Danish F-16s land in Malta
File picture: An F-16 takes off from Sigonella.
Two Danish Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft were diverted to Malta today because of bad weather over Sigonella.
The aircraft were returning from an operation over Libya. They landed at Malta International Airport at about 6.45 a.m. They left just before 10.30 a.m.
This was the first time that Danish aircraft involved in the Libya operation needed to land in Malta.
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Mr Alex Ellul
Jun 4th 2011, 13:40
Mr. Peter Korsten. So you think that the vikings never invaded Malta? I believe you are wrong. Danes have been coming to Malta for many years, invading it in summer. They even have a colony here; Danish Village. And by the way, they are very much welcome; very nice people indeed.
Now for some history: The vikings were able sea farers having sailed the oceans reaching Greenland and Canada before Columbus was even born. They even plied the shores of the Meduterrenean sea and most probably they even reached our shores.
Mr Peter Korsten
Jun 3rd 2011, 23:00
The Danish are one of the few people in Europe not to have invaded, or tried to invade, Malta. It's probably not going to happen this time either.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jun 3rd 2011, 15:21
Too bad these military planes cannot carry passengers. They could have saved the Government and Air Malta a lot of money if they could offer a free ride to Maltese Citizens living overseas to come and vote in the divorce referendum? Just want to point out what a waste of money and how the government again, used Air Malta as a political tool. Shame on you Maltese Government signed, The Tax Payer. We hope that by the next election or referendum GonziPN will have figured out a better inexpensive way on how to avoid such a wasting expense exercise..
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 16:26
The word "government" is very comfortable to use, Mr. Callejja. Read further on and you will see what I mean.
I think US military bases in europe must remain in order to balance out any inexperienced nations who have not used nuclear weaponry against humans as yet, unlike the USA which has learnt from that experience just like Germany has learnt from it's own history.
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 17:20
Talk about numbers just like votes in a referendum:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110601/world/us-has-more-nukes-than-russia.368400
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 14:18
Interesting photographic composition of the Danish F-16 as it takes off together with a Danish C-130J on the ground. Notice just how far the jet efflux extends behind the aircraft (the blurred trail behind the plane).
The F-16 aircraft can be powered by two engine options, namely, the Pratt & Whitney F100 or the General Electric F110, afterburning turbofan engines.
The Pratt & Whitney F100 produces a take off thrust of 79.2 kN and 129 kN with afterburner. At take off without afterburner, the specific fuel consumption (SFC) of this engine is 74 kg/hr per kN thrust, whilst with afterburner, 205 kg/hr per kN thrust. If people want to calculate the fuel flow, then just multiply the SFC by the thrust at each condition, ie; with or without afterburner.
At maximum afterburner and at a distance of about 80 m behind the aircraft, the F100 engine produces a temperature field of 150 degrees C !! This temperature ultimately drops to 38 degrees C at a distance of 310 m behind the engine !!
Incredible, no !!
I have to ask, but what do people here have to say when Malta hosts a mainly Military Aircraft airshow at MIA, each September every year ?
Steve Elliott
Jun 3rd 2011, 22:24
get a life..... please
Tonio Bone
Jun 4th 2011, 09:57
Jes. Planes coming for an airshow and planes landing after a military sortie are two completely different situations. I am surprised you came out with that statement actually!
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 9th 2011, 19:55
Tonio, military equipment is not there just to be admired by enthusiasts. Their function serves a purpose and it's during this same purpose that such aircraft land in Malta for whatever reason the pilots think fit, whether it's fuel, technical failures, bad weather and so on. They are obliged to, for thier own security and thier expensive machines.
If no military equipment is used, would one dare call it a waste of money ?
