1st Lt Saleh Sharf Abdulwafi in front of his Mirage 5 aircraft at Mitiga
air base*, November 1978
1st Lt Adulwafi took off from the Nasser Air Base, Libya, on the morning of Monday 26th November 1984. The weather conditions were good during the routine peacetime training flight.
His single seat Mirage 5 aircraft was a development of the Mirage IIIE
adapted for the fine weather conditions of the Middle East. During the
1970s France had delivered around 110 of these delta wing
fighter-bombers to the Libyan Air Force.
At about 11:00 he was approaching the runway at the end of the flight when his aircraft became uncontrollable due to hydraulic problems.
The
aircraft was nose down and rolling. Saleh had little choice but to eject
from the stricken aircraft. At less that 100 feet from the ground and
travelling at around 300 knots he pulled the ejection handle and ejected
through the canopy.
His use SEMMB License built Martin-Baker ejection seat at low level near the Tobruk air base saved his life. Despite successfully ejecting 1st Lt Abdulwafi suffered back injuries due to the ejection forces and going through the canopy.
He recovered and continued his career with the Libyan Air Force.
*Mitigia Air Force Base was formerly the USAF Wheelus Air Base
Saleh Abdulwafi in 1984 before his
ejection
In 2009 Saleh was the
administrative coordinator
of
LAVEX 2009
that showcased Libyan Aviation
All photos via Saleh Sharf Abdulwafi, used with permission.