Med Dogfight 3 days after Sept 11, 2 Mig-29s bite the dust..

[Whistler]

Has anyone else ever heard about this incident? I normally follow air combat ops and Middle East news pretty closely, but I had NEVER heard about this until now. They really kept a lid on it.

3 days after Sept 11 attacks, 2 Israeli F-15s escort a recon 707 over the Med near Lebanese coast. Two Syrian Mig-29s (most advanced planes they have) intercept and show hostile intentions, short dogfight, both Mig-29s shot down and pilots eject. 1 kill with the brand new Python 4 missile, 1 with Aim-9L.

That sounds like a pretty big deal, yet they both played it down and it never escalated.

Anyway heres an article from ACIG.org. They are a really good source for anything air combat related.

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_278.shtml

[USMarine3521]

well it adds on to the "undefeated" record the F-15 has. :D unless im mistaken

[Dalleer]

Now that could've escalated real badly, I wonder why didn't the Syrians make anything more out of it?

[Pojo]

Perhaps they dont want to loose anymore Migs?
rofl

[Whistler]

Ya thats what I was thinking too.

My best guess is that after getting whomped so harshly 4 times in a row the Syrians have finally learned that a war with the Israelis isn't the best idea unless ABSOLUTELY necessesary.

Likewise, the Israelis probably weren't too keen on having an all out war with Syria either.

Nerves must have been pretty tense though... 3 days after Sept 11 and these were real shots being fired.

[Whistler]

By the way: I said that Mig-29s are the most advanced planes the Syrians have...

That was a mistake, if I remember correctly they also bought Su-27s a while back (though they are having trouble keeping them in flying condition).

[mocking_loudly_died]

Syrians suck balls.

Why don't they stop being so ****.