The rare Chilean built T-35B Pilan, a propeller-driven trainer aircraft, is used by the FAD for basic flight training. Eight aircraft were delivered to the FAD of which 50% have been written off and two are more or less permanently stored... not a good score! During my visit in 2011, the fleet was in better shape with five operational aircraft.

Great looking Aviocar at the platform of San Isidro. The FAD has three C212s on strength, named Duarte, Sanchez and Mello.

Beautiful UH-1H during its landing at the huge San Isidro base. Eight UH-1H-II, named Super Huey II, were delivered during 2004 to the Fuerza Aérea Dominicana.

Not the most beautiful helicopter (imho). Schweizer 333 trainings helicopter of the Fuerza Aérea Dominicana training helicopter at the flight line of San Isidro.

The Fuerza Aérea Dominicana once operated with eight Cessna OA-37Bs Dragonflies. Through the years, three were written off (3704, 05 and 06). All Dragonflies were retired in the early zeros after serving Escuadron de Combate only from Aug 97 onwards. After retirement, two were earmarked for sale to Colombia but were probably never transferred. In Nov 11, five OA-37Bs were seen in storage (3701, 02, 03, 07 and 08) while the sixth one (3705) was seen preserved at the main gate. Number seven (3704) was seen at the dump at San Isidro, while the eighth Dragonfly was totally destroyed in a crash.

Once aviators of this aircraft tried to smuggle things via the Dominican Republic up north (most probably the USA). The Cessna was intercepted by DR governmental influence (or by air intercept, or during a fuel stop of the aircraft in the Dominican Republic in 1997. The DR government discovered the illegal things that were carried out with the aircraft, and impounded the aircraft. Later on, they simply repainted the 207 in a military livery, allotted it a military serial in 1998, and voila... the Fuerza Aérea Dominicana was enforced with this fine Cessna 207.

This DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft was leased to the Dutch Coast Guard in 2011, and in May 2018 it received a Dutch registration, PH-CGA. The aircraft was temporary detached from homebase Hato, Curaçao to San Isidro in the Dominican Republic during an anti-drug mission.

Rarely seen Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana RC690B of the Escuadrón de Transporte Aéreo based at Base Aérea San Isidro. The baptist name Luperón is a town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic. That town lies in the north of the country and is a small tourist centre and a coastal bay. The RC690B was formerly known as YV2058 and was impounded by the Republic Dominicana on 14 December 2009. The aircraft was first seen in February 2010. It was pictured during a unique and last-noted arranged base visit during a summer holiday trip to the beautiful Caribbean island.

Little is known about this propliner. The 3403 once flew with Comando de Fuerzas Especiales within the Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana. The Dakota most probably flew with the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana in the sixties. The aircraft is now preserved within the special forces component area at San Isidro near the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.

Making its international debut was the third example built of the 'Modern Ark', an improved version of the MA-60, which was due to be delivered to Lao Airlines after the demonstration role

No stranger to DXB as this was originally Emirates' A6-EKM from 1993, before going to Lufthansa in 6.02 as D-AIAZ. Joined Mahan in 5.10; the big A300 fleet had by this time taken over to a large extent from the embargoed Jumbos on routes such as Dubai

One of four A319s with Airblue, bought in 12.10 ex Hamburg International

Took up current registration with NasAir in 4.11 and previously flew as E3-NAS. Before that, a long history with MaxAvia, Phoenix, Air Caribbean, LAN, Ladeco, Caledonian, Midway & America West, going right back to Orion in 1980 as G-BGTY

Having previously caught the right side with titling in Bengali at LGW, here's the English left side

Ethiopian's fourth Triple, delivered at the end of April 2011, binging the fleet at the time to five. Note Star Alliance logo on nose - the airline was to become a member in December that year

The UAE had about 68 Mirage 2000s of various models (some were modernised by Dassault, the others were new build) - EAD single-seat multirole, RAD reconnaissance, DAD two-seat trainers, 2000-9 new build and 2000-9D new build two-seaters

From China With Love

Two C-17s in one show static is not bad - nearby was a UAE example