[Updated] Allied Forces taking Immediate military action in Libya

[Sparkle]

Could've been lucky small arms fire, .50 cal through the engine will produce a flash just as was seen in the BBC vid (but not a shock wave as from an air to air missile when it explodes). Any round through the tubine housing will cause the engine to instantaneously self destruct, usually accompanying a large flash and fire.
From the BBC footage its near impossible to discern whether there's a shock wave from the flash because of the narrative.

[Jon T]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Looks like a Mig-23:

I was trying to figure this one out, had a look on wiki this morning at the inventory of the Libyan Air Force. They do fly Mig-25's, only thing is, that photo looks like the plane has front canards on it, the Mig-25 doesn't.

[Osem]

I'm certain Gadaffi will be presenting one set of distorted 'facts' for home and Arab/moslem consumption and another to the west. What we know about what he's doing is one thing but we mustn't forget that what the wider Arab/moslem world hears and chooses to believe about any intervention is quite another and you can bet any mistakes made by the west during any action will be very powerful propaganda. IMHO we run a grave risk of doing the right thing but making even more enemies in the process.

---------- Post added at 10:19 ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 ----------

Originally Posted by Jon T

I was trying to figure this one out, had a look on wiki this morning at the inventory of the Libyan Air Force. They do fly Mig-25's, only thing is, that photo looks like the plane has front canards on it, the Mig-25 doesn't.

I think that's actually part of the vertical structure (pylon?) immediately behind the aircraft. Check out the others nearby.

[Sparkle]

Osem beat me to it. Jon, at first I had the same thought, then looked again and realised its the background structure. Also, from the film footage no canards are visible.
The Mig-25 has the silhouette profile of an average sized military jet, but it is actually a massive aircraft, you'd know it it were a Mig-25.

[DocDutch]

you can also see it on the wings... thats a Mig 23... the foxbat hasnt got swept wing design.... I was thinking that it might've been a SU 24 but that has a pilot and navi in there.

Oh and another thing Wiki is already saying that the plane that got shot down was a Mig 23BN version

[Jon T]

That makes more sense, the Mig-25 has a double tail fin, that photo shows a jet with a single.

---------- Post added at 10:33 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

Originally Posted by DocDutch

Oh and another thing Wiki is already saying that the plane that got shot down was a Mig 23BN version
[/B]

I love how wiki can be updated faster than an international new agency can report on it.........although sometimes not accurate......but then again neither is the BBC

[Sparkle]

Doesn't look like such a toy close up, eh?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Doesn't look like such a toy close up, eh?

Its like compering a mini with a ferrari. It just does not cut the mustard against some of the planes Nato could and will throw at it.

---------- Post added at 10:58 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

The BBC have a pretty good video of the moment it was shot down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12794589

[Sparkle]

True, but that mini's fitted with anti-ferrari missiles - so better if the ferraris destroy the minis on the ground.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

True, but that mini's fitted with anti-ferrari missiles - so better if the ferraris destroy the minis on the ground.

[DocDutch]

so according to auntie beeb it was a rebel plane shot down by rebel aa

[Sparkle]

Lets just hope Auntie Beeb has forgtotten to take her pills again, and is just having another episode of dimentia. But if she's got it right, is it wrong to laugh?

The BBC is trying very hard (a bit too hard IMO) to be impartial ... The inevitable result of crude 'balanced' reporting is that nonsense and propaganda gets airtime it would be denied if anyone were to apply even a nanosecond of critical thinking to the situation.

In any case, even if the plane incident was friendly fire, what is very clear from the reports coming out of Benghazi this morning is that there is no cease fire.

[Sparkle]

The media are reporting the Gadaffi's government have said they've maintained the ceasefire, I gather this is why the media are reporting/assuming it to be a rebel aircraft ?
I personally don't believe anything Gadaffi's gov says.

---------- Post added at 11:34 ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 ----------

If it turns out to be a rebel aircraft, then possibly the only reason it was sent to circle above the city in full view of the media was to "show" the world that Gadaffi isn't sticking with the ceasefire.
I wonder - Lying Gadaffi government or PR stunt went wrong?

[DocDutch]

so Benghazi has now got some French Rafale's and Mirages keeping an eye on things....next couple of Tornado's and Typhoon's to take out the tanks and arty pieces.