T-34C Turbo Mentor, once the basic aircraft trainer for the US Navy. Now replaced by the Raytheon T-6 Texan II. This 160521 is dumped at a remote location at NAS Corpus Christi. It was seen there for the last time in November 2010. The BuNo was stricken of charge of US Navy inventory on 16 September 2009.

A most rare aircraft in my collection, 9U-BRY formerly of the Burundi Air Force. The tiny African air force operated two of these beauties. 9U-BRY had been withdrawn from use by 2003, but UN employees saw this (or sistership 9U-BRZ) flying up to 2006.

The Suriname Air Force Air Arm operated two C212s in the Martime Security role for several years, but eventually they were retired due to budget restraints. This aircraft was eventually sold to a US broker and was recently acquired by the Botswana Air Force.

Carrier clearly speeding up to create wind over the flight deck, aircraft engines are starting, awaiting action on board the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in the Persian Gulf. The Vikings are among the first to leave the flight deck, just to observe (and clear) the area of surface contacts.

Vikings, Super Hornets and a Prowler in the early sunrise over the Persian Gulf. The aircraft were awaiting action. Clearly seen is the right Super Hornet, equipped with large buddy-buddy fueltanks. The Super Hornet took over the Vikings refueling task within a Carrier Air Wing.

Just a question to the airboss of Carrier Air Wing ONE, resulted in a neat fly-by of a orbiting S-3B. The aircraft involved is the so-called "Double Nuts", the colourful squadron aircraft sporting two zero's in the modex (AB-700).

S-3B just leaving the flight deck of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) for another flight over the Persian Gulf.

Night operations on board of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during a deployment in the Persian Gulf. The light on board the carrier turns in a relaxing yellow color.

A S-3B of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32 Maulers during its landing attempt on board the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), closely observed by the Landing Signal Officer or Landing Safety Officer (LSO), also informally known as Paddles.

S-3B of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32 Maulers catches the wire on board the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) while embarked with Carrier Air Wing One and deployed in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Viking in its element, refueling a Super Hornet. This picture was made after I asked the airboss of Carrier Air Wing ONE if there was a possibility for a refueling pass between the launch and recovery of the aircraft of air wing. I did not expect them to pass that low, that close and even connected. VS-32 had during this cruise the honours to give the S-3B the Sundown cruise of the type, the very last operational deployment of the War Hoover.

Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32 S-3B Viking manoeuvring over the gigantic flight deck of the first nuclear aircraft carrier in the world, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65).

The squadron bird about to touch down at the USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

S-3B in maintenance in the hangar of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). The huge aircraft folds its vertical tail too, else the hangar is too low.

Flying with the Kustwacht is great, sitting relaxed with open door or window in PH-CGN and photographing PH-CGC over the Wadden, North Sea and Dutch coast line. The aircraft are based at Amsterdam-Schiphol and owned by the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force), flown by aviators of the KLu and the Koninklijke Marechaussee (KMar, Military Police), but maintained by a civil company. Observers working inside the Do228 are extracted personnel from the Dutch police, customs and Rijkswaterstaat (public works).

Resting Maulers Viking at the rear parking of the USS Enterprise

A most rare duo of aircraft in my collection, the left one is C-47A 9U-BRZ, and on the right is 9U-BRY c/n 9369. The Burundi Air Force once operated these two beauties. According to the Dakota bible, both had been withdrawn from use by 2003, but UN employees saw at least one flying up to 2006.

Stored, with former Burundi Air Force C-47A 9U-BRY on the left.

In 1984, the French MoD launched a programme to equip the Armée de l'Air with a modern and reliable Signal and Comint (SIGINT/COMINT) collection aircraft to replace the six heavily modified Noratlas aircraft. Two C-160s were taken from the transport inventory, being F216 and F221. These became resp. C-160G-1 and C-160G-2 , both modified with a radome containing a COMINT espionage system under the belly of the aircraft, two pods at wingtips containing the ELINT systems and four antennas on top of the nose. From 1989 the first spionage C-160, now named Gabriel, became operational. Assigned to Escadron Electronique Aéroporté (EEA) 1/54 "Dunkerque"