Earlier this day, this 643 departed Souda for another Operation Unified Protector mission, armed with Matra R550 Magic 2 air to air missiles and two GBU-12 Paveway IIs underneath the fuselage. It returned empty to its parking spot, except for the fixed Automatic Tracking and Laser Integration System (ATLIS) II targeting pod at station 4.

Assigned to the Qatar Emiri Air Force Helicopter Group, Flying Wing 3, 20sq at Al Udaid, and deployed to Souda for operation Unified Protector. It was a tough one to photograph as the helo only flew its mission from a remote location of Souda air base. And departed each time far away from our spot.

FMS serial 01-8533 is a F-16C-52+-CF, ordered in the Peace Xenia III program (included 34 F-16Cs and 16 F-16Ds). This single seat 537 was delivered to Souda on 20 May 2004. It is here seen being towed over a taxiway at its homebase. The housing area in the background is just an urban area outside the base, great for a fine aircraft viewing terrace! Unfortunately, the Greek government and the Souda military do not appreciate aircraft viewing and photography from that spot.

Fine visitor to Souda getting airborne from runwayfrom runway 29.

To support Operation Unified Protector, the fight against Lybian dictator Khadaffi, this Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) was based at Souda. It is former Boeing N1785B (Jan'70), was sold as a CC-137 tanker to the Royal Canadian Air Force (serial 13702) on 28 Feb'70. Omega Air bought the aircraft on 20 Dec'93, it became HR-AMF. Served then TransBrasil Linhas Aereas up to 6 Apr'94. Became PT-TCU, and later EL-AKT. Sold to the USAF on 27 Feb'97, was modified to JSTARS. It was moved to AMARG on 12 Jul'22. It is here pictured (with permission from Souda) from outside the base

This E-3B was delivered to the USAF on 6 April 1982. It was later modified to E-2B mod (as pictured), then to E-3C and eventually to E-3G. The AWACS belongs to the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, commanded by the 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB (OK). It is here pictured (with permission from Souda air base) from outside the base.

Delivered as 9T-TCG to Zaire Air Force in March 1975. Was reserialled to 9T-TCC. Sold to France before the country was renamed to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It became French Air Force 4589/61-PN by March 1997.

Most probably delivered to the French Air Force in late 1988, stored Chateaudun from February 2013 onwards. Moved for preservation to Bordeaux Merignac Museum in mid-2020. Seen here at the flightline of Souda while deployed for Operation Unified Protector.

Assigned to the Qatar Emiri Air Force Helicopter Group, Flying Wing 3, 20sq at Al Udaid, and deployed to Souda for operation Unified Protector. It was a tough one to photograph as the helo only flew its mission from a remote location of Souda air base. And departed each time far away from our spot.

Operation Unified Protector, the fight against the Libyan regime of Khadaffi, yield at Souda (Crete) a nice mix of French Mirage 2000s, including 2000-5Fs, 2000D and 2000NK2 as well as Qatarese 2000EDA/DDAs. Here 2000-5F serial 68 is leading a small flightline. The aircraft was written off with code 116-ER on 3 October 2012. The delta of Luxeuil crashed near the village of Froideconche (near its homebase) with a Taiwanese pilot in the cockpit. He died on the scene.

Operation Unified Protector, the fight against the Libyan regime of Khadaffi, yield at Souda (Crete) a nice mix of French Mirage 2000s, including 2000-5Fs, 2000D and 2000NK2 as well as Qatarese 2000EDA/DDAs.

This black Mi-171 with serial SMH-4422 is seen underneath the massive tailboom of SMH-4426. The Mi-171E carries manufacturer date 2 February 2013. It is former 4R-HTF of Helitours The black helicopter, with rectangular windows and a 'glass' nose, was delivered to the Sri Lanka Air Force on 19 June 2013 and leased to the civil company. The Mi-171 returned to the SLAF by mid-2016. It is seen here awaiting overhaul with the Aircraft Engineering Wing. On this day seven stored and one operational black Mi-171s were seen.

Manufacturer date 28 November 1980 was delivered to the V-VS, and then moved to the Ukraine. The sale contract was signed on 26 July 2006 and the MiG was soon after delivered as CF-761 to Sri Lanka. It was assigned to SLAF 5sq. The FLOGGER was reserialled to SFS-5304, in 2010, moved to 12sq and reserialled to this SFS-761 by March 2012. It was last seen operational in 2013. Then kept in flyable storage but eventually stored with the Aircraft Engineering Wing at Katunayake.