Pictured on board of the USS Nimitz (CVN_68) this Viking shows clearly its identity, Sea Control "Squadron (VS) 29, nicknamed Dragonfires. Although both in an almost boring grey color scheme, NH-700 is in stark contrast to its unmarked squadron mate 159766/NH-705.

Somewhere off Hobyo

This 1972 UH-1H was use for air force helicopter pilot training from Granada-Armilla airport. The Hueys were replaced by the modern S-76Cs.

An armed Egypt air force Mi-8T overhead, something you rarely see. The helicopter was involved in a ship convoy protection through the Suez canal.

An Egyptian air force Mi-8T escorted a convoy of ships through the Suez canal. The armed helicopters constantly hover around and oversee the shore lines to prevent terrorist attacks. The convoy, commercial cargo as well as some military ships, were closely observed too, like the co-pilot shows when he was taking pictures of our ship, the HNLMS Johan de Witt, the second Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Dassault has completed delivery of the last of 4 Falcon 50SURMAR (marine surveillance) aircraft to the French Navy in 2016. All 4 aircraft are assigned to 24 Flotille at Lann-Bihoué. The quartet have been transferred from the French Air Force VIP transport fleet and were upgraded by Dassault at Bordeaux with a Thales Ocean Master 100 search radar, as well as a new cockpit and observation windows. This SURMAR flew out of Djibouti along the Somalia coastline somewhere in between Mogadishu and the Seychelles. Behind the large window you can see an observer taking photographs of the Johan de Witt.

In the hangar of Zil Air at the Seychelles Port Victoria airport (Seychelles International Airport), this unmarked 2012 Beech 250GT King Air was found.

Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) of a Dutch Cougar over the bow of the HNLMS Johan de Witt, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship of the Dutch Navy.

ZilAir is the premium provider of luxury helicopter and fixed wing aerial limo services in Seychelles. The small company operates four Eurocopter H-120B helicopters, a twin engine EC-145 helicopter as well as a twin-engine fixed wing Vulcan Air P.68C.

India donated this Do228-201 to the Seychelles as a maritime patrol aircraft in January 2013. They only forgot to supply the tiny air force some spare parts so in October 2013, the aircraft was already grounded. But, Indian made it up and the aircraft, as well as a second donated Dornier 228 are currently enjoying airspace of the very exclusive holiday destination.

ZilAir is the premium provider of luxury helicopter and fixed wing aerial limo services in Seychelles. The small company operates four Eurocopter H-120B helicopters, a twin engine EC-145 helicopter as well as a twin-engine fixed wing Vulcan Air P68C.

ZilAir is the premium provider of luxury helicopter and fixed wing aerial limo services in Seychelles. The small company operates four Eurocopter H-120B helicopters, a twin engine EC-145 helicopter as well as a twin-engine fixed wing Vulcan Air P68C.

The sole DHC-6-300 Twin Otter of the very small Seychelles Air Force. The aircraft is equipped with a Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) sensor underneath the nose section and is used for maritime patrol.

Buzzing the Indian Ocean off coast the extremely long coast line of Somalia somewhere between Hobyo and El Hur while on a sea search of pirate activity during operation Atalanta. The Dutch Cougar was operating from the Dutch Navy ship Johan de Witt.

This Danske Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force) CL604MPA of Esk 721 was temporarily based at Port Victoria (Seychelles International Airport) in support of Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO anti-piracy mission in/near/at/over Somalia. The special modified CL604MPA is equipped with modern sensors, and the MPA - nicknamed the Dhow-Hunter (Dhows are ships used by pirates)- can cover some 75,000 square miles in a single patrol sortie.

A very rarely seen Y12, operated by the Seychelles Air Force. The SAF only operates a few aircraft, during my visit a Do-228, a DHC-6-300 and this Y12. The Y12 was not airworthy at that moment in October 2013, as it was awaiting some Chinese spareparts

Buzzing the shore lines of Somalia near Hafun, a pirate bastion, during the European Union anti-piracy Operation Atalanta. Flying this low at high speed is such fun and very spectacular. But photography during the turbulence (and unexpected movements of the helicopters while avoiding birds) is quite a challenge. Two Cougars were based at the HNLMS Johan de Witt, a Dutch Navy Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship for the duration of some five months during the Operation.