B. Pollacco
Jun 3rd 2011, 14:13
ma tamillix differenza jekk jinzlu al fuel jew jinzlu al "buzz" ax kieku kelli mod bix mmur narom mmur kont mmur bil-herqa kolla ax dawn rarismu(ok not that rare now) jigu aw malta
Mr Joe Spiteri
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:56
If this will in any way be of help to remove Gaddafi from his grip on power, so be it. How else can we expect to have warm relations with a future Libyan government and its people if we just stand idle and doing nothing to help them achieve their freedom?
Mr Joe Xuereb
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:43
@Alfred Falzon. If you are worried about the effects of divorce in Malta, all you have to do is not divorce. Simple, no! As for the abstentions in the recent referendum - what about the abstentions, Falzon? Come now, I am inviting you to put your money where your mouth is. I do not regard myself as a christian but I practise christian values. Get your head round THAT paradox Falzon, it's easy if you try.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 5th 2011, 15:21
@Joe Xuereb
The issue about divorce and democracy (no relevancy to the subject in question) was raised by a contributor to this post, a certain Joseph Brincat, so the PARADOX is his!
Nonetheless, it remains a fact that the yes vote remains a minority below 38% compared to the total number of no's and abstentions (202,556) in this referendum! Were it for former PL leader Dr Alfred Sant, who criticised a much higher voter turnout in the referendum on the EU, it would be far from a democratic mandate!
Now the PL is hailing it a victory!
A Pyrrhic victory, yes indeed, but far short of an electoral triumph!
And this is not sour grapes!
Mr Wally Vella-Zarb
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:14
Have any CIVILIAN flights to Catania been cancelled due to 'bad weather' conditions?
Christopher Grainger
Jul 12th 2011, 01:55
Are you a pilot ?
Malcolm Felix
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:06
Most of the public is not aware that a large percentage (around 60%) of our airspace has been closed for commercial traffic (i.e. those aircrafts we see high up in the sky leaving contrails, and which contribute quite well on the Maltese economy) and instead, is open for military traffic, which pass quite well over 20 000 feet and we are not aware of them. So as some mentioned there is more than meets the eye. And its true that our Gov hides a lot from the public. So yes “borza ta Malta” is loosing tens of thousands of Euros every day because of Gaddafi’s war.
Anthony Falzon
Jun 3rd 2011, 11:30
I would like to hear TRAINS AND BOATS AND PLANES,
And prosit tal=programm
William Agius
Jun 3rd 2011, 11:29
To quote Mr.Mintoff from many years back, Malta has always been used as a latrine by foreign powers.
Do these powers at least pay for using our airport and harbours? Or are we still "laqin"?
Mr J. J. Borg
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:43
"Latrina" u "laqin" kien gabna Mintoff meta mar jitlob il-karita mill-Libya u mill-Korea ta' Fuq.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 3rd 2011, 15:51
Mr J. J. Borg Latrina u lagħqin ġabna EFA u Gonzi tiegħek li regġgħu ġabuna kolonja tal-barrani dittatorjali kolonjalista ta' l-ue.
Imma tibżgħux Alla ma jħallasx bin-nhar ta' Sibt u diġa qed iħallas lil min għamel minna u minn pajjiżna kolonja u sefturi tal-barrani u għad irid iħallashom ħafna iktar minn hemm.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 3rd 2011, 15:53
Mr J. J. Borg ps mela insejt li Gonzi tiegħek lanqas għandu biex jibdel il-karti ta' l-idnetità u kellu jmur jilgħaq u jittallab lill-ue biex tagħtih il-flus biex jibdilhom?
Ara sewwa jgħid il-qawl Malti li l-Kabura milli jkollha tagħtik!!!!!!!!
Mr Henry Spiteri
Jun 3rd 2011, 18:59
@Tony Camilleri: Jinkwetawk żewġ ajruplani!! ma waqgħetx id-dinja ta!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 3rd 2011, 23:09
Mr Henry Spiteri żewġ ajruplani li kisru l-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta.
Mr Henry Spiteri
Jun 5th 2011, 07:24
@Tony Camilleri: Ma nistax nifhem x'kostituzzjoni kisru dawn.
