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By: 11th September 2009 at 21:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I think you are wrong here. Last time I checked, Yemeni F-5s, Su-22s and MiG-29s appeared in very good--> excellent condition and they seemed quite numerous to me.. Their MiG-21s also underwent a major refurb at OARB plant in Ukraine. At the same time, a dozen of freshly overhauled ex-UAF and L-39s was supplied, as well. At the moment, you will hardly find a YAF plane that is not freshly painted.
I think YAF has a quite potent force with high airworthiness rate.. They don't operate any MiG-23s, though.
By: 11th September 2009 at 21:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-hi,yes Vatche the Yemeni aircraft have good maintenance,the F-5s are used for training purpose only,some video footages from training courses in Ma'arab desert
SPECIAL SOURCE:some Iraqi military engineers are working to maintenance MiG-29s fleet (9-18 varaint) in Al-Dailamy AB inside Sana'a Intl airport,and some Iraqi pilots they are fly and fight on MiG-29
By: 11th September 2009 at 22:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I think these two pics say much about current state of the YAF
By: 12th September 2009 at 00:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Great pictures Flex, anymore pictures especially of the Fulcrums.Thanks
By: 12th September 2009 at 02:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-That rather "unortodox" cammo theme seems to work suprisingly well against the background! I, at least found it pretty hard to tell individual aircaft trom the others, or from the backgroud at first glance. :eek:
In a low and fast WWR dogfight it just maight give their Fulcrum jockeys one or two crusial seconds advantage.
Great pix Flex. As allways. Keep em komming, mate!
By: 12th September 2009 at 02:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-From the above pictures, I recognize Sanaa airport.
I have been in Yemen many times during the 90's.
Yemen used to be divided (North and South).
Before unification, I have counted at Sanaa international airport, about 20 Su-22 (Fitter K models) and a half dozen F-5s. Taiz and Hodeidah airports had each a dozen MiG-21s. I have also seen at Hodeidah about 10 Il-28 light bombers which were unservicable.
All the above airports are in the North.
When I visited Sanaa late in 1997 for the last time, there were 4 MiG-29s in addition to the Su-22s and F-5 (not all of the Sukhois and F-5s seemed to be servicable). There was also a Ka-25 antisub helicopter there.
Sanaa airport always had a couple of dozen helicopters (Mi-24 and Mi-8).
I have never been at any of the Southern airports. I have never seen MiG-23s in that country.
Training ( during the nineties) was extensive. The Su-22s were the most active, the F-5s sortie rate was low. The civilian traffic was often interrupted (Sanaa airport is anyways not that busy) and flights were delayed because there was a squadron of Fitters taking off!!! They lined up in pairs at the end of the runway and took off in pairs. Great sight and noise!!!!!
As you can see on some of the above photos, there are many earth shelters for the parked aircraft but not enough for all of them.
By: 12th September 2009 at 03:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-By: 12th September 2009 at 04:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-This photo was taken atSanaa airport.
The Il-76 aircraft have the colors of the local airline (Yemenia), but are used by the airforce.
By: 14th September 2009 at 17:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.
By: 14th September 2009 at 17:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.
- some F-5
- frequent activities by Fitter of different variants : Fitter G, J and K
- Il-76 wearing the colours pf Yemenia
- C-130 idem
a lot of wreks of Hips of all the variants
- Two Mi-14 Haze being overhauled
- Mi-8 & Mi-17 operationas
By: 14th September 2009 at 17:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Taiz and Hodeidah airports had each a dozen MiG-21s.Do you know what is the current status of the Yemeni MiG-21s ?
There are public photos of their Ukrainian rebuilt of Yemeni MiG-21bis, but any operational shots ???
Taiz(older shot, with MiG-17 wrecks and helos only):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=hu&geocode=&q=taiz+airport&sll=13.626302,44.127274&sspn=0.020687,0.038581&ie=UTF8&ll=13.670424,44.135106&spn=0.002585,0.004823&t=h&z=18
By: 14th September 2009 at 18:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-During the stopovers I made in Sanaa between 1998 - 2000, I managed to see :Must have been the Moldovan examples. Most of them were never really operated since they were brought in in a very poor condition. Pics are very sparse, anyone got something?
4 MiG-29 in a rare blue/green camouflagre. They could be seen only during the landing-take off of my Airbus; They were unserviceable by that time, and never moved from their location.
By: 14th September 2009 at 18:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Here's the only one I've got, you might have it already.
The yellow insignia on the nose, a hawk with a sword, was typical for Moldovan Fulcrums
By: 14th September 2009 at 19:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I thought Moldavia sold all its Fulcrums to the US?
Well, obviously not..
By: 14th September 2009 at 20:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I thought Moldavia sold all its Fulcrums to the US?By far not all. Some went to Yemen, few to Eritrea (I think), a dozen went to the US, the remaining six are still stored at Marculesti AFB.
Well, obviously not..
By: 15th September 2009 at 07:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-There were no Moldovan Fulcrums sent to Eritrea.
Moldova had only 6 Fulcrum C before Eritrea received its planes, and those 6 are still in Moldova as we speak; IIRC Eritrea operates Fulcrum A.
Confirmed deliveries are 1 Fulcrum C to Romania in 1992, 21 Fulcrums (14 C, 6 A and one UB) to the US in 1997.
What is still unknown is the exact number delivered to Yemen in 1994 - usually said to be 4-6, and if any Moldovan MiG-29 was lost during the war with Transnistria in 1992, there is a claim by a SAM battery.
By: 15th September 2009 at 07:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
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Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher. It seems to have a refueling probe. Anywone knows what Yemen uses as tanker aircraft?
By: 15th September 2009 at 08:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher.
The enlarged spine for the SMT is optional like most upgrades for the MiG-29. Yemen AF didn't see it as necessary.
By: 15th September 2009 at 09:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Yemen is supposed to have been the first buyer of MiG-29SMT, 6 or 8 were delivered in 2004-2005. This looks a picture of this version, although I would have thought the spine would be higher. It seems to have a refueling probe. Anywone knows what Yemen uses as tanker aircraft?Must be more than 6-8. Just on the photo posted here at least a dozen of those can be seen.
Most websites claim a $1.3 billion order from the Yemen Defense Ministry for delivery of 32 MiG-29SMT fighters was placed. Other websites like www.air-attack.com claim 44 SMT/UBTs being in service with YAF in total.
By: 15th September 2009 at 13:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Must be more than 6-8. Just on the photo posted here at least a dozen of those can be seen.Most websites claim a $1.3 billion order from the Yemen Defense Ministry for delivery of 32 MiG-29SMT fighters was placed. Other websites like www.air-attack.com claim 44 SMT/UBTs being in service with YAF in total.
The pictures show two different types, mostly older ones. I can only identify 1 SMT. But many of the others are in such positions that the it will be difficult to spot which version they are.
It seems Yemen wanted to buy more SMTs and upgrade some of the older ones. But it seems that many plans did not (yet?) go through.
Posts: 158
By: Vatche - 11th September 2009 at 20:40
I've been hearing about the current conflict in Yemen and the use of the air force against the the rebel forces. Checked Wikipedia and it appears that the article about the air force there is a total disaster stating 40+ of each type of MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29, F-5, Su-22. But judging from the TV footages and equipment the army is using, I doubt that the Yemeni army affords to maintain this number of jets.
Any ideas what's in service or what's not? Are the F-5s are still airworthy? In one of the TV footages I thought I saw a MiG-21 flying over a target.