unknown Tomcat Stories Told by a Retired Vice Admiral who flew the Mighty F-14 Over the Gulf of Sidra

"I am pretty sure that was a frightful sight for those in the Mi-2 helicopter to see two Tomcats with… Read More

4 years ago

The Myth of Soviet Arms and Tactics in the Middle East, Part Three: Single-Engined F-14s and the Iran-Iraq War

The huge 1974 arms deal between Tripoli and Moscow resulted in several – outright ‘nightmarish’ – experiences with Soviet arms.… Read More

4 years ago

When the Foxbat Feared the Bones: VF-84 F-14s Vs Libyan MiG-25s

Shortly after two Libyan Su-22s were shot down by a section of F-14s led by CO of VF-41 Black Aces,… Read More

4 years ago

The Day Gaddafi’s Su-22s claimed to have Shot Down a US Navy F-14. And a Libyan Fitter Pilot became a “Tomcat Killer.”

Captain Belkacem Emsik al-Zintani fired a missile and 'destroyed' the F-14, supposedly killing its pilot, Commander Henry Kleeman. In 2016,… Read More

4 years ago

That Time Gaddafi Scrambled 70 Fighters to Intercept US Navy Aircraft that Crossed the Line of Death

No less than 35 pairs of Libyan interceptors, including a total of 70 MiG-23MS's, MiG-25Ps, Mirage F.1s, and even Su-22s,… Read More

4 years ago

Here’s why the Libyan MiG-23 that crashed on Mount Sila was not involved in the Ustica Massacre

“Captain Koal MiG-23 was unarmed and carried no extra fuel tanks. He has got a new breathing mask that day.… Read More

4 years ago

Libyan MiG-23 pilot remembers a memorable dogfight with U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats

“I pushed my throttle to full dry power while my aircraft went through the vertical and pointed at the Tomcats… Read More

4 years ago

F-14 Vs MiG-25: when U.S. Navy Tomcats outmanoeuvred Gaddafi’s Foxbats over the Gulf of Sidra

When the U.S. Navy's SAG violated what Libyans considered their territorial waters, two MiG-25 Foxbats forward-deployed at Benina AB were… Read More

4 years ago

Tomcat 4-Qaddafi 0: how two U.S. Navy F-14s shot down two Libyan MiG-23s over the Gulf of Sidra on Jan. 4, 1989

After returning to the carrier, both the F-14s received single FLOGGER 'kill' markings above the nose MODEX, although these were… Read More

5 years ago