Tom Cooper

Ah... this one already started...? Oh my...gotta rush and read myself through all the threads first...

'Just' a MiG-23MF. Overhauled and 'upgraded' (primarily through addition of that indigenous Syrian chaff&flare dispenser at the rear fuselage) at 'The Works' at Nayrab AB/Aleppo IAP: you can even make out the insignia of that facility in front of the serial number on the left side of the nose (in white and black). Yes, colours are really badly worn out. Originally, they were orange-sand and blue-green (some of the latter was 're-freshed' around the cockpit and at the joint of the front fuselage and radome). Re. bombs: well... I have my doubts these are really 'home-made'. Look too much like FAB-250-230s to me. More likely 'rusty because found in some forgotten depot' (unsurprisingly, though thanks heaven, at least half of these are failing to detonate). EDIT: BTW, other photographs taken by the same Russkie journo at Hama AB two days ago show one of 33 MiG-23MLDs Syria purchased from Belarus, back in 2008 (which prompted various Russian media to babble about deliveries of MiG-31s to Syria).

Yup, each panel has a number, and there is a row of frame-numbers going down the entire airframe, from radome all the way back to engine exhausts (at least on Su-24s). Re. 'new uniforms': these were already worn by 'Russian volunteers distributing aid in eastern Ukraine', earlier this, perhaps already the last year... (or is that going to be 'deleted because of politics' too...?)

Indeed. All the photos of 'armed AMI's F-104G/S' in ops' I've seen so far are showing them carrying one Sparrow (or Aspide) under the right, and one AIM-9J/P/N-like under the left wing.

Ah, I see. Thanks, Andre: I know them as 'interceptors only'. (But then, I'm really a 'noob' in regards of NATO air forces).

Why bombs? Weren't they interceptors - usually armed with 1x AIM-7 + 1x AIM-9 - at least 'primarily'?

A note for everybody intending to meet me in Telford tomorrow: because of a strike at Lufthansa, most of Harpia-related people were forced to cancel their trips to the UK. Me too. Dr David Nicolle and Thomas Newdick are going to be there, of course; I think that Ian Shaw is going to be around too. Sorry people, not my fault: was very much looking forward for this event, it's going to be the first time in seven years for me to miss it...

Yup, KAB-1500KR with 24N1 gimballed semi-active laser homing seeker. So, a new variant of KAB-1500... And: 1 red star on any of Sukhois at BAAIAP = 10 combat sorties.

Nothing personal, Scooby, and without attempt to go into politics, but: whoever told you they were flown through Turkish airspace, has no clue what is he/she talking about. All Russian fighter-bombers were flown in via Caspian Sea, Iran, and Iraq. Shorter-ranged Su-25s - which also lack IFR-capability - even made a refuelling stop in Iran, while IFR-capable types transferred to Syria accompanied by Il-78 tankers. EDIT: Ah yes, and, the last two photos posted above are showing FAB-500M-62s - namely 'dumb bombs'.

Isn't it 5 that's making an 'ace'...?

I'm only sorry I was not the 1st to 'like' your 'Whale' (nick-name for Su-7 in the IAF).

Had a lot to do with this topic, recently, because I was drawing artworks for some publications for the next year. The answer seems to be positive. I.e. EAF Vampire FB.Mk.52s should've got the same stencils like RAF examples. What is definitely sure is that red 'keep off' markings on top of engine intakes inner wing flaps were there.

It does, although not as 'in depth' as subsequent volumes. That was the first volume, and we were trying to concentrate on the 'MiG-story' for the start. Plus, plenty of additional info came out - gradually - in reaction to that volume, so this was added in Addenda/Errata of subsequent volumes. Nevertheless, the story of Syrian Meteors downing a RAF Canberra is said in full there, 'correction' of Israeli claims for four Vampires supposedly shot down on 30 October is said by one of participants etc. @Craig, looking forward to meet you too!

Hope so, Craig. And... ah yes, good you remind me: yes, it's going to be available at Telford (indeed, that shipment is already underway to the UK). David Nicolle and me will be there too (David on Saturday afternoon only, me both days) - to launch our book and sign your copies at the stand of The Aviation Bookshop. So, looking forward to meet and chat as many of you as possible!

