"818" previously served with the Royal Jordanian AF as "937" (US FY # 75-0621). Between 1979 and 1989, Singapore purchased 35 new single seat F-5E and 9 new dual-seat F-5F Tiger II in five batches. In addition, seven F-5E's were obtained 2nd hand from Jordan in 1994, bringing the total number of F-5's operated by the RSAF to 51. SQN 149 "Shikra" based at Paya Lebar stopped flying the F-5's in early 2010, just to start transitioning to the newly delivered McDonnell Douglas / Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle on April 5, 2010.

Mesco Airlines was founded in 1992 as part of the Mesco Steel Group. It operated helicopters and fixed wing aircraft under a "Non Scheduled Air Operator Permit" (NSOP). Over the years, at least six helicopters were part of the fleet: one SA-365N Dauphin (c/n 6080 registered VT-MAA), three AS-350BA (c/n 2776 VT-MAB, c/n 2838 VT-MAC and c/n 1626 VT-MAD), plus two Mil-Mi 172 registered VT-MAE (c/n 356C01) and VT-MAF (c/n 356C04). Mesco Airlines was renamed Mesco Aerospace in 2014 but it remains unclear if the company still operates aircraft.

The RTAF started to take delivery of 40 L-39's fighter trainers in October of 1993 and assigned them to squadrons 101 and 102 based at Korat (Wing 1). 101 SQN was disbanded in 2004 and it's L-39 first transferred to SQN 401 (based at Takhli) and then later to SQN 411 at Chiang Mai. Being one of the last L-39's delivered, the airframe shown here started with SQN 401, carrying military code "40124" till at least 2002, was then assigned to SQN 411, wearing code "41141" till around May 2014 before receiving code "41130". Withdrawn from use by the end of March 2021.

In March of 1966, the Royal Thai AF became an F-5 operator, and over the years introduced 81 airframes of various versions. The airframe shown here was one of six F-5F delivered to Thailand under US FY # 79-1693. It was among twelve F-5E and three F-5F upgraded to F-5T / F-5TF standard by ELBIT under a contract awarded in 2003. A 2nd modernization program by ELBIT started in 2014, bringing eleven single seat F-5T and three dual seat F-5TF to F-5TH and F-5THF "Super Tigris" respectively. As such, 91693 took part in the LIMA'23 show on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia.

Having already operated twenty F-5's of various versions since the mid 1970's, the Royal Malaysian AF in 1980 became the launch customer for the rare RF-5E Tigereye, of which two were added to the TUDM (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia) fleet in 1983. Assigned to SQN 12 "Scorpions" at Butterworth, they were serialled M29-19 (US FY # 80-0333) and M29-20 (80-0334). Before getting the M29-xx serials, Malaysia's F-5's carried FM-22xx codes. Also in the early 1980's, two F-5E and a single F-5F were ordered as attrition replacements, bringing the total number of F-5's operated by the RMAF to 25.

Founded in 2013 as successor to Air Malawi (active between 1963 and late 2012), Malawian Airlines currently operates two aircraft, both leased from Ethiopina Airlines. The latter holds a 49% share of Malawi's national carrier, while the Malawi Government owns 51%. ET-APO shown here has previously been operated by Ethiopian and joined the Malawian fleet in December of 2022 (replacing a B737-700 registered ET-ARB). The 2nd aircraft Malawian operated as of April 2023 is a DHC-8-400 registered ET-AQB. In 2016, the titles on the aircraft were slightly changed from Malawian to simply Malawi.

Returning from a training mission during Cope Tiger, "817" is former Royal Jordanian AF "933" (US FY # 75-0500). Between 1979 and 1989, Singapore purchased 35 new single seat F-5E and 9 new dual-seat F-5F Tiger II in five batches. In addition, seven F-5E were bought 2nd hand from Jordan in 1994, bringing the total number operated by Singapore to 51. Unfortunately, the RSiAF stopped flying the F-5's in September of 2015, at which point 144 SQN "Dare to Excel" and based at Paya Lebar AB was also disbanded. Note the refuelling probe.

The first of 112 CH-53's ordered for the "Bundesheer" was delivered in July of 1972. 50+ years later, the helicopter type still is the backbone of Germany's heavy transport helicopter component. Soon to be replaced by CH-47's, the Bundeswehr CH-53's (now operated by the AF) are still a regular sight in Switzerland, usually conducting mountain training once or twice a year for a couple of weeks out of Alpnach AB. However, in 2023, the detachment was based at and operating out of Duebendorf AB close to Zurich, and 84+29 can be seen here taking off after a refuelling stop at Meiringen AB.

In late 2011, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) became the launch customer for the Grob 120TP (Turboprop) trainer aircraft. The 1st of 18 airframes initially ordered was delivered in late 2013, destined to replace two trainer aircraft types at once. In 2014, the remaining swiss built FFA AS-202 Bravo basic training aircraft were withdrawn from use first, followed by the Beech T-34C "Charlie" a year later. Since then, two follow up orders of 6 aircraft each have been placed with Grob, bringing the total TNI-AU G-120TP fleet to 30 units.

