During an exercise named "Cutlass Express", off the coast of Djibouti, two US Air Force Pavehawks used the Dutch Navy HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801) for some landings. The unmarked helicopters were deployed to Djibouti and most probably belonged to the 66th Rescue Squadron that is from Nellis Air Force Base (NV).

During an exercise named "Cutlass Express", off the coast of Djibouti, two US Air Force Pavehawks used the Dutch Navy HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801) for some landings. The unmarked helicopters were deployed to Djibouti and most probably belonged to the 66th Rescue Squadron that is from Nellis Air Force Base (NV).

During exercise Cutlass Express off the coast of Djibouti, multiple Mirage 2000s of the Djibouti based French Air Force squadron "attacked" the Dutch Navy ship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801). Initially, the aircraft attacked a decoy that was towed several hundred metres behind the ship with live ammunition. Later during the exercise, the Mirage 2000s simulated high speed rockets, resulting in the jets passing the ship at very low level.

During exercise Cutlass Express off the coast of Djibouti, multiple Mirage 2000s of the Djibouti based French Air Force squadron "attacked" the Dutch Navy ship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801). Initially, the aircraft attacked a decoy that was towed several hundred metres behind the ship with live ammunition. Later during the exercise, the Mirage 2000s simulated high speed rockets, resulting in the jets passing the ship at very low level.

During exercise Cutlass Express off the coast of Djibouti, multiple Mirage 2000s of the Djibouti based French Air Force squadron "attacked" the Dutch Navy ship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801). Initially, the aircraft attacked a decoy that was towed several hundred metres behind the ship with live ammunition. Later during the exercise, the Mirage 2000s simulated high speed rockets, resulting in the jets passing the ship at very low level.

A plane on a pole... this Beech 18 was seen in a very bad condition, preserved in the African country of Djibouti. It can be found just in front of the terminal of Ambouli International Airport. Parachute Club de Djibouti was the last operator of the aircraft who also had F-OCRJ (c/n A-203). Both were withdrawn by September 1984.

During an exercise named "Cutlass Express", off the coast of Djibouti, two US Air Force Pavehawks used the Dutch Navy HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801) for some landings. The unmarked helicopters were deployed to Djibouti and most probably belonged to the 66th Rescue Squadron that is originating from Nellis Air Force Base (NV).

Once Phoenix international airlines , but most probably its last operator was Daallo Airlines. This Il-18Grwas seen at Djibouti, stored in a weary condition. It is reported that this airframe was sadly scrapped in 2018.

Since July 2011, this old seven three belongs to the inventory of Daallo Airlines. It was seen in a stored condition at Djibouti in 2013.

A Royal Navy Lynx at full speed alongside my camera. The helicopter was based on board the Illustrious and participated in Operation Atalanta, the anti-piracy mission, off the coast of Somalia.

Somewhere south of Cape Guardafui

During Operation Atalanta - the United Nations anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, this Spanish Air Force CN235 was seen buzzing the HNLMS Johan de Witt (L-801).

T-255 was delivered to 334sq at Eindhoven on 25 Oct'04. The DC-10 arrived in the Netherlands in basic United Airlines c/s with 82,000 flight hrs on its clocks and with its former registration N1858U. Before its delivery, it as been stored at Marana (AZ) for some 3 years. On 01 Nov'05 it became T-255 and was converted in Italy for transport tasks. Due to cost reductions within the Dutch MoD, the DC-10 was only modified with a new cockpit and for personnel transport tasks. Further dwindling resulted in phasing out the a/c. Last flight on 29 Dec'13, and flown over to the UK for scrap on 11 Apr'14

T-255 was delivered to 334sq at Eindhoven on 25 Oct'04. The DC-10 arrived in the Netherlands in basic United Airlines c/s with 82,000 flight hrs on its clocks and with its former registration N1858U. Before its delivery, it as been stored at Marana (AZ) for some 3 years. On 01 Nov'05 it became T-255 and was converted in Italy for transport tasks. Due to cost reductions within the Dutch MoD, the DC-10 was only modified with a new cockpit and for personnel transport tasks. Further dwindling resulted in phasing out the a/c. Last flight on 29 Dec'13, and flown over to the UK for scrap on 11 Apr'14

From Curacao the Dutch Coast Guard operates this fine AW139, delivered in October 2012. The helicopter serves the surroundings of the islands with flying ambulance services, maritime patrol missions, drug enforcement and of course Search and Rescue.

A BAe748 in Brazilian Air Force service is named C-91. This beauty was already preserved at the Museu Aeroespacial near Rio de Janeiro when I took a picture of it.

Exactly on the day we visited São Pedro de Aldeila air base, two AS355F2s returned from an Arctic deployment on board the Ary Angel (H-44). Both helicopters were furnished with day-glow doors to improve their visibility during operations over ice. Both helicopters sports multiple pinguins mission markings on the doors. These Helibras built UH-13s will be replaced by UH-17s (Helibras built H135M) in 2019. The the Brazilian Airbus Helicopters company received a contract from the Brazilian Air Force for the delivery of three UH-17s.

A beautiful long-nose F-5F Tiger II of the Taiwanese aggressor squadron. The aircraft just returned from some Air Combat Manoevring with the Chiayi based F-16A/B Fighting Falcons and taxied back to its parking spot. The serial on the fin is barely visible.

Exactly on the day we visited São Pedro de Aldeila air base, two AS355F2s returned from an Arctic deployment on board the Ary Angel (H-44). Both helicopters were furnished with day-glow doors to improve their visibility during operations over ice. Both helicopters sports multiple pinguins mission markings on the doors. They are operated by HU-1. These Helibras built UH-13s will be replaced by UH-17s (Helibras built H135M) in 2019. The Brazilian Airbus Helicopters company received a contract from the Brazilian Air Force for the delivery of three UH-17s.

Do you see some hardened shelters? Most probably not, as they are very well camouflaged. This F-CK-1A, the indiginously built Taiwanese jet fighter named Ching Kuo, is seen during its landing at its home base. The aircraft is painted with a red tail as it belongs to the Ching Kuo display team.