I'll be brazen once again and bother everybody with announcement for two new books from Harpia, including one from your very own. - http://www.harpia-publishing.com/galleries/AMV6/index.html'>Arab MiGs, Volume 6 (clicky for animated pre-view => http://www.harpia-publishing.com/galleries/AMV6/index.html ) This is a preliminary end of this series, which over the last seven years of work and publishing turned into a sort of 'encyclopaedia of Arab air forces at war with Israel, 1955-1973'. This volume is covering the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War (also 'Yom Kippour' or 'October' or 'Teshreen' War), from 9 October 1973, until the Israeli-Syrian cease-fire in May 1974. It bristles with related stories and photos, of course, and is richly illustrated with artworks/colour profiles (some 43 of these) too. So, definitely a 'must have' for any modeller curious to build authentic Arab jets from 1973 (BTW, as usually, we're not only covering MiGs and Sukhois, but other types in service, so that Iraqi Hunters, Libyan Mirages, all sorts of helicopters and transports, and even Moroccan F-5As are covered too). - http://www.harpia-publishing.com/galleries/RuWp/index.html'>Russia's Warplanes (clicky for animated pre-view => http://www.harpia-publishing.com/galleries/RuWp/index.html ) Right on time (considering what are Russians doing in Syria), here comes a volume offering a unique 'catalogue' of all Russian-made aircraft - plus helicopters, UAVs, etc. - currently in production and in world-wide service. This one is designed to become indispensable source of reference, so it's structured as a sort of 'handbook', listing all variants, their equipment, armament etc., and its author, Piotr Butowski, is really the authority on this topic. Of course, this volume is richly illustrated too - and then with plenty of truly exclusive photographs (from Piotr, but also from a number of relatively unknown, but very active Russian military aviation photographers).

Of course. They actually installed a MER with six Mk.82s on one of underwing pylons (which Herkies have anyway). It didn't work in that case (yup, the ship hit was Atlantic Wye), because one (or two?) of bombs that hit the ship bounced and fell harmlessly into the sea. But, this was probably the best idea of all their air force had during that war (namely: hitting British supply chain, which was overextended beyond imaginable). Namely, for all the courage of their Skyhawk and Dagger pilots, and all the spectacular low-alt attacks on RN's warships they delivered in San Carlos and around it, not to talk about all of their losses, all the hits they've scored were actually useless. But, interrupting the British supply chain could've had devastating consequences for the entire British campaign (see sinking of Atlantic Conveyor, which stretched the war for weeks - because of the loss of several Chinooks and various other transportation equipment).

...indeed, the last photo helps gauge the approx. position of (Egyptian installed) launch rails for Sakr rockets...

All of Macchi-built Vampires from Egyptian order wore Syrian markings on delivery. Reason was (yet another) British arms embargo. Think to recall even photos taken during refuelling stops in Turkey, during delivery, were still showing them wearing Syrian markings.

Yup. Finally a photo where it's good to be seen. Thanks a lot.

'Military' or not, Il-76 is mainly used to haul cargo. ******** That said, Iraqi and Libyan Il-76s were used to drop bombs too, by night of course. These were stacked on pallets which were then rolled out of the rear cargo door (Iraqi during the war with Iran, and Libyan during the war in Chad). ...and Libyans used their Il-76TDs (without any modifications) even as a sort of AEW aircraft, at least during Attain Document II, in February 1986: they kept one 'on station' over the Med north of Tripoli 24/7... There is a long 'tradition' of using Soviet-made transports (foremost An-24s and An-26s, but An-12s and An-32s too) as make-shift bombers - in different air forces, but especially in Sudan. An-26s and An-32s have got that 'fish-eye' glass bulge on the left side of the forward fuselage, where - originally - there was an aiming device for dropping paras. It turned out this aiming device was just as good for aiming bombs too. Going off topic: Zims have used CASA C.212s as bombers during the war in DR Congo too, in 1998-1999 period. Pilots were using hand-held GPS to find targets, rest of the crew was rolling Alpha CBUs out of the rear cargo door...

Actually: two RAF Canberras were damaged by Egyptian MiG-15s during their nocturnal sorties over Egypt in the Suez War 1956 (curiously, EAF commanders didn't believe claims of their pilots: both were reprimanded for 'lying'). The recce Canberra that was shot down was hit by Syrian Meteors - and then a few days _after_ the end of hostilities in Egypt. It came down over Lebanon, with the loss of one crewmember.

Thanks Panoz! John, the bulge in question is visible on the upper photo, below the joint of lower side of intake and fuselage, in front of rocket launch rails.

Of course it is.

Thanks Panoz. Think I've meanwhile 'largely solved various mysteries of FB.Mk.52'. Re. stencils: if RNZAF Vampires you mean were still in high speed silver finish - then I guess the answer is positive. Got any photos of them?

Can confirm this. As of October-November 1956, all were in high speed silver finish. Egyptian Meteors too, BTW (T.Mk.4s, T.Mk.8s and T.Mk.7s). NF.13s were a different story, of course - although they also retained colours originally applied before delivery.