Tragédie d'Ustica ou comment utiliser une théorie conspirationniste pour faire de l'audimat

Le 25 janvier dernier, le magazine "Spécial investigation" de Canal+ proposait le documentaire "Crash d'Ustica : une bavure française ?". Cette soi-disante enquête est censée nous démontrer qu'un DC-9 Italien assurant la liaison Bologne-Palerme abîmé en mer avec 81 passagers a été abattu par erreur par un chasseur français lors d'un combat aérien qui opposait des avions de l'OTAN à des Mig libyens le 27 juin 1980 ... cette théorie conspirationniste existe depuis longtemps et se base sur la découverte d'un Mig-23MS libyen dans les montagnes de Calabre le 18 juillet 1980.

Airstrikes against ISIS in Sirte and Bin Jawad were carried out by Libyan aircrafts, not French

On Sunday, January 10th 2016, unidentified aircrafts carried out airstrikes against Islamique State position in Sirte and Bin Jawad. The Libyan National Army (LNA) claimed that these fighter jets flew from France, but French Ministry of Defense denied this information. In fact, these bombings were provided by airplanes that took off from Misrata Air Force Academy. This airbase is in the hands of Libya Dawn (or Fajr Libya) Air Force. Aircrafts involved were the two Mig-23MLDs in service in Tripoli government side. Beginning December 2014, a group of Ukrainian technicians from Odessa ARZ restored these two Floggers. Libya Dawn also managed to get a few R-24s (AA-7 "Apex") and R-60s (AA-8 "Aphid") missiles back to operational condition for their Mig-23MLDs. The "Libya Dawn Air Force" has two Mirage F1EDs, five G-2 Galebs, one J-21 Jastreb, two Mig-23MLDs, six SF-260 and one Mi-35 operational.

The photo below taken on Sunday, show one of the two Mig-23MLDs carrying one OFAB-250 unguided bomb with these words written on it : "Operation on behalf of martyrdom al Zliten".

My publications in January

This month, I publish two articles in DSI Magazine and in Brasilian magazine ASAS in collaboration. The first is a paper about the Russian aerial engagement in Syria. The second is an article about the gunship helicopter Mi-28NE : Iraqi Havocs in combat and some photos. Ce mois-ci, je publie deux articles dans le magazine DSI et dans le magazine brésilien ASAS en collaboration. Le premier est un papier concernant l'engagement aérien russe en Syrie. Le second est un article sur l'hélicoptère d'attaque Mi-28NE: les "Havoc" irakiens au combat et quelques photos.

Video of an Iraqi Mi-35M badly damaged in August 2015

On August 22nd, 2015, Mi-35M serial “YI-361” has made an emergency landing in a safe area west of Samarra after hit a power line. The crew was wounded and the helicopter suffered damages after starting to burn. A technical specialized team examined the damages before transferring it to its own base to eventually be repaired and returned to service. The video and photos below show this Hind being transported on a truck. But seeing the footage, the helicopter was structure damaged, especially on the tail which part is missing. The 35th Attack Squadron of Iraqi Army Aviation lost two others Mi-35M before, one crashed at Al-Saqlawiyah near Fallujah on June 16th, 2014 and another was shot down on October 3rd, 2014 by a FN-6 MANPADS between Baiji and al-Senniyah. On November 4th, a pilot managed to make an emergency landing after been wounded by ground fire west of Ramadi. The helicopter and its crew were safe.

Retrospective 2015 and happy new year 2016

The year 2015 was marked by international events in the Middle East. This had an impact on the subjects developped on this blog. Forty two articles were written in 2015, more than twice of the previous year. Most of them concerned Iraq, Syria, Yemen. Iraq has been the most discussed topic because of the future publication of the book Iraqi Air Power reborn for Harpia Publishing available in next April. AéroHisto blog also welcomed a new member : Green lemon.

Top five of the most popular articles :

1 - Exclusive photos of Iraqi L-159s ready to be delivered in Iraq

On November 4th, AéroHisto showed the first exclusive pictures of Iraqi L-159 ready to be delivered to Iraq.

2 - First airstrikes for Iraqi CH-4B UAV

On December 9th, AéroHisto revealed the first exclusive video of an Iraqi CH-4B strike over Ramadi.

3 - IQAF and IAA in the battle of Tikrit

Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army Aviation engaged in the battle for the liberation of Tikrit.

4 - The discreet use of BGM-71 TOW ATGM in Iraq points to Iran

5 - New drone video in Iraq lifts a corner of the veil on Iranian drone program