Persian Cat on the static of Kish.

The Iranian Saeqeh is a modified F-5E. This airframe served as one of the three prototypes. The Iranian modification programme in which the F-5 received a v-shaped twin tail (why oh why?) like the F/A-18 Hornet, started somewhere around 2005. This 3-7367 was first noted as Saeqeh in September 2007 as serial/construction number S110-002. The aircraft was then painted in a blue prototype color scheme, since April 2015 the aircraft was repainted in the standard F-5 colors and assigned to 23 TFS as operational aircraft at Tabriz air base (Iran).

Only ten EMB-312 Tucano's are believed to be delivered to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Air Force. At Kish four of these were present, they belong to the training squadron of the IRGCAF, based at Shiraz air base (Iran) and prepare student strike fighter pilots (Su-22, Su-25) for their mission.

Iranian student pilots start basic flying in the Swiss made Pilatus PC-7. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) ordered up to 80 PC-7s but after the US sanction against the country were activated during the late 1970s, only 35 were delivered.

Little is known about the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Air Force (IRGC) Harbin Y12 fleet. Twelve aircraft are believed to be delivered, of which five are standard Y12s and seven are Y12-IIs. In IRGCAF service, the fleet is assigned to the "Support Squadron" with detachments all over Iran, but the main operating base is Shiraz/Shahid Dastghaib International Airport. This 2245 served at Kish as transport aircraft for a para jump display.

The Iranian Saeqeh is a modified F-5E. This 3-7368 was one of the three prototypes in the Iranian modification programme in which the F-5 received a v-shaped twin tail (why oh why?). This 3-7368 was first noted as Saeqeh in late 2008 as serial/construction number S110-003. The aircraft was then painted in a blue prototype color scheme, since September 2015 the aircraft was repainted in the standard F-5 colors and assigned to 23 TFS as an operational aircraft at Tabriz air base (Iran).

The Iranian Saeqeh is a modified F-5E. This airframe served as one of the three prototypes. The Iranian modification programme in which the F-5 received a v-shaped twin tail (why oh why?) like the F/A-18 Hornet, started somewhere around 2005. This 3-7367 was first noted as Saeqeh in September 2007 as serial/construction number S110-002. The aircraft was then painted in a blue prototype color scheme, since April 2015 the aircraft was repainted in the standard F-5 colors and assigned to 23 TFS as operational aircraft at Tabriz air base (Iran).

A quiet moment on the Paris Air Show Saturday. In the days before the Shah was deposed when Iran was a seriously big purchaser of American military aircraft

Parked by the BEA Cargo terminal Heathrow southside. I must have been Airside in the Transequip container truck :-)

Exhibited at the 1974 Farnborough Air Show with its IIAF serial 5-218 taped over on its fin.

One of the aircraft that accompanied the Shah of Iran to Australia, 5-243 was delivered in July 1974. It later became 5-8303. Peter Ricketts photo

Newly built for the Imperial Iranian Air Force. Displayed at the 1975 Paris Air Show before delivery.

Imperian Iranian AF CH-47C displayed at the 1971 Paris Air Show wearing show code 610.

Whilst the quality of this photograph is very poor this aircraft is a rare one. Delivered to the Imperial Iranian Airforce on 14th June 1976, just six days before this photograph, it became 5-8308 and I wonder if I caught it on delivery. All records show that these marks, 5-248 were never carried, an error that we can now set straight.