MiG-23 Flogger

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

Libyan MiG-23 pilot tells the story of 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

1 month ago

The story of the Cuban Air Force pilot that defected to the US with his MiG-23, borrowed Cessna 310, flew back to Cuba and brought his family to America

During a training mission on Mar. 20, 1991, Orestes Lorenzo Perez flew the MiG-23 from Cuba to Key West. When… Read More

3 months ago

The story of the Iraqi MiG-23 Flogger that mistakenly shot down an Iranian F-14 Tomcat that was defecting to Iraq

The young lieutenant acquired lock-on and fired a single R-24T. The hefty weapon detonated below the F-14A, setting it… Read More

7 months ago

F-14 Tomcat RIO explains how he and his pilot were able to face alone 5 gutsy F-4 Phantoms and come out on top

“As we flashed past their formation at 1,000 knots closing speed, Jaws immediately cranked our jet into crushing 6.5-g… Read More

12 months ago

The story of Mathias Rust, the German teenager who humiliated the Soviet War Machine by landing his Cessna 172 in Moscow’s Red Square

After Mathias Rust’s landing in Red Square, Muscovites joked the place was now Sheremetyevo 3, as Sheremetyevo 1 and 2… Read More

1 year ago

The Cuban Air Force pilot that defected to the US with his MiG-23. He then borrowed Cessna 310, flew back to Cuba and brought his family to America.

On Mar. 20, 1991 MiG-23 pilot Orestes Lorenzo Perez circled the Naval Air Station Key West three times, waggling the… Read More

1 year ago

USAF F-15C pilot who became TOPGUN instructor explains how he helped the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School to develop tactics to counter the MiG-23 Flogger

By the early to mid-1980s, TOPGUN had developed long-standing relationship with the USAF Fighter Weapons School. The history of… Read More

1 year ago

Up to eight Cold War-Era MiG-23 Flogger fighter jets to be restored for flight in the US

Two Cold War-Era MiG-23 fighter jets have already been brought to hangar near the East Texas Regional Airport to… Read More

2 years ago

Soviet Pilot who test flew captured F-5 against MiG-21, MiG-23 explains why the Tiger beat the Fishbed, Flogger in every engagement

‘Every flight ended with the same result: MiG-21 lost, although he had much higher thrust-to-weight ratio,’ Vladimir Kondaurov, Soviet pilot… 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 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

2 years ago

When Gaddafi ordered 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

Of Floggers and Foxbats: the story of Syrian MiG-23s and MiG-25s, the fighter jets that were never able to match Israeli F-15s

The Soviet agreement to export MiG-23MFs and MiG-25PDs to Syria was major break-through: it was the time ever that… Read More

3 years ago

Hot Skies Over Afghanistan: That Time Pakistani F-16 damaged a Soviet MiG-23 Attacking Targets over the Border between Afghanistan and Pakistan

The Pakistani F-16 pilot released two AIM-9L, rolled 135 degrees and left the fight 'head over heels' from within 1500… Read More

3 years ago

Engaging MiG-23 Fighters and Buzzing Helicopters: Unknown Tomcat Stories Told by 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 Five: why Soviet arms perform so poorly in Arab service

The available technology and know-how just couldn’t keep up: by the time the MiG-23 ‘had to enter series production’, it… 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 total of 70 MiG-23MS's, MiG-25Ps, Mirage F.1s, and even Su-22s,… Read More

4 years ago