A 1982 Mi-8MT, first delivered to the Soviet Army. Then moved to the Kazakh AF. The arrival date is unknown, but it was offered for sale in 2005. Heli Air Services became the new owner and the helicopter was modified to Mi-8MTV-1 and registered as LZ-CDN. Became 9Q-CXD in possibly 2010, then sold to Aerospace Consort. in 2011. Became ER-MGW with Sky One in that same year. Reregistered with Sky One to ER-MYB. First noted as EY-225 with Pegasus Air Serv. in late 2016. To RA-22279 with Geliks on 2 Feb'22. The white Mi-8, most likely in service with Heli Air supported NGOs in Afghanistan in 2008.

A stretched L100 without titles arriving after sunset at Kandahar. The L100-30 was manufactured as M4278M and rolled out in November 1987. It was delivered to China Air Cargo in December 1987 and became B-3004 in January 1988. It was transferred to China East Airlines in September 1991 and to Air China in March 1993. According to the civil FAA-register, it became N3796B with Northcap out of Wilmington (DE) but flying with Tepper Aviation out of Florida on 6 March 2007. The company had a long association with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Dirty as h*ll, but this is 160460 making a test flight within the perimeters of Kandahar after assembly by USMC maintenance. HMM-365 reinforced was the new land-based Marine Expeditionary Unit and arrived in March 2008. The Sea Knight unit, took Hueys, Cobra's and Sea Stallions to Afghanistan.

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. J-873 was delivered to the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) as a F-16A with FMS serial 81-0873 on 25 January 1985. It was Fokker built (line number L-189). After serving the KLu, it was sold awith serial 244 to Jordan in July 2017.

First part for the crew is done, launching their Mirage 2000Ds, now they have to wait for their return. 671, equipped with TALIOS and GBUs is taxying to the runway from its shelter location.

This Hercules was sold to Poland as 1513 in mid-2023. It was moved to OGMA Alverca in Portugal for modification in late 2023. By the time of this photo upload, it was not yet reported as a Polish aircraft. One One Eight Five is here seen in front of the war-damaged hangar at the main platform of Kandahar. The aircraft just start-up its engines and will leave soon.

Leaving its shelter at Kandahar, clearly visible is the Targeting Long-range Identification Optronic System (TALIOS) pod. This one was used during the deployment to support Rafales, that lacked that sensor at that moment.

Former Boeing test registration N37033, It was delivered as a HC1 to the RAF on 30 Aug'81 (with c/n MA016). Converted to HC2 (with c/n M7006). The Chinook was damaged on 25 Nov'99 during a crash in Oman, 5 miles south of Seeb IAP during night training mission with Special Forces. It was flown back to Brize Norton on 13 Dec'99 aboard an An-124 (RA-82046). It was repaired at Fleetlands using parts of former Argentinian Army CH-47C ZH257. Converted to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands by early '14 and to HC-6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down by mid-'19. Seen here in late afternoon at Kandahar.

Delivered to the US Army as AH-64A 87-00433, converted to AH-64D and received new serial 00-05182. It was then accepted on 15 May 2001. Seen here returning from a combat mission without Hellfires and Hydra rockets. Someone in the field had a bad day...

Although it shows Il-76TD on the nose section, our Soviet Transports database reports this aircraft as just a Il-76T. This monster, pictured during a fast take-off from Kandahar, is former Iraqi Air Force YI-AKV, delivered on 18 May'81. It then was registered CCCP-78731 and RA-78731. Became EP-TPS, returned to RA-78731. Became EX-046, UN-76022, UP-I7618, UR-CPS, EX-76011 and eventually ST-JAN. The Il-76T crashed on 21 Oct'24 after it was shot down by missiles near Al Malha, North Darfur by Rapid Support Forces fighters on a flight from El Fasher, killing all five crew onboard.

This South African L-100 Hercules was in use by Dutch forces during their operations in and over Afghanistan. The Safair Hercules was leased to the Netherlands for tactical transport duties. When needed, the civvie Herc was also used by other coalition nations. Here it is seen from from above, quite unique!

Preserved at one of the gates of Kandahar, normally not accessible for deployed military. But while sitting on the open ramp of a Chinook, returning from Uruzgan, much can be pictured at such non accessible places.

Departing together with some Rafales to a war zone. Equipped large fule tanks to extend the range, as well as a laser designator in support of the Rafales. The 2000D also carries some guided bombs underneath the wings.

Dusty Sea Kings of 846sq return to their parking spots at KAndahar. They were deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, supporting the Operation Herrick within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Former Boeing test registration N37019, was delivered to the RAF as a HC1 in early 1981 (with construction number MA005). It was modified to HC2 ( with construction number M7004) by late 1993. Converted to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands in 2014 and saw again a modification to HC6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down during 2018. Check that cockpit section and the top of one of the blades, the workhorese shows very heavy wear and tear due to the tough mission in the difficult Afghan weather and dust environment.

Former Boeing test registration N37044, was delivered to the RAF on 18 Nov'81 as a Chinook HC1 (with construction number MA022). It left the RAF inventory for Boeing Philiadelphia via Liverpool Docks on 4 Nov'93, returned as a HC2 ( with construction number M7003). It was modified to HC4 by Vector Aerospace Ltd at Fleetlands in 2012/2013 timeframe, then in 2018 to HC6A by Boeing at Boscombe Down. The Chinook is seen here - as one of seven deployed RAF Chinooks to Kandahar - as a HC2. It shows quite some wear and tear due to the tough Afghan mission, and the weather and dust environment.

This 2003 built Raytheon King Air was seen in the heathaze of Kandahar. It was delivered as N6193C to B200 Air Charters LLC in Jun'03. It became N299AK with the same company in Oct'03 and in Jan'04 it again switched its identity, this time to N299AL. From Jul'04 to Dec'09, it was transferred to Aviation Specialties Inc as N299AL (as pictured). It is related to US secretive organizations. On 28 Jan'04 it went to Trevor Corp. In Jan'20, that company changed the registration into N200EV. By Mar'21, the King Air became 5Y-EXZ with Everett Aviation Co. It's good to be King!

A fresh arrival at Kandahar, as the Black Hawk lack any dust over the fuselage. Its (former?) squadron markings were clearly repainted