Pulling up hard over the crowd from a low pass on the first day of the Iran Airshow 2018. The first flight ever of this F-5E conversion is said to have been in July 2004.

Eye to eye with an Iranian Tomcat, a moment to remember despite the less-than-ideal photo conditions. A mark on the tail confirms its home as that of all three Persian Cat squadrons: 8th Tactical Air Base at Esfahãn. Previous serial of this beauty is 3-892.

First known sighting at Tehran-Mehrabad in October 2003. Traces of the Revolutionary Guard emblem can be seen on the rudder. The force had 15 Tucanos delivered to them and they fall under the Training Squadron.

On static display, and also replacing the flying demo aircraft on the last airshow day. On the other side, the serial is applied in Farsi. C/n on the nose wheel door and delivered to Iran in the 1980s as 8-9912.

This is likely a composite airframe, with indications it consists of c/n Z1018, former F-5F 3-7171 FMS serial 75-0698, and c/n Z1027, former F-5F 75-0707 that also went to Iran under FMS. It is equipped with Russian ejection seats and Chinese navigation equipment. Saeqeh means Thunder in Farsi, and this is the only dual seat version known to exist.

So far, the twin fin conversion from F-5 to Saeqeh seems to be no more than a proof of concept. The ۲ on the tail confirms this aircraft was based at 2nd Tactical Air Base Tabriz, where 23 TFS is the IRIAF's sole Saeqeh squadron.

The type was first shown to the outside world at the 2014 exhibition at Kish Island and there has not been much news about it since then. Close inspection for possible construction plates or other forms of identification quickly led to protests from personnel.

Unveiled in March 2017 but with a first flight the year before, all photos of the type still seem to be of this airframe, even in early 2021. It was announced in 2020 though that mass production would start within a year. If so, it would mean Iran managed to produce own versions of the French engines and Austrian transmission - a method it is familiar with out of necessity. Searching for identification was not appreciated at the exhibition.

First flying in 2004, some 20 of the type were said to have been confirmed in existence by 2020. The claim of a complete indigenous design is widely disputed and like other Iranian helicopters, this one has a clear resemblance to a well-known US type, too. Adorned with logo (rigth side) and titles (left side) of the manufacturer Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Co. The name Hesa was not carried on the fuselage. Close inspection for further identification was not allowed.

On display without the rotor blades and operated by Kish Copter - Kish Gyrocopter Pilot Club and Flight Services, who offer pleasure flights and flight instruction. The registration was on the rudder, hidden behind the stabilo here.

Wearing a civilian colour scheme but with a serial belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). Cabin fully equipped for Emergency Medical Services operations. Attempts to further identify the airframe were not appreciated.

Two Lycoming engines power this version of this light amphibian, as opposed to LOM Praha engines on some other variants. Construction of this airframe started in June 2007 and was completed in March 2010. The registration was only applied to a small plate in the cockpit.

Wearing no exterior marks but a plate on the instrument panel gave the registration. Reported to have been secretely procured by the Iranian Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), aiming at licensed production. Was crashed in July 2012 but repared and taken over by the Navy of the Revolutionary Guard. Not taken into service but renewed on display here, seemingly aiming at the civil market.

Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company, also known as PANHA, is an Iranian helicopter manufacturing company. In the past, Iran bought many helicopters from Agusta and Bell. After the sanctions hit the country it became important to establish a plant for support and repair all these helicopters. This plant was named Iran Joint Helicopter Industry, later on Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC, logo carried on the fin). This Bell 206L-3 with serial I6 (India-Six, not One-Six) was one of the test helicopters of the company.

Registration not yet carried. This aircraft was built by Aviation Industries of Iran (AII), to avoid dependence on imports. AII is closely affiliated with the Industrial Development Renovation Organization (IDRO), which was established in Iran in 1967 and now belongs to the largest companies of the country. The AVA-202 is a two-seat, light aircraft designed as a trainer and sporting aircraft. As far as we know, only four were built.

An Iranian indigenous built Shahed 278, a lightweight helicopter that resembles the Bell models. Iran's Aviation Industries Research Center (AIRC) describes the Shahed-278 as a purely civilian design, but later it said that the platform will be used as a light reconnaissance helicopter, armed with weapons and sensors. Test flights of the Shahed-278, in military service designated Oh-78, began in late 2004. The Shahed 278 makes use of airframe and dynamic components of the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. When produced, this helicopter will be built by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA).

Built in 1991, this Fokker flew with Lufthansa Cityline, Contact Air (in Team Lufthanse colors, and Team Lufthansa before it was returned to Fokker services in March 2003. In December 2004 it was sold to Kish Air. Due to lack of spare parts, it was withdrawn from use in December 2010 and placed in permanent storage on a corner of Kish airport. Note Kish Air Tu-154M EP-LBS at the back of the row.

MiG-29 in full afterburner over Kish

Seven four seven with five chickens, best classic formation in 2018!

The only air force in the world that is using Boeing 747s as a tanker!