Today, Libyan National Army Air Force lost its sole MiG-23ML in service, serial number '26453'. According to LNA Spox, the aircraft was shot down and crashed in Ganfouda / Bosnib area in Benghazi. The pilot, Colonel Younes Aldinạli, ejected, but suffered of a broken ankle on the left foot and some bruises. MiG-23ML '26453' entered in service in February 2016 soon after the lost of three others 'Flogger' in two months. Two MiG-23BNs were added to the fleet in April and May, but serial '8985 crashed on 6 July.
Two new 'Flogger' are currently being overhauled : MiG-23UB serial
'8008' and one MiG-23BN. With only one 'Flogger' and a few MiG-21s
operational, it will difficult to maintain a real NFZ as LNA announced
beginning January ...
I hope he recovers soon, and is back in the fight. Good luck to the rest of the free fliers of your country, and I hope soon you gain liberty from the false Jihadists, and regain your freedom, and do not need foreign forces on your sovereign land. I am ex pat Northern Irish, living in France, and follow developments regularly, mainly because of the French involvement. It's a dirty internecine war, just like the "old days" of the "Troubles" in Ireland of brothers fighting brothers. I hope you find peace soon, from the outside agitators.
ReplyDeleteIs MiG-23ML serial 6474 not still operational?
ReplyDelete6474 is not operational
DeleteI have seen more than one Mig23 fly over Benghazi,
ReplyDeleteOne has the refuel pipe infront thing and one doesnt.
Today ?
Delete