One of possibly sixteen Mi-171Sh helicopters of the Pakistan Air Force. They were ordered in 2001 and delivered to 84sq at Chaklala-Islamabad. Although the number ordered could be twelve and maybe another squadron is operating these helicopters too. Quite confusing...

Not the very best picture, but a very interesting one. This 1965 F27 first flew in the Pakistani civil register before starting service with the Pakistani Air Force. The aircraft now flies as (FK-)77 within the same air force.

In May 1986, twelve F-15s of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, originating from Holloman AFB (NM) were deployed to Soesterberg air base. The deployed was named Coronet Apache.

Speedy Alouette III

Little is known about this Indonesian built CN235. In June 2001, the Pakistan government ordered four IAe or PT Dirgantara Indonesia CN235s. The first two were seen at the production line in August 2002 of which one was a VIP variant. The first one was handed over in January 2004, the second, third and fourth in September, December 2004 and June 2005. Which unit own the aircraft is unknown so far , but they are often seen at the location where this picture was taken, Chaklala-Islamabad.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force is operating with some striking light-blue coloured workhorses. The C-130H visited, together with another light-blue Herc, Islamabad to pick up two UH-1H helicopters of the Japanese Army that gave humanitarian disaster relieve in Pakistan. In October 2005, a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Kashmir, helicopters from all over supported the mission.

Supporting a Holloman (F-15) deployment, this C-141B Starlifter of the 438th Military Airlift Wing is about to touch down at Soesterberg air base.

Supporting the Edwards test flight aircraft was this temporary deployed 319th Bomb Wing/ 905th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135A, originating from Grand Forks (ND). The 905th ARS was supporting some 6512nd TS B-1B activities from Edwards. The 319th converted from B-52 to B-1B in the 1986-1987 timeframe and a lot of new-weapons tests were carried out by the 6512 TS B-1Bs. As the 905th became very experienced with B-1B aerial refueling, it was logical to deploy one of their Lancers to Edwards that lacked KC-135As in their fleet.

Rarely photographed were the F-111 Aardvarks of the 6512 TS. Lucky me :-). Two airframes were, among other things, used for development tests of low-flying earth-following systems that eventually were used in for example cruise missiles as well as with inert navigation systems for tactial fighter jets.

Completely contrasting with the white/red F-4Es at the Edwards flightline was this Vietnam camo F-4E. Nice to know is that this Phantom once flew with the famous Thunderbirds flight demonstration team in the seventies. After that, it was transferred to an operational squadron and was selected for flight tests from Edwards. The F-4 was stored at Davis Monthan as FP0629 from March 1992 and then... became a Thunderbird again!! The Phantom was repainted in the right colours, but never took the skies like that, its is now preserved like that in the Pima Air museum (AZ).

A NRF-4C Phantom II in its test livery at the huge Edwards AFB flight line. You can still enjoy this aircraft, is is currently preserved at Lackland AFB/Kelly (TX).

The 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron proudly used serial 79-0032 as the commanders aircraft, the famous Wolfhounds badge and name was painted on the nose of the Eagle.

Spectacular departure from RIAT 2019 of a Dutch CH-47D Chinook.

Arrival days and departure day at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford are usually very good for photography. Aircraft of the static will show themselves without people, fences, market stalls, flags, fairground amusement and so on. Likewise this Ukrainian Air Force Il-76, coming from the static show on that Monday departure and taxying to the runway.

A test F-4C (designated as NF-4C) at the massive platform of Edwards AFB (CA). In these day's countless F-4s in all variants could be found here. Check the large pitot tube of this old Phantom. The 6512th Test Squadron under command of the 6510th Test Wing operated at that time with A/YA-7D, VA-7F, A-7K, NA/OA-37B, NF-4C/D/E, YF-4E, NRF-4C, F-15A/B/C/D/E, F-111A, F-111D, FB-111A (later, F-111G), UH-1N, O-2A, T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, T-38C, and UV-18 (haha!) in all kinds of test missions. The F-4s were eventally pashed out in 1992. The squadron is currently known as 4445th Flight Test Squadron.

Finnish Hornet during its display at the RIAT 2019 at Fairford. HN-406 sadly crashed at Rovaniemi on 7 May 2025. The pilot ejected safely.

One of 38 delivered Apache AH1s of the Army Air Corps provided a fine display at Fairford. Another twelve of these AH-64E Guardians will be delivered to the UK by 2024.