Libyan Air Wars: Part 1: 1973-1985 (Africa@War Book 19)

Libyan air wars volume 1, Very well written book covering this part in history from the French in chad to the American navy off the coast of Libyan. Many pictures and line drawing help this book along the way. Easy to follow and understand book also shows the different countries that trained the pilots of this air force some of the countries did not do a good job according to the Libyan air force which the book tales about. Can’t wait for the next addition to arrive if like this volume well worth the wait. Still waiting for next volume

I enjoy the subject matter of this book and the information gathered and presented within it is excellent. However, similar to Tom Cooper's other titles, the composition and grammar is really lacking. If it wasn't for my interest in the subject, I would have put it down almost immediately. That's exactly what happened when I handed the book to my wife, who is a professional writer, and asked her to critique the first two paragraphs of the first chapter. She couldn't get past the first paragraph. I understand Mr. Cooper is Austrian, so, if I had to guess, English is not his primary language. I think it would be highly beneficial for him to hire a good editor that can improve and finesse the composition and presentation of his writing and make it more readable.

There is plenty of good information for this time period. Just a bit of a dry boring read to me.

nice

Τhe first part of Libyan Air Wars, covering 1973 until 1985 is a fascinating volume regarding LAAF and it’s operations. Through a well chapter structure the reader can understand completely the situation which led from Reign to Gaddafi regime and the subsequent impact in LAAF. An interesting part is the beginning of existence of LAAF and the close relationship between Reign and the United States and how this was changed with the 1969 Coup d’ Etat. The subsequent orders of Soviet and French aircraft and their integration to the LAAF doctrines, along with the understandings of the political situation which led from an attempted Union between Egypt, Libya and Syria to the war with Egypt are covered in quite detail. The latter war, which is an unknown conflict to many of us is also covered, enlightening many aspects of air operations in North Africa. Another detailed part of LAAF operations regards the Libyan intervention in Chad and the air war with the French Forces supporting their colonial interests in the region. As far as I know that conflict isn’t cover in such a detail in another publication so it’s a big advantage for the book. The book closes its thematology with the tensions over the Mediterranean and the early skirmishes between LAAF and USN. Summing things up the soft back volume is an excellent addition for the aviation historian and enthusiast with many previously unpublished photos and unparalleled information about the politics and operations of Libyan Air Force. The excellent profiles of the aircrafts used, the maps and diagrams, along with explanatory notes in various pages helps the reader to understand the operations and the participants role in them. The only thing against it is the paper used for the publication which fortunately changed in the next volumes of this great series of books entitled as Africa@War. However a book must be judged from what it offers to the reader regarding the information inside its pages and on this aspect the first part of Libyan Air Wars is clearly a winner.

I lived in Libya for five years and know some of the players and all the places mentioned in this book. That said, I still found it all a bit heavy going in terms of endless detail. I think you would need to be fascinated in order to get the most from this book but, even so, it is an interesting read for the idly curious.

He only book about the libyan wars written by a libyan point of view.After reading vol 1 I ordered also n 2 & 3

Very details information about chronological events about the Lybia air wars. Very good book for the people interested in air war history .

Dedicata ai numerosi e spesso poco conosciuti se non "ignorati" dall'opinione pubblica occidentale che hanno insanguinato l'Africa negli ultimi 70 anni. Qui abbiamo una carrellata sulle operazioni aeree svolte dall'Aeronautica Libica ai tempi di Gheddafi. Arricchito da interessanti foto, zoomabili in formato kindle, in poche decine di pagine e per meno di 3 euro fa felici gli appassionati.