Taxing out for a flight to Zwickau (Saxony), using callsign "BPO510". The predecessor of the "Bundespolizei" (till 2005 called "Bundesgrenzschutz") had already operated 23 SA-330 Puma's between 1973 and 2008. The first two AS-332 Super Pumas entered service in 1988, but it was only as from 2004 that 11 more Aérospatiale built AS-332L1's joined the fleet. Those were all 2nd hand mainly sourced from british offshore operators. Further, seven new Eurocopter built L1's (incl. D-HEGW) were introduced as from 2008 and finally, four Airbus H215 were added in 2019, bringing the total SP number to 24.

This 2006 built airframe has first been registered as P4-VSV in Aruba before being bought by Prominterservice Airlines LLC in November of 2020. First reported registration in the Ukraine was UR-AMST but it is not clear if it ever operated as such. Seen here during a technical flight after receiving maintenance by Motorflug.

About to touch down for an official two day state visit with President Masisi on board, and after an almost 10 hour long direct flight from Gabarone. This 2009 built Global Express is the 3rd Botswana Government aircraft to carry serial OK1, after a BAe HS-125 (till 1992) and a Gulfstream IV (from 1992 till 2009). Both previous aircraft have first been re-serialled to OK2 when replaced with its newer and bigger successor, and then sold later.

With only 110 units built, the Xian MA-60 was developped from the Y7-200A, itself based on the Antonov 26. The MA-60 faced many technical issues, mainly with the landing gear, with at least 14 reported incidents. Indonesian domestic airline Merpati was the biggest civilian operator of the type outside of China, with 13 units delivered in total. PK-MZP pictured here was the last delivered, while sistership PK-MZK crashed in Kaimana (West Papua) on May 7, 2011, accounting for the first fatal MA60 accident, with all 25 souls on board killed unfortunately.

Built in 2011 and delivered new to Air Zermatt on December 12 that year. On July 4, 2023, this airframe was destroyed during a landing accident in the Monte Rosa mountain massif at an altitude of approx 4'500 meters / 14'700 ft above sea level. Luckily, the pilot, the load master and three passengers escaped the accident unharmed.

Block 52 Fighting Falcon, carried US FY # 01-6020. Delivered new to the RSAF in September of 2004 under the "Peace Carvin IV" Foreign Military Sales Program and assigned to Squdaron 145 "Hornet" based at Changi East at the time this picture was taken. However, the squadron moved to Tengah AB since. Interestingly, two other Fighting Falcon's have carried serial "671" as well: one F-16 of the Royal Norwegian AF plus one of the Royal Jordanian AF.

Indonesia started to receive an initial batch of four Block 15 F-16B's (serialled TS-1601 through TS-1604) and eight F-16A's (TS-1605 through TS-1612) under the Peace Bima-Sena FMS program in late 1989. TS-1603 shown here carried US FY # 87-0723 and was written off after a landing accident in Thailand on March 14, 2017. The writing on the LH underwing auxiliary fuel tank translates to "the unitary Republic of Indonesia is undisputed". As from 2017, the remaining F-16A/B's have undergone a mid-life update and at the same time received a new two-tone grey camo.

Between September 2000 and August 2001, the Royal Thai AF took delivery of 25 former German AF Alpha Jets, of which 20 were put into service with Squadron 231 based at Udon Thani, while the remaining 5 airframes served as spares. The airframe pictured here is former German AF 41+49 (98+49), wearing a grey two-tone camo applied to the Thai Alpha Jet fleet as from 2011. The Bangkok Post in 2019 reported that Thai Aerospace was to upgrade 14 of the RTAF's Alpha Jet with a modern glass cockpit including HUD's and HOTAS.

The L.A. County Fire Department started to use Bell 412's in early 1990. Seven Bell 412 airframes have been introduced over the years, with two Bell 412HP and three Bell 412EP remaining in service when this picture was taken. N14LA is a 2005 built airframe returning to its homebase for maintenance here, after having spent the previous 24 hours on stand-by on a forward operating base.

In a surprise move in early 2023, Heliswiss International bought this 1963 (!) built KV-107 from Columbia Helicopters. Till 1976, this airframe has been operated by the Royal Thai Army, serialled "4003". The small HSI fleet of only three helicopters now consits of three different types. The sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict makes it hard for HSI to operate the Kamov KA-32 HB-XKA, while the sole AS-332 HB-XVY is quite expensive to operate. Thus, HSI took a rather unconventional decision and obtained this KV107, the first civilian of it's kind to be operated in Europe.

Simplon Air was founded in 2007 by italian helicopter pioneer Gian Paolo Giana. As early as 1972, at the age of 25, Giana started to operate helicopters in the mountains around the Ossola valley and named the emerging company "Giana Helicopter". Having swiss roots and being an admirer of swiss rescue pioneer Hermann Geiger, Giana seems to feel more swiss than italian, as the family owned company operates it's helicopters under the swiss register. The flagship of the fleet is this 1995 built MD900 which was previously operated by Breitling and joined Simplon Air in June of 2018.