One of the assets that would provide support to a NFZ has had its service extended. The Nimrod R.1 out of service date has been extended by 90 days. It was due to go out of service on 31st March. One R.1 is currently deployed in Cyprus due to the Libya crisis.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/439305-nimrod-r1-out-service-function.html#post6295898

Nimrod R.1, serial XV249, has been noted working out of Cyprus since last week. Radio and ATC enthusiasts have been monitoring the movements of the various aircraft deployed in and around Malta and the Med area.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=31334

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=28625

Check out 4:25 in that – it seems like the construction numer! 81905…

Hi Arthur, I noted that. I had a search but couldn’t find any tie-up from the web. I thought someone might have imaged it at LAVEX?

TJ

So,exactly how many Su-24s have been lost thus far? The reason I ask is about,I’d say 2 weeks or so ag,I heard about a “fighter bomber” crew (both pilot and WSO apparently,but def 2x crew) that elected to eject and let their plane crash after being ordered to bomber either protesters or oil fields.I was at work,so I didn’t catch the whole thing,but my first thought was it was a Fencer.Anyone have any details.For what its worth,I believe this happened AFTER the Mirages flew to Malta.

This is believed to be the remains of the Su-22. The aircraft that the crew ejected from near Ajdabiya in late February.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vExlYYIsCQ

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=90464

TJ

I have heard (there are rumours) that Libyan MiGs are tough opponents in a dogfight ??

No, but it is a good excuse to plug the book again? :rolleyes:

TJ

Folks,

The pod in the back ground shown in the photo from Wikipedia was taken by a Singapore gentlemen at the Singapore AF museum who helped me write that article. The photos are of weapons and pods mounted on the old Singapore AF Hunters. I don’t think it is a SNEB or Thomas-Brandt pod?

Jack E. Hammond

.

See following Alpha Jet image. It is the large stumpy pod at the rear.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/hws5mp/Matrapods001.jpg

Above image discussed here with pod identified as F1 pod?

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php?topic=24530.0

Jane’s has the following. Note the saddleback on the F1 Launcher.

The F1 launcher is 2.18 m long and has a body diameter of 564 mm, but because of its hard saddleback it is 637 mm deep beneath the suspension lugs. Its weight when fully loaded is 270 kg

http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/MATRA-rocket-launchers-France.html

The following although a flight sim does have a drawing of a Matra F1 pod.

http://www.checksix-fr.com/downloads/falcon4/Topolo/zip/Falcon4MirageF1.pdf

TJ

cheers for the info.

No problem. Thanks for the reply.

TJ

Image links of one of the Mirage F.1s coming into land in Malta.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2011-2/21/123005.jpg

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images/uploaded-images/2011-2/21/123032.jpg

TJ

Large images of the Mirages at the following links. Serials confirmed as 502 and 508.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image123028.html

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image123045.html

TJ