For a second there, I felt proud to see the Hawker Hunter jet fighters flying over Beirut and participating in the aerial show of the 65th anniversay of (in)dependence (they made a lovely noise by the way!).
But then I felt awkward when I recalled they were actually made in the 1950’s, and we barely managed to get certain parts to restart using them! I wonder against whom we can use the 5 jets we have, Fath Al-Islam most probably? if they ever appeared again… or maybe against the Israeli Air Forces? no I’m kidding.
Anyway, it’s good to see them flying again!
This event got me back to the late 60’s and even the first 3 years of the 70’s when our LAF was a considerable power in the Middle East.
My sincere greetings go to dear General Houbayeka for his dedicated efforts and guidance to the public in the Open LAF day in August 1980, where a wonderful airshow in Riyak AB took place but regrefully we were forbidden to have any photographs.
I wish that these days of sweet memories would iterate and see again our LAF powerful as before.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wajih Mikati