Dragan Donkov
Jun 3rd 2011, 11:25
If you look at his link http://www.maltaspotting.com/aviationinmalta.htm you will see how many French Military airplanes are landing in Malta. It looks more like a permanent base than emergency airfield.
Mr J. J. Borg
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:42
Fine with me. Let them land here if that's what it takes to keep pounding the Gaddhafi regime.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:53
@Joseph Brincat
What has the divorce question to do with landing aircraft seeking shelter from inclement weather?
As regards one's freedom of expression in Malta, we can safely say today that everyone is entitled to one's beliefs, and MPs are no exception!
We cannot have gagged representatives in our Parliament. They have a right to vote according to their conscience and not what people like PL leader Joseph Muscat and you are insisting upon!
That's not democracy, but just DIKTAT!
By the way, the referendum result only echoes the voice of a minority, taking into consideration the high percentage of abstentionists!
It's a Pyrrhic victory with a high price for Maltese society!
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:41
In General.
What is the big deal here, at the start of the Military campaign, we had Chinook Helicopters operating openly from Malta, we have French and British Warships refueling in our Grand Harbour, on a routine basis. I do not think they `Run out of Fuel` on a daily basis, as Fuel Load on ships is not as critical as that on Aircarft.
`Par Idejn Sodi` should declare that we are involved in the conflict, but in a limited way.
Rather than hide behind the Big Boys next door.
After all `Might is Right` they say, and we are `IN IT`already it seems
Matthew Briffa
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:32
Issa jekk hux Bad Weather, Low Fuel etc ... lili mhux ha taghmilli differenza!! Ghalija min hu iffissat fuq l-ajruplani militari bhali, dawn il-granet bonus ghalina ghax biex naraw xi haga irridu naghmlu weghda. Xej Xej hu hobbie taghna li naraw daw l-ajruplani u hafna minnhom qas qatt ma gew aw Malta!
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 3rd 2011, 14:04
Matthew,
Nahseb li jekk trid tara hafna ajruplani, tista tmur wahda mill`Air Shows Internazzjonali` u hemhekk tara xi Ajruplan jew tnejn, jew inkella tidhol fxi Air Force, u hekk forsi tkun ghall qalbek zgur.
Mhux hekk?
Mr John Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:25
...they just left! What an awesome sound!!!
Matthew Briffa
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:37
Hassra li ma kont qeda hemm l-airport ... L-hena tieghi, Well said Mr Micallef
M Buhagiar
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:59
http://www.maltairport.com/weather/page.asp?p=17148&l=1
follow the link and select satellite images 04:00UTC............................. no bad weather
Mr Damian Agius
Jun 3rd 2011, 13:14
There was Fog. I am attaching the METARs (weather reports) for Sigonella (LICZ):
LICZ 030412Z 20002KT 0400 FG NSC 15/14 Q1016 RMK SKC VIS MIN 0400 WIND THR28 /////KT A3001 RED
LICZ 030403Z 22002KT 0800 FG NSC 15/14 Q1016 RMK SKC VIS MIN 0800 WIND THR28 /////KT A3001 AMB
They are for 04:03 UTC and 04:12 UTC. Both are reporting Fog (FG in the text) with a visibility of 800m and then down to 400m. Depending on their fuel state it may have been risky to proceed to LICZ. Remember, if you don't need to take the risk, you don't, weather can be unpredictable.
The reports are from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, so the source is reliable.
Mark Said
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:56
At this rate, soon alien spaceships from outer space will be freely enticed to land in Malta!
Mr John Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:25
They already did!
and right now they're occupying our parliament...
Mr John J Borg
Jun 3rd 2011, 11:16
..........and are discussing human cloning
Mr M Mamo
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:44
I see no problem with a set of jets (as frequent as they are happening) to land here when in need -as long as the causes being told are true- because I would prefer 2 jets in our airport than 2 dead crews on Malta's conscience -which btw has nothing to do with religion but with the bad light it would shed on us. Malta, like every country is obliged to help those in need, and we just happen to be en route to Libya!
