Jump to content

Reference thread


Recommended Posts

I'm sure most here already know this site, but it's still worth mentioning ACIG, the Air Combat Information Group.

This is if not the most, one of the most complete resources on the many "smaller" conflicts that have blooded this planet after WW2 and focuses heavily on the kind of air forces we'll be modelling in this GB

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/cat_index_9.shtml

The well known Tom Cooper is the author of many articles on ACIG, this is a name that has become a guarantee when African or Middle Eastern military history is concerned.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another site that has some interesting galleries of aircrafts serving in lesser built air forces:

http://www.xairforces.net/index.asp

Clicking on each continent there's a list of air forces, most pages have a gallery with some very interesting pictures. Alternatively, clicking the gallery link will bring to a huge number of pictures of mostly small air forces

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

...if somebody is curious, here a shot of an Ethiopian Su-27 with a kill marking for an Eritrean MiG-29:

http://s18.postimg.cc/9yvju8wnt/904141_341798142631573_941282948_o.jpg

Serial is either 1951 or 1954.

(Should there be any uncertainities, the kill marking in question is applied in form of a red star next to the serial. It might appear unusual to see a kill marking applied on the right side of front fuselage, but that's where Ethiopians are applying them traditionally - ever since six blue stars were applied on the F-5E '430' for kills scored during the Ogaden War against Somalia, in 1977-1978, details about which - including related photos and colour profiles - are about to be released in the book Wings over Ogaden, which is now finally going into press.)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

...more 'News from the Frontlines of Lesser-Built Air Forces'...

Namley, there are now two 'de-facto official' air forces in Libya.

One is the well-known 'Free Libyan Air Force', originally established by personnel that defected from the 'old' LAAF to join revolutionaries of 2011. Its national markings (roundel in red, black and green, with crescent and star in white) are well-known. What's new is that this force is now serving for the internationally recognized Libyan government and parliament, the military of which is led by Col Qalifa Haftar (who is actually a US citizen, or at least was US citizen for most of the last 20 years). The service experienced a spate of fatal accidents the last year, which nearly destroyed its entire MiG-21-fleet (and killed most of their pilots). Because of this, it has got a number of Egyptian Air Force MiG-21MFs. These are presently operated from ex-RAF el-Adem, cum Gamal Abdel Nasser AB, south of Tobruq.

Means, some of people who used to participate in the recent 'MiG-21 GB', could now pick one of MiG-21MFs, paint it in EAF colours, and then add FLAF insignia to it...

The other Libyan air force is the force in the process of establishment by the so-called 'Dawn Force', i.e. a conglomerate of Islamists (who have no widespread support in the population, but plenty of money to bribe everybody else), and various of post-revolutionary militias, primarily from Misurata and Benghazi areas. They have brought under their control the sprawling air bases and overhaul facilities in Tripoli, Benghazi, Misurata (ex Air Force Academy base), al-Jufra/Hun etc., together with dozens, if not hundreds of aircraft and helicopters. According to their own reports, they are presently working on training personnel on L-39s, perhaps few MiG-23s and - supposedly - even one MiG-25. At least some of flight operations by - apparently - MiG-23s have been confirmed by neutral observers.

Means: if somebody is curious, there is at least one new air force to build. Sadly, I do not know about any online sources of reference.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

...more 'News from the Frontlines of Lesser-Built Air Forces'...

Namley, there are now two 'de-facto official' air forces in Libya.

Don't forget folks - only one build per nation in this GB. Civil wars and/or regime changes don't circumvent this rule. Bah humbug!

Cliff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...