AirForces Monthly Magazine

FIRST AMONG EQUALS

22nd May 2025

The work of 3 11 º Gruppo Vol o, the flight-test unit of the Italian Air Force, can bring tears to a pilot ‘s eye. Giovanni Colla and Remo Guidi reveal why. ITALIAN AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST Stunning Tornado IDS CSX7041 ‘RS-01’ celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 311º Gruppo Volo (311st Flight Squadron) of […]

Cambridge Airport (CBG)

UAE special mission Global 6000 breaks cover

22nd May 2025

Highly modified Global 6000 serial 1326 prior to carrying out engine runs at Cambridge Airport on May 29. The aircraft now carries a UAE flag on the tailfin. Gary Chadwick ONE OF two Bombardier BD700-1A10 Global 6000 business jets being extensively modified in the UK into special mission aircraft for the United Arab Emirates Air […]

Arctic Challenge Exercise 2017

22nd May 2025

Ilmavoimat F/A-18C serials HN-447 and HN-450 approach a tanker during ACE 17. Further coverage of the exercise will appear in the August issue. Erik Bruijns and Mark de Greeuw ELEVEN NATIONS gathered in Finland, Norway and Sweden for the third biennial joint Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE 17) between May 22 and June 2. Over 100 […]

Latest T-50 prototype takes to the air

22nd May 2025

The latest flying prototype for Sukhoi’s PAK FA fifth-generation fighter project, T-50-9, reportedly made its first flight at Komsomolsk-on-Amur on April 24. It was revealed to the public after undertaking flight tests at Zhukovsky between May 10 and 12. Aircraft ‘509’ diff ers from its predecessors in having a ‘pixelated’ camouflage scheme. The aircraft has […]

Maiden flight for second LRIP KC-46

22nd May 2025

The second low-rate initial production KC-46A completed its maiden flight on April 29. It is the third test aircraft in full KC-46 configuration. Boeing/Tim Stake BOEING COMPLETED a first flight of the second low-rate initial production (LRIP) KC-46A for the US Air Force on April 29. The aircraft, the sixth in the test fleet, will […]

Export Z-19E makes maiden flight

22nd May 2025

The Z-19E prototype during its maiden flight at Harbin on May 18. AVIC AN EXPORT version of China’s Z-19 attack/ reconnaissance helicopter, designated the Z-19E, has made its maiden flight. The new variant flew on May 18 from the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation factory. It was airborne for 15 minutes, performing hovering and limited manoeuvres […]

Gripen presented in Croatia

22nd May 2025

JAS 39C serial 38 (c/n 39309) from the ‘Puma’ Tactical Squadron, 59th Tactical Fighter Wing of the Hungarian Air Force based at Kecskemét, arrived at Zagreb-Pleso on May 3, escorted by the local QRA pair, including MiG-21bisD serial 116 (c/n 75057500). Tomislav Haraminčić THE SAAB Group has organised an official presentation of the Gripen to […]

First T-6 for RAF takes flight

22nd May 2025

THE FIRST T-6C for the Royal Air Force has begun its flight test programme. Carrying the test registration N2824B, the aircraft, unit number PM-110, completed its maiden flight at Beech Factory Airport, Wichita, Kansas, on May 23. It will eventually enter RAF service as ZM323. On October 24, 2014, Ascent Flight Training confirmed the selection […]

Apache in Exercise Lightning Force

22nd May 2025

RAF SPADEADAM in Cumbria hosted six helicopters from the Apache Conversion Unit (653 Squadron/3 Regiment Army Air Corps), based at RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, during Exercise Lightning Force held from May 8-26. The exercise is designed to give personnel converting to the Apache experience in operational flying over challenging terrain and in a contested air environment. […]

Mi-17V-5 for Kenya Police Airwing

22nd May 2025

FOUR MONTHS after Kazan Helicopters completed production of a Mi-17V-5 multi-role helicopter ordered by the Kenyan government for use by the Kenya Police Airwing, the helicopter, 5Y-DCI, was transferred to Wilson Airport, Nairobi. Under the contract, Russian Helicopters also trained local aircrews and groundcrews. The Kenya Police has operated Mi-17s since 1999, when the first […]

US cruise missile strike on Syrian airfield

22nd May 2025

A battle damage assessment image of Shayrat air base following the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile US DoD (TLAM) strikes of April 7. COMBAT REPORT IN THE first direct US military action against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, cruise missiles launched from two warships in the Mediterranean struck the Syrian airfield of Shayrat on […]

Israeli Re’em visits Scotland

22nd May 2025

Israeli Air Force 120 Squadron 707-366C Re’em 295 visited Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, Scotland on March 20. The tanker-transport aircraft arrived using the callsign ‘IAF207’ and made a stopover for a crew rest before departing the following day. Unlike 707-3J6C Re’em 272/4X-JYV, which visited Europe earlier this year (see Israeli 707 visits Germany, April 2017, […]

Military Day parade in Tehran

22nd May 2025

The third formation flight of IRIAF aircraft during the flypast. The lead aircraft is F-5F Saeghe II 3-7182, accompanied by F-5E Saeghe Is 3-7367 and 3-7368. All the aircraft are from the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 2nd TFB Fakkuri in Tabriz. Mahmood Kiani ON THE morning of April 18, the Islamic Republic of […]

F-15SA deliveries continue

22nd May 2025

RSAF F-15SA 12-1047 touches down at RAF Lakenheath on March 29. Peter R Foster A THIRD batch of F-15SAs has been delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). After a two-day layover at Goose Bay, Labrador following tanker problems, five F-15SAs arrived at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk on the afternoon of March 29. Using the […]

Iranian KC-707 begins overhaul

22nd May 2025

A rare view inside the IACI facility at Mehrabad International Airport shows Boeing 707-3J9C 5-8301 prior to entering PDM. Nashenas IRANIAN AIRCRAFT Industries (IACI) is making progress on the overhaul and modernisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force’s (IRIAF’s) fleet of four KC-707 (Boeing 707-3J9C) tankers. Programmed depot maintenance (PDM) and an avionics […]

< 1 … 48 49 50 51 52 … 83 >

AirForces Monthly Magazine

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

from our leading aviation publications