AGB - LAVEX 2009

Libya LAVEX 2009

In 2009 I took the opportunity to fly to Libya to attend the exhibition and air show at Mitiga (the former Wheelus air base), just outside Tripoli.

This was a time when, at a political level, on the back of undertakings given to end certain weapons programmes, there were attempts to encourage Libya back into the fold of nations where a more normalised trading relationship might exist. LAVEX was one visible reflection of that. Western defence companies had an opportunity to show how they could assist Libya in modernising.

Some of the serious monthly aviation journals covered the event and looked at the progress made locally in getting planes back into the air, notably the Dassault Mirage F.1.

For those, such as myself, with a more general interest in aviation this was an opportunity to see some familiar but many unusual types in Libyan service and, by taking a day trip to Benghazi, to see a little more of a country which, for a number of years, had been difficult to access.

Before I talk of the show, I should mention the arrival at Tripoli for that was quite special. I was seated on the right and shortly after we touched down we were passing IL-76’s, some of which would have been active but some probably not, on various taxiways. As our plane turned left to taxi back to the terminal my window looked out onto a compound with another nine IL-76 within it and then, shortly after, to a huge area within which 40 or more aircraft of various types were just parked up, withdrawn from use for many, many years. From my photographs, types to be seen included Govt Fan Jet Falcon and Jetstar, Libyan Arab Airlines 727’s, Fokker 27’s and 28’s, various company’s DC-9’s a Twin Otter and assorted other, smaller, types. Very impressive. If only a tour could have been possible as I expect few, if any, of those aircraft survive today.

Access to LAVEX was quite prompt and, once on the airfield, there was a lot to be seen. Some of the types, such as the Italian Air Force Typhoon and French Air Force Rafale, could be seen in European skies but were, nonetheless welcome. The real treats were the range of aircraft built in both the west and the east that were in Libyan markings.

Mostly these were Libyan Arab Air Force but also the Libyan Government (Falcon 900, Global Express and Challenger 350) and the Libyan Police (Agusta 109’s). Western types to be seen in LAAF service, as well as the Mirage F.1, were the Siai SF.260, several of which took part, and Boeing CH-47 Chinook.

Apart from those types, so rarely, if ever, seen in LAAF markings outside of Libya, were a number of aircraft of the Soviet era. The Aero L-39 Albatross, Antonov AN-26’s and 32’s, together with an AN-74 and an AN-124. An Ilyushin IL-62, more IL-76, MiG-23’s and a MiG-25 ! A Sukhoi SU-22. The Mil range involved the Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-24.

For those with long memories it will be recollected that eight Lockheed C-130 Hercules were ordered and built but never delivered due to the embargo. (Indeed, they can still be seen, not easily, sitting among the trees in two groups at Marietta and at some point will be broken up). So it was good to see some in Libyan marks at Mitiga, albeit they were in the white and green scheme (the national colours) or grey, rather than the sand camouflage of those not delivered. The AN-124, IL-62, the AN-32’s and some of the AN-26’s were also in the green and white colours, with civilian (5A- marks) to enable greater ease of passage in airspace beyond Libya.

As to the airshow itself, the displays of the Italian and French air forces were as good as you would expect and highlighted the huge difference between modern western and cold war era jets. Nevertheless, the displays of the locally based planes, such as the SF.260 and Mil-14 made this show very different to what is usually seen in the west. Add to that displays from an LAAF Mirage F.1 and SU-22 and it gets even better. Very sadly, on October 7th, a display by a MiG-23UB ended in tragedy when the aircraft was unable to pull out from a turn and crashed just beyond the boundary of the airfield, with both crew members killed (there were mixed reports of the injuries to or deaths of people in the village in which it crashed).

The show re-opened the next day and there were no more incidents.

For those who entered LAVEX quite early, it had been possible to move around somewhat beyond the static area; there were no barriers and there was little in the way of aircraft taxiing around the vast ramps and when one did, common sense just meant, as on any airfield, you keep an eye out and well away ! The walk enabled the repair facility to be visited in part and here there was work being done to keep two AN-72 in service and various Antonov AN-26 and 32. Work was also being done on an Antonov for the Chad Air Force. Looking down the runway line, at the very end of the airfield, sat a great many Mil helicopters, mostly 14’s but some 8’s also. Quite a few SU-22’s and MiG-23’s were based also, several of which took part in the flying and were on the ramps quite close to the static display.

Libya had not been on my list of places to visit but when the opportunity arose it proved to be one well worth taking. I have found other such places before, as may you. But if not, keep an eye out; they can be among the most memorable and an opportunity may not come again!

Author/Photographer: Peter Nelson