Latest Articles
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 phinale paint scheme. The 301 decommissioning ceremony was conducted on the 14th of December 2020 at the Hyakuri airbase in Iberaki prefecture. Retiring the mighty Kai Phantoms see’s an end to 48 years of phrontline phighter service, which has seen the F-4EJ providing a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) response to [...]
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 twice, in pairs, on their "phinal" day of service from Hyakuri, the six aircraft being: RF-4Es 47-6901, 47-6903, 57-6907, 57-6909 and RF-4EJs 67-6380 & 07-6433. Fittingly 47-6901 was the first RF-4E and 07-6433 the last RF-4EJ delivered to the JASDF. 501 JASDF RF-4EJ 77-6397 JASDF 501 TRS RF-4E 57-6907 JASDF [...]
RAF P-8A Poseidon MRA1 Arrives in the United Kingdom
120 Squadron delivers the first RAF P-8A Poseidon MRA1 to the UK On the 4th February 2020, No.120 (CXX) Squadron flew its new Maritime patrol aircraft the Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1, serial number ZP801 – ‘Pride of Moray’, from NAS Jacksonville Florida to RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, under the callsign RAFAIR 7078. The arrival of ZP801 marks a new era for the Squadron, station and the Royal Air Force, as well as filling a gap in the U.K. maritime surveillance capability that has been missed since the demise of the Nimrod fleet in 2010. 120 Squadron Royal Air Force CXX [...]
NAS Lemoore – Airshow 2019
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California, has been a key location on the map since its completion in 1961, fulfilling a requirement to support the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. After eight years, NAS Lemoore returned to the US airshow calendar. Lockheed Martin F-35C VFA-125 Rough Raiders NAS Lemoore is firmly established and recognised as the Western Coast ‘Master Jet Base’ and home to several United States Navy (USN) strike fighter squadrons, each with their own rich history. The NAS Lemoore base is located approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles and over the weekend of 21st and [...]
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 called Andreas Papandreou Air Base. Commanded by Col Marios Florides, the Cypriot Air Force is the armed air wing of the Cypriot National Guard (Ethnikí Frourá). Made up of two squadrons; 450 Moira Elikopteron (M.E/P) and 460 Moira Erevnas Diasosis (MED), an attack helicopter and search/rescue squadron respectively. With 20 [...]
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 the Kawasaki C-1, which will be replaced in the coming years by the Kawasaki C-2. The drawdown of C-1 airframes has been underway since 2014, and at the time of writing, just under half of the 31 aircraft built by Kawasaki are still active. Back in the early 1960s, the [...]
Shuttleworth Fly Navy 2017
When the Shuttleworth Collection announced that their 2017 calendar would feature another Fly Navy event, many ‘pencilled’ it in – both those with the memories of last year’s hugely successful edition and those who had [...]
Northolt Evening Photoshoot XXIIa
Northolt Nightshoot XXII was originally due to take place March 23, however, with the tragic events taking place at Westminster the day before, the event was understandably postponed. With night’s drawing out, the planned nightshoot [...]
Exercise Red Flag Alaska 17-2
Found 110 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Eielson Air Force Base was a hive of activity between June 8 and 23 2017 with pilots, maintainers and support staff from four air arms descending on the [...]
Duxford Air Festival 2017
The Duxford Air Festival 2017 was the first of the three major air display events to be held at the Cambridgeshire airfield this year. With a strong lineup spanning almost the entire history of aviation, Adam [...]
Abingdon Air and Country Show 2017
Abingdon Air and Country Show has always been a traditional season opener taking place at the very start of May. However, as comes with the territory of being ‘the first’ it has also suffered in [...]
Blackburn Buccaneer S2 XN974 Unveil
When compared to so many other types it once shared the skies with, the Blackburn Buccaneer has survived in far better numbers - some 48 complete airframes are still in existence today. The first production [...]
RAF Marham Enthusiasts Event 2017
Home to the UK’s Tornado Force, RAF Marham once again opened its doors and welcomed a group of aviation enthusiasts on to the base for an evenings photography of based aircraft. Adam Duffield joined them [...]
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, [...]
Hellenic Air Force RF-4E Phantom Retirement
On May 5, 2017, the Hellenic Air Force retired its final three RF-4E ‘Recce’ Phantom II aircraft during a ceremony at their home base of Larissa. The retirement brings to an end the use of [...]
Australian International Air Show 2017
Air Power in Action was the theme of the 13th biennial Australian International Air Show and Aerospace & