The Royal Canadian Air Force participated in Operation Unified Protector, a NATO-led operation to protect Libyan civilians against the civil war. To flight Libyan armed groups this CF-188 was armed with two AIM-9 Sidewinders on the wingtips, two AIM-7 Sparrows underneath the fuselage and two GBU-12 Laser Guided bombs. The picture was made over the Mediterranean Sea, off coast Libya from a French C-135.

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 getting fuel from a French C-135FR of GRV00.093, flying out of homebase Istres (France), over the Mediterranean Sea during Operation Unified Protector.

Tornado ECR of Aeronautica Militare fully armed over the Mediterranean Sea during Operation Unified Protector. The NATO operation in 2011 enforcing United Nations resolutions concerning the Libyan civil war. The NATO force set an arms embargo, a no-fly zone and they were authorized to use all means necessary to protect Libyan civilians. This Tornado was equipped for the mission with two Sidewinder air-to-air missiles as well as huge High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems.

Two crew heads, covered with helmets, look into the direction of the Cougars flight, just before a tactical landing.

Panning with helicopters, always a challenge in photography. This one worked out well, Q-08 during a low-pass over the runway of its homebase Gilze Rijen. 301sq took over the squadron traditions of the once 314sq "Redskins", known as a F-84F, NF-5A/B and later F-16A/B squadron that was disbanded in 1995. The 301 squadron "Redskins" was founded on 31 January 1997, and continued their operations with the AH-64D attack helicopter.

Apache action over their homebase.

Low pass of a Belgium F-16AM over Gilze Rijen air base. The Viper showed its wings to some photographers during a local spotters day.

The Belgiums are known to create fine Tiger color schemes on their F-16s. This 31 sqn "Tijger" Viper received some extra paint in support of the 50th anniversary of the NATO Tigers.

Operating Libyan dawn brought deployments to the Mediterranean area. The one at Souda (Crete, Greece) was the most interesting one. The multi-state NATO-led coalition began a military intervention - named Operation Unified Protector - in and over Libya. The Qatari Emeri Air Force deployed five Mirage 5EDAs and one 5DDA. This 5EDA is seen fully armed with air-to-air missiles. The QEAF only flew Combat Air Patrols (air defence) during the operation, to prevent Libyan military aircraft to take off. They always flew in formation with French Mirage 2000s as Qatar was not used to NATO operations.

Fine study of an live armed Mirage 2000-5F of the Armée d l'Air. The delta was deployed in support of Operation Unified Protector in and over Libya.

CT-133 of the 1st Canadian Air Division of CFB Baden-Söllingen (Germany) seen at the flight line of Kleine Brogel (Belgium) during an open day. The T-Bird entered RCAF service on 3 September 1953 as 21052. It was reserialled to 133052 on 11 November 1970. From the early ninetees the T-bird returned to Canada anfd was eventually phased out. But... on 11 January 2019, it made its first flight again as C-FUPJ. The airframe was restored to flying condition by Jet Aircraft Museum on Ontario and sold to a US customer in Mobile (FL).

Little is known about this propliner. The 3403 once flew with Comando de Fuerzas Especiales within the Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana. The Dakota most probably flew with the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana in the sixties. The aircraft is now preserved within the special forces component area at San Isidro near the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.

Lightning strikes on a beautiful day through the Sidewinder trail.

ATR72s in military service are rare!

Full AB, always a great sight!

Cessna 208 Caravan I of the Polis Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysia Police Air Operation Force), the aviation component is a special unit of Royal Malaysia Police.

Beechcraft 300 King Air 350 of the Polis Diraja Malaysia (Police Aviation Malaysia) taxying over busy Langkawi during the LIMA 2017.

Touch down! Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16C of the 176th Fighter Squadron burns some rubber on the concrete of Volk Field during Exercise Northern Lightning 2017.

C-130J-30 Super Hercules of the Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force) in take-off from Ovda air base in the Negev desert during Exercise Blue Flag 2017. The Israeli C-130Js, locally named at Shimshon, are all assigned to 103 The Elephant Squadron, based at Nevatim air base. The Israeli's bought (all delivered) seven C-130Js so far. They also operate a quite large fleet (some twenty left) of eldery C-130E, C-130H and KC-130H's, locally named Karnaf.

Five black beauties on the flight line of Volk Field during Exercise Northern Lightning 2017.