This 278 is the second An-26 of the Afghan Air Force carrying this serial. The first was construction number 13409, but this airframe was probably hijacked to Pakistan by followers of General Tanai after the failed coup attempt of 05 March 1990. 13409 is now in a aviation museum in Karachi (Pakistan). The An-26 278 with construction number 13902 of this picture was first seen in a camo jacket in March 2002 in service with the then new-born Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC). The An-26 became grey in 2006 and is withdrawn from use at Kabul in 2013.

A view from above when buzzing this old seven three with a helicopter over the end-of-the-runway at Kandahar. The 737 was for many known as N245WA with Western Airlines and Delta Airlines, before it went east. In May 2007, Kam Air started to operate the aircraft, in 2009 East Air took it over. Then it went from an Asian owner to an African owner. The 737 was flown in southwestern direction in 2009 where Jubba Airways (Somalia) became the proud owner.

This 1970 built An-12BP started after 37 years of operations a new life with Transliz Aviation as ER-ADG in October 2007. It was reregistered by the company to S9-KHF in November 2007. Unfortunately, the An-12 was last seen in August 2014 at Chisinau (Moldavia) where it was fully scrapped by early 2015.

A 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) U-28A Spectre being prepared for another mission over Afghanistan

Although very white, this Metro was operated by Blackwater in 2008. The Metro started its career as N3013L with Fairchild Aircraft Corp in Jan'93, and carried XA-SHE with Aeroponiente-Aerovías de Poniente since Mar'93 and with AeroLitoral since May'95. Its dark career started in Jan'03 as N821JB with Lambert Leasing Inc and was assigned to Horizon Airlines that did not excist. Since Oct'04 is was registered N821JB with Presidential Airways and N955BW with again Presidential Airways since May'05 and N955BW with AAR Airlift since Nov'10. The regi was cancelled on 20 Apr'17. Current whereabouts?

Nice study of a U-28A during its take-off from Kandahar. The U-28A provides a manned fixed wing, on-call/surge capability for tactical airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of special operations forces.

The history of the 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) dates back to Sep'44 when it was activated as a C-46/C-47/C-123 Troop Carrier Squadron where it served in the China-Burma-India Theater during WWII within the civic action and counterinsurgency missions (also flew T-28 Trojans). Since then the squadron was activated, redesignated and deactivated several times, but on 1 Oct'05, the SOS was activated as part of an overall expansion of the USAF Special Operations Command. It started to fly this secretive Pilatus U-28A that provides intra-theater support for special operations forces.

This long aircraft saw first operations with Seaboard World Airlines in Aug'69. After a long career the DC-8-63CF flew its last passenger flight with Saudi Arabian Airlines in 1979. The aircraft was converted for cargo flights. As a cargo aircraft it was converted from 63CF to 63F in 1987. Since 2010, it is reported that this DC-8 is withdrawn from use and stored at Nairobi (Kenya). Here the aircraft can be seen operating by its Sri Lankan owner Expo Aviation during a cargo haul to Kandahar. It is reported that after its retirement, Sri Lankan FitsAir took over the aircraft but never flew it. It departed Malta and flew to Nairobi on the 28th September 2013 and has been stored there. Visible on the satellite image at 1.3156S 36.9268E.

A 319th Special Operations Squadron (319 SOS) U-28A Spectre at one of the platforms of Kandahar airfield.

The U-28A is the premier Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The Command uses 35 such aircraft from Cannon AFB (NM) , Duke Field (FL) and Hurlburt Field (FL). The aircraft was named within the USAF as "Spectre", but since its first deployments to Afghanistan in 2006, the aircrew nicknamed it as the "Draco". This nickname was officialy approved by the USAF since May 2019.

Aircraft possibly assigned to Asia Airways when this picture was made.

This 03-03730 is a rebuilt CH-47D, once serialled 85-24355. That's the reason the aircraft has two c/n's assigned, M3730/M3125. The helicopter belongs to the 3-160th SOAR, normally based at Fort Campbell (KY)

A Special Operations Chinook of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), or 3-160th SOAR, based at Fort Campbell (KY) seen during a hover test flight over deployment location Kandahar (Afghanistan).

Withdrawn from use in late 2024, and heavily cannibalized offered for scrap by GSA Auctions in early 2025.

The MH-47 Special Operations Chinook is the primary heavy lift transport helicopter for the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Nightstalkers". The MH-47G differs from its CH-47 sister models by its black color scheme and its incorporation of combat systems and a refueling probe designed to make the helicopter more survivable on missions deep in enemy territory (and during nighttime).

A USAF Special Operation Command (SOCOM) PC-12, designated U-28A, leaving Kandahar for another secretive mission. The 319th Special Operations Squadron was operating this aircraft at the moment of the deployment.

The 1st Netherlands Air Task Force International Security Assistance Force (1(NLD)ATF ISAF used F-16AMs over Afghanistan during their operations against the Taliban. This 323sq F-16AM received an unusual green ISAF badge. It served as the back ground for a detachment crew photo at Kandahar.