Mr Joseph Brincat
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:05
@Alfred Falzon.
I used to think that we are a democratic country - but no more.
Hows can we be called democratic when last Saturday the people have spoken and many MPs would be voting 'NO' or else shrink from their responsibility and abstain.
(jb)
Ms Maria Vella
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:22
Oh God, do we have to get the Divorce issue in this as well?????????
What a sad bunch
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 3rd 2011, 14:11
Mr Mamo,
Some of these Aircraft run out of fuel, yet others may run out of Ammunition too.
Do you think we should keep some Missiles and Bombs in stock, just in case, then we may Refuel and Rearm them send them back on their Mission.
Pity we do not stock such goodies, I assure you, if we did, we`d be doing a roaring Trade.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:41
@Joseph Muscat
What makes a mockery of our Constitution is a country that sits on the fence watching unarmed civilians getting butchered by ruthless despots!
Malta is no longer a prey to such thinking!
We are a democratic country and we stand foursquare with all those whose human rights are being violated by bloodthirsty regimes!
Money matters play second fiddle in our case.
Mr Joe Cordina
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:24
I do not believe the reasons given for these landings. There is more to it than meets the eye.
Mr C Cassar
Jun 3rd 2011, 11:18
keep dreaming.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 3rd 2011, 15:54
Mr Joe Cordina għandek raġun sieħbi, imma jidher li hawn lagħaqa tal-barrani li lesti li jitbaxxewlu ħalli jagħmel li jrid bihom u ma għandhom l-ebda rispett lejn il-Kostituzzjoni.
Mr George Attard
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:16
Landing due to bad weather and landing due to lack of fuel are two completly different reasons. Assuming that both are the real reasons of landing in Malta, you cannot control the weather, but you can plan to have enough fuel for a reconniscance or sortie mission.
The French (whose aircraft landed here because of technical issues) have seriously got to get it together because ever since their retreat from Russia during Napolean's reign, they have been the laughing stock of the military world.
Mr M Mamo
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:42
it is different from the way you put it my friend ... because in such missions, with such fast and fuel thirsty aircraft, a single deviation is enough to empty the fuel tank ... and, as you said, weather is imprevedible and such aircraft are vulnerable even to the slightest wind change or speed
Mr Joseph Brincat
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:07
These war planes coming and going as they please are making a mockery out of our constitution.
And we blissfully look on!
(jb)
Steve Mifsud
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:14
Aaaaaaaa, bliss
Mr Carmel Portelli
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:57
What's wrong with aiding those who need help.
Malcolm Felix
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:46
As an aviation enthusiast I have read statements such as, “any plance, any time anwhere. Our technology help us in all kind of weather” Irony!
Elton Micallef
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:41
This is a farse!
Mr Dunstan Crockford
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:51
What `farce`....I think your comment is farcical! If there was any danger to the pilot and crew,this was the only logical thing to do! Hope you never need to be diverted to another airport when you and your family travel!!Grow up....and this to all posting DAFT comments!
c. hansel
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:58
why
good that we help our friends.
Mr Joseph M Scicluna
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:03
What's wrong with diversifying their route because of inclement weather at their destination? Another Maltese gem-gem!!
Charles Sammut
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:10
@Elton Micallef
Everyone has the right to be ridiculous but you are abusing the privilege.
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 3rd 2011, 09:56
Mr Dunstan Crockford
Not a very good example as Civil Airlines do not carry High Explosives, again should the Military Airfield these Aircraft operate out of, is affected by weather ect, they may always divert to a Civil Airport in Sicilly or Italy which is involved in the military conflict, Italy switched sides, and they hope to gain at least be assured of its energy supplies and exports, no ?
Mr Edgar Gatt
Jun 3rd 2011, 08:39
You are more than welcome.
Mr emanuel busuttil
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:52
it looks like the AIRSHOW has come early this year!