well the pucarra and skyhawk looked in tip top condition so it may be toutchy !!

although it was interesting to observe a sea harrier pilots observations on the pilots

he said ” whilst the millitary were in the main a young conscripted force , the jet pilots were a diffrent kettle of fish entireley , from a country that breeds world leading race drivers you would expect the pilots to be good …they were !! they were outstandingly good !! “

Always thought that comment was a little odd. They certainly seemed to be brave but outstandingly good? I thought that many of the UXBs were attributed to their pilots flying too low to give the bomb fuses time to arm.

The air combat figures don’t paint a glowing picture either – no British A2A losses. On the occasions when A2A engagements took place it seems that the Argentine pilots could not or would not make best use of their aircraft – either staying up high where they had the performance advantage or losing comprehensively in the dog fight at lower speeds & altitudes. I ‘m not sure the AIM 9L was the difference (as mentioned elsewhere – no head-on kills occurred or did they?).

Fair dos for having a go… brave certainly, good flyers even but skillful in combat or even sane?

Back to the photies though – cool indigenous species and nice old Brits!