Free Libyan Air Force
| Free Libyan Air Force القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة |
|
|---|---|
| Active | March 2011-October 2011 |
| Country |
 Libya
|
| Allegiance | National Transitional Council |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Role | Aerial warfare, Close air support |
| Size |
3,000 volunteers 28+ aircraft |
| Part of | Anti-Gaddafi forces |
| Headquarters | Benina Airbase, Benghazi |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Staff | Saqr Geroushi |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel Abdullah El-Hassi Colonel Ali Atiyya |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin Flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | MiG-23, MiG-21, Aero L-39, Soko J-21 |
| Attack helicopter | Mi-25 |
| Utility helicopter | Mi-14 |
| Trainer | Soko G-2 Galeb, SF.260 |
| Transport | Aerospace 146, Il-76, An-26 |
3,000 volunteers 28+ aircraft
9+ Helicopters
The Free Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية الحرة) was the air force of the National Transitional Council, a collection of defected Loyalist Military personnel and captured aircraft that aligned themselves with the anti-Gaddafi forces in the Libyan Civil War.
On 13 March 2011, Ali Atiyya, a colonel of the Libyan Air Force at the Mitiga military airport, near Tripoli defected and joined the revolution. This is the earliest reference to the anti-Gaddafi forces having Air Force personnel. Later on 16 March, as many as four MiG-21 fighter jets landed at Benghazi airport and joined the rebel forces; one of the MiG-21s crashed near Benina airport on the following day.
The Free Libyan Air Force showed itself for the first time on 15 March, launching an attack with a MiG-23 and a helicopter, sinking two pro-Gaddafi warships off the eastern coast near the front line of land battles at Adjabiya. Beforehand, the same aircraft also bombed an unspecified number of loyalist tanks near Brega and Ajdabiya. The same day, it was reported that Sirte's Gardabya Airport had its runways bombed by Free Libyan Air Force jets. On 19 March, a MiG-23 was shot down during the Second Battle of Benghazi. Media reports were initially confused, until a spokesman confirmed that the plane belonged to the rebels. A pro-Gaddafi spokesman said that the rebels had violated the UN no-fly zone. A rebel spokesman claimed the aircraft was shot down by pro-Gaddafi forces. Finally, BBC News reported on 20 March that the rebel aircraft was shot down by friendly fire, and the pilot, Colonel Mohammed Mbarak al-Okaili, was killed after ejecting too late. Another rebel jet was downed the same day, though no further information was given and it is possible that it is the plane lost on 22 March.
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