Founded in 2013 as successor to Air Malawi (active between 1963 and late 2012), Malawian Airlines currently operates two aircraft, both leased from Ethiopina Airlines. The latter holds a 49% share of Malawi's national carrier, while the Malawi Government owns 51%. ET-APO shown here has previously been operated by Ethiopian and joined the Malawian fleet in December of 2022 (replacing a B737-700 registered ET-ARB). The 2nd aircraft Malawian operated as of April 2023 is a DHC-8-400 registered ET-AQB. In 2016, the titles on the aircraft were slightly changed from Malawian to simply Malawi.

Returning from a training mission during Cope Tiger, "817" is former Royal Jordanian AF "933" (US FY # 75-0500). Between 1979 and 1989, Singapore purchased 35 new single seat F-5E and 9 new dual-seat F-5F Tiger II in five batches. In addition, seven F-5E were bought 2nd hand from Jordan in 1994, bringing the total number operated by Singapore to 51. Unfortunately, the RSiAF stopped flying the F-5's in September of 2015, at which point 144 SQN "Dare to Excel" and based at Paya Lebar AB was also disbanded. Note the refuelling probe.

The first of 112 CH-53's ordered for the "Bundesheer" was delivered in July of 1972. 50+ years later, the helicopter type still is the backbone of Germany's heavy transport helicopter component. Soon to be replaced by CH-47's, the Bundeswehr CH-53's (now operated by the AF) are still a regular sight in Switzerland, usually conducting mountain training once or twice a year for a couple of weeks out of Alpnach AB. However, in 2023, the detachment was based at and operating out of Duebendorf AB close to Zurich, and 84+29 can be seen here taking off after a refuelling stop at Meiringen AB.

In late 2011, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) became the launch customer for the Grob 120TP (Turboprop) trainer aircraft. The 1st of 18 airframes initially ordered was delivered in late 2013, destined to replace two trainer aircraft types at once. In 2014, the remaining swiss built FFA AS-202 Bravo basic training aircraft were withdrawn from use first, followed by the Beech T-34C "Charlie" a year later. Since then, two follow up orders of 6 aircraft each have been placed with Grob, bringing the total TNI-AU G-120TP fleet to 30 units.

Taxing out for a flight to Zwickau (Saxony), using callsign "BPO510". The predecessor of the "Bundespolizei" (till 2005 called "Bundesgrenzschutz") had already operated 23 SA-330 Puma's between 1973 and 2008. The first two AS-332 Super Pumas entered service in 1988, but it was only as from 2004 that 11 more Aérospatiale built AS-332L1's joined the fleet. Those were all 2nd hand mainly sourced from british offshore operators. Further, seven new Eurocopter built L1's (incl. D-HEGW) were introduced as from 2008 and finally, four Airbus H215 were added in 2019, bringing the total SP number to 24.

This 2006 built airframe has first been registered as P4-VSV in Aruba before being bought by Prominterservice Airlines LLC in November of 2020. First reported registration in the Ukraine was UR-AMST but it is not clear if it ever operated as such. Seen here during a technical flight after receiving maintenance by Motorflug.

About to touch down for an official two day state visit with President Masisi on board, and after an almost 10 hour long direct flight from Gabarone. This 2009 built Global Express is the 3rd Botswana Government aircraft to carry serial OK1, after a BAe HS-125 (till 1992) and a Gulfstream IV (from 1992 till 2009). Both previous aircraft have first been re-serialled to OK2 when replaced with its newer and bigger successor, and then sold later.

With only 110 units built, the Xian MA-60 was developped from the Y7-200A, itself based on the Antonov 26. The MA-60 faced many technical issues, mainly with the landing gear, with at least 14 reported incidents. Indonesian domestic airline Merpati was the biggest civilian operator of the type outside of China, with 13 units delivered in total. PK-MZP pictured here was the last delivered, while sistership PK-MZK crashed in Kaimana (West Papua) on May 7, 2011, accounting for the first fatal MA60 accident, with all 25 souls on board killed unfortunately.

Built in 2011 and delivered new to Air Zermatt on December 12 that year. On July 4, 2023, this airframe was destroyed during a landing accident in the Monte Rosa mountain massif at an altitude of approx 4'500 meters / 14'700 ft above sea level. Luckily, the pilot, the load master and three passengers escaped the accident unharmed.

Block 52 Fighting Falcon, carried US FY # 01-6020. Delivered new to the RSAF in September of 2004 under the "Peace Carvin IV" Foreign Military Sales Program and assigned to Squdaron 145 "Hornet" based at Changi East at the time this picture was taken. However, the squadron moved to Tengah AB since. Interestingly, two other Fighting Falcon's have carried serial "671" as well: one F-16 of the Royal Norwegian AF plus one of the Royal Jordanian AF.

