The original image background could be RAF Fairford

PS853 imaged at Fairford during 2007

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Supermarine-389-Spitfire/1290019/L/

TJ

Thunder City operate the Lightning without any major problems…..so why cant we?

It is a question that pops up quite a lot. This thread has the answers.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=80628&highlight=thunder+city

TJ

Well i have to be honest this time i have found a Russian source which says in 1986 Libya did have MiG-23MLDs

Почему в апреле 1986 г. ПВО Ливии не удалось отразить удар авиации ВВС и ВМС США The article is titled why the Libyan defences were unable to repel the American attacks of 1986

Несмотря на наличие в составе ВВС Ливии большого количества современных в ту пору истребителей типа МиГ-25п(пд), МиГ-23млд (мс, мф), МиГ-21бис и “Мираж”, они в отражении ударов авиации США никакого участия не приняли

Despite the fact that the Libyan air force consisted of MiG-25P(PD), MiG-23MLDs (MF and MS)……the defense against the US attack did not take place

source http://old.vko.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2004.17.09

my apoligies the libyans according to this article did have MiG-23MLDs in 1986, so perhaps the version the F-14 shot down were MiG-23MS.

The article states most of the base of aircraft were in the Lybian hinterland so is probable they F-14 shot down MiG-23MS which were near the cost or as some sources say they indeed were MiG-23MLDS

Which takes all the way back to your original statement of Libya and ML variants.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40325&highlight=libya&page=27

As I have already stated, the ML variants were known about in the mid-1980’s as they were used to intercept the likes of RC-135s and Nimrods off the coast of Libya.

Thank you for the apology.

TJ

I think the only surprised by the MiG-23ML in Libyan service was you see this russian webpage

first they stablish Libya bought MiG-23MS in 1974
В 1974г. МиГ-23МС появились в Ливии
http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/units.pl?field=3&unit=2040&page_num=4&page_max=8
later in the order of battle they have the MiG-23P in the arsenal of the Libyan air force
Армии мира. Ливия
Самолетный и вертолетный парк: 6 Ту-22, 130 МиГ-23 (БН, У и П), 48 Мираж-5 (D, DE, DD и DR), 29 Мираж-Р.

source http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/texts.pl?category=state&mode=show&unit=6056

If you know very well the Libyan MiG-23s are basicly MiG-23ML since they lack the wing glove notch , the MiG-23ML is basicly a MiG-23P, the article stablishes that Libya had a light MiG-23 variant.

The MiG-23MLD export variant lacks also the glove wing notch, like those of Syria and Bulgaria.

However all the MiG-23MLA MiG-23P and MiG-23MLD are bascly derivatives of the MiG-23ML

Still wriggling, Flogger? Remember to keep up the constant searching of your Russian websites to prove that the MLs, as seen at LAVEX, were delivered post 1989.

The compiler of the website is stating what he believes is currently in the arsenal at the time of writing. He is using the ‘P’ to cover the ML/MLD variant as he does with Syria.

http://topgun.rin.ru/cgi-bin/texts.pl?category=state&mode=show&unit=296&lng=eng

TJ

yeah yeah more of the same, why do not you visit forums like airwar.ru. waronline.ru, airforce.ru, foxbat.ru or strizhi.ru? you are just another guy who claims this and that and is uncapable to read russian and see the other side and if you do not believe the Russians have good and reliable sites look at this ones
a lot of pictures of aircraft shot down even some of the pilots who were shot down
http://www.rusihubara.ru/kavkaz.html
http://www.skywar.ru/18ZRDV.html
http://www.skywar.ru/Lebanon.html
http://www.waronline.org/IDF/Articles/lebanon-losses.htm
http://www.otvaga2004.narod.ru/publ_w2/lebanon11.jpg

Look at this see your famous sources never mention these details

By the way presenting me the LAVEX webpage does not solve a bit when they got them, reliable sources can only solve them.

Duh! At least one of the photographers asked one of the pilot’s the exact type of MiG-23 that he was photographing. The pilot referred to it as the MLD. Remember that these images were unique and quite a surprise as many thought that that Libya didn’t operate the ML variant. The only thing that you have come up with it that they were all delivered post January 1989!

As I have told you before the MLs in Libya were known about in the mid-1980s. Does the EP-3E exist? Yes. Have you seen any Russian intercept images of it from the Barents Sea? Do the images of the Russian intercepting aircraft exist in U.S. Navy archives? Of course. Why is it so hard for you to understand that not every image is taken for the the purpose of aviation enthusiasts.

I’ve published the dates for the next LAVEX as it will again probably draw enthusiasts and photographers. Enthusiasts ask questions, so what is to stop them from asking how long the ML has been in service?

TJ

Two Tu-160’s are currently in Venezuela to participate in some sort of exercise. The interesting part of this is that there was apparently no mention of a BLACKJACK flight by the US DoD, who usually releases a statement when Russian strategic bombers are intercepted and/or shadowed. Does this mean that they didn’t want to bring attention to the fact that they’re down exercising with the dummy in Caracas, or that the DoD didn’t know that BLACKJACKs were flying down the Atlantic?

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080910172648.o0xedzl3&show_article=1

They wouldn’t pass close enough to U.S. territory to warrant an intercept. I would imagine that Norway would intercept initially. It all depends on the route flown from there, but I can imagine the Russians going out well north of the UK and through the central Atlantic Ocean region to Venezuela. With the current tensions the Russians would simply decide not to pre-announce the flights to the U.S. administration.

TJ