Operational Reports
New Beginnings: Croatia reclaims its QRA Responsibility
As of the January 1, 2026 Croatia took back responsibility for its own airspace. With a long and deep history of the Croatian Air Force and this role, Chris Lofting provides AeroResource with his unique insight, a recent timeline plus outstanding imagery before and after this historic event.
AIRVG 2025
AIRVG24 was all about the passing of the Mikoyan MiG-21 in Croatian Air Force service, then AIRVG25 was all about the acceptance into service of the Dassault Aviation Rafale. The unique presence of the entire fleet of 12 Rafales (ten single-seat and two twin-seat aircraft) in one row in front of the crowd line was really the focal point of the whole event. Chris Lofting was present to record this truly historic event for the Croatian Air Force and its adoring public. Chris also provides his unique insight into the origins and service of Croatia’s Rafale fleet now in service.
UK Aviation : HeliMed 22, Wiltshire+Bath Air Ambulance
The UK’s sole Bell 429 in air ambulance configuration G-WLTS (HELIMED 22) Is wholly owned and flown by the newly rebranded Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity. At the end of 2024 the charity sent the Bell 429 away for routine maintenance and took full advantage to rebrand the helicopter. [...]
UK Aviation : FAAM’s Original BAe 146
AeroResource looks at the original BAe 146 E1001 and its unique history, as well as offering an insight to the role it still performs today.
RNAS Culdrose: 814 Naval Air Squadron
Protecting the Royal Navy from surface and sub-surface threats as well as supporting the United Kingdom’s maritime security operations is a role 814 Naval Air Squadron have conducted for many years. AeroResource recently had the unique opportunity to visit this incredible squadron to consider what it is like being a [...]
Aeronautica Militare retires AMX
Following 35 years of service, the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) formally retired its last remaining AMX A-11 ‘Ghibli’ light combat and reconnaissance aircraft from service on April 5, 2024. The Italian term ‘Ghibli’ derives from the hot dry wind that blows in North Africa. This historic occasion was marked [...]
Poland AW101 Merlin Mk614
As tension surrounding the invasion of Ukraine by Russia builds, it is no surprise that Poland continues to sign various contracts with European and US companies to strengthen the country’s air defence capability. This process commenced in January 2020 when Poland and the US State department signed a Letter of [...]
Westland Gazelle AH1 Swan Song
On Monday October 23rd 2023, three 665 Squadron, 5 Regiment Army Air Corps Westland Gazelle AH1s departed RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland for a short tour of UK landmarks. This brings to an end this chapter of the aircrafts UK military service life with the official end of service date [...]
301 Hikotai Phantom II F-4EJ Kai Retirement
The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) retired its last Phrontline Phantom aircraft at the beginning of December 2020, namely 301 Hikotai and their Phantom II F-4EJ Kai’s. The last 301 Hikotai Phantom II F-4EJ Kai retirement phlight was conducted on the 10th December by 07-8436, adorned in it’s blue [...]
JASDF RF-4 Phantom II
JASDF RF-4E 47-6905 and 57-6907 The 9th of March 2020 saw the end of an era as the JASDF RF-4 Phantom II aircraft were retired at Hyakuri Air Base after nigh on 46 years service since 47-6901 was delivered in 1974. Six of the JASDF RF-4 Phantom II aircraft flew [...]
Cypriot Air Command – The Cyprus Air Force
Located just over six miles (10km) southeast of its namesake city, Paphos International Airport in Cyprus has the distinction of not only being the country's second largest airport, but the home to the entire flying element of the Cypriot Air Command. Located on the site’s northside, the military facility is [...]
JASDF Iruma – Kawasaki C-1
The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) is in a period of transition as it replaces its older aircraft with a new more modern, efficient and capable air force. One of the unsung stalwarts of the Japanese transport fleet - and celebrating 45 years of service in 2019 - is [...]
JMSDF Atsugi – Kawasaki P-1
The Japanese territorial waters cover a vast area around the Japanese islands. For example, Okinawa in the South to Chitose in the North is a distance of around 1400 miles in a direct line. To oversee and protect those waters the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) has utilised a fleet of around 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions since 1984. However, since 2013 the JMSDF has started to replace these ageing aircraft with its own indigenous built modern aircraft – the Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40) ‘Rawhides’
“Here we go, here we go, here we go!” - No, not the chant from fans at a football match, but the cries emanating from the two loadmasters of VRC-40 ‘Rawhides’ sat at the rear of our C-2A Greyhound, as they warn us we are just seconds from ‘trapping’ on [...]
F-35A Deployment to RAF Lakenheath
Eight F-35A Lightning IIs from the 34th Fighter Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ along with pilots, maintenance specialists, security and other support personnel from the active component 34th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force Reserve's 466th Fighter Squadron, both based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah recently undertook a three week deployment to RAF [...]
Aircraft Carrier Operations – USS Dwight D Eisenhower
Deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE since June 2016, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower, or “The Mighty Ike”, has been conducting daily strike missions against so-called “Islamic State” in both Syria and Iraq, from both the Arabian Gulf with US Navy 5th Fleet and more recently [...]
USS Dwight D Eisenhower – Operation Inherent Resolve
Weighing in at a cool 95,000 tonnes, the Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) is the second of ten such vessels that form the cornerstone of United States Naval Aviation. The Nimitz-class carriers are the largest and most powerful warships in the world, and are [...]
RAF Special Paint Schemes 2015
The Royal Air Force are quite often criticised for the lack of “special scheme” celebratory or commemorative aircraft they produce compared to other air arms, but it’s fair to say that 2015 seems to buck the trend. As time marches on towards the 100th anniversary of the RAF, many squadrons are [...]
Anatolian Eagle 2014
The annual international Anatolian Eagle exercise held at Turkey's Konya air base took place in late June against a backdrop of continuing unrest in Syria and a surge in militant activity in Iraq. With so much uncertainly so close to Turkey's doorstep the need to train and cooperate with NATO [...]
352nd SOG welcome the CV-22B and MC-130J
On Monday 24th June 2013, the 352nd Special Operations Group took delivery of the first batch of CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, marking the start of a large expansion and modernisation program at RAF Mildenhall. Ben Montgomery visited the 7th and 67th Special Operations Squadrons at Mildenhall to learn more about [...]
Air to Air Refuelling with the 100thARW
"NKAWTG!" reads the sign upon entering the 351st Air Refuelling Squadron, 100th Air Refuelling Wing - and it's true: Nobody kicks ass without Tanker Gas. Michael Buckle and Ben Montgomery joined the crew of "Quid 42" to find out more. The 100th Air Refuelling Wing & the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker [...]