Indonesia started to receive an initial batch of four Block 15 F-16B's (serialled TS-1601 through TS-1604) and eight F-16A's (TS-1605 through TS-1612) under the Peace Bima-Sena FMS program in late 1989. TS-1603 shown here carried US FY # 87-0723 and was written off after a landing accident in Thailand on March 14, 2017. The writing on the LH underwing auxiliary fuel tank translates to "the unitary Republic of Indonesia is undisputed". As from 2017, the remaining F-16A/B's have undergone a mid-life update and at the same time received a new two-tone grey camo.

Between September 2000 and August 2001, the Royal Thai AF took delivery of 25 former German AF Alpha Jets, of which 20 were put into service with Squadron 231 based at Udon Thani, while the remaining 5 airframes served as spares. The airframe pictured here is former German AF 41+49 (98+49), wearing a grey two-tone camo applied to the Thai Alpha Jet fleet as from 2011. The Bangkok Post in 2019 reported that Thai Aerospace was to upgrade 14 of the RTAF's Alpha Jet with a modern glass cockpit including HUD's and HOTAS.

The L.A. County Fire Department started to use Bell 412's in early 1990. Seven Bell 412 airframes have been introduced over the years, with two Bell 412HP and three Bell 412EP remaining in service when this picture was taken. N14LA is a 2005 built airframe returning to its homebase for maintenance here, after having spent the previous 24 hours on stand-by on a forward operating base.

In a surprise move in early 2023, Heliswiss International bought this 1963 (!) built KV-107 from Columbia Helicopters. Till 1976, this airframe has been operated by the Royal Thai Army, serialled "4003". The small HSI fleet of only three helicopters now consits of three different types. The sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict makes it hard for HSI to operate the Kamov KA-32 HB-XKA, while the sole AS-332 HB-XVY is quite expensive to operate. Thus, HSI took a rather unconventional decision and obtained this KV107, the first civilian of it's kind to be operated in Europe.

Simplon Air was founded in 2007 by italian helicopter pioneer Gian Paolo Giana. As early as 1972, at the age of 25, Giana started to operate helicopters in the mountains around the Ossola valley and named the emerging company "Giana Helicopter". Having swiss roots and being an admirer of swiss rescue pioneer Hermann Geiger, Giana seems to feel more swiss than italian, as the family owned company operates it's helicopters under the swiss register. The flagship of the fleet is this 1995 built MD900 which was previously operated by Breitling and joined Simplon Air in June of 2018.

This 2015 built EC145 has first been delivered to INEAR Italy, which later became Babcock Italy. As of March 1, 2023, Babcock Italy was bought by the Avincis Group and thus rebranded once again. Caiolo became an EC145 base in early 2021 after Elilombarda's AW139 lost the HEMS contract to Babcock. Operated on behalf of AREU, the regional emergency agency for the Region of Lombardia set up in 2007. AREU maintains five EMS helicopter bases: Caiolo/Sondrio, Brescia, Bergamo, Como and Milan.

The first and so far only AW189 on the Swiss register taxies out in St Stephan for its first flight as HB-XLQ. It took off and proceeded straight to Helicopter Maintenance Company KAREN loacted in Lodrino, Ticino. The 2016 built aircraft has previously been registered as I-AWCU, OY-HFD and finally in Russia as RA-01698, from where it was imported to Switzerland in late 2021, a bare two months before the Ukraine conflicted started and sanctions on Russia were implemented in due course. Carries a small "Helipool" sticker in the white stripe behind the co-pilot's door.

One of eight AS350B3's operated by Eliossola. Crashed on May 20, 2023 in Lugo near Rovenna (between Bologna and Rimini), a long way from it's Domodossola homebase. The accident occured while inspecting powerlines damaged by heavy rains. Fortunately, all crew and passengers survied the incident.

Built as a C-12A and originally serialled 76-0167, this airframe has an interesting history, as in 1979 it was expelled by South Africa, after being accused for performing intelligence gathering. Reserialled to 76-3239 in due course and later converted to C-12C standard. Reported to have been assigned to the US Embassies in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Jakarta (Indonesia), Bangkok (Thailand) and since December 2018 based in Ankara, Turkey. From there it paid a short visit to exercise Anatolian Eagle 2023.

3076 is one of 55 F-16E single-seater "Desert Falcons" in service with the UAEAF since 2004. Built in 2006, this airframe previously carried US FY number 00-6051 and is reported to be assigned to Shaheen / Squadron 2 based at Al Dhafra AB. Note the rather massive Raytheon AGM-88C HARM missile under the wing. HARM stands for High-Speed-Anti-Radiation-Missile and it's purpose is to cause harm to radar installations. However, in this picture, the 4 meter long missile does not carry any explosives, as can be seen by the blue ring on the missile. The UAE has about 160 AGM-88 in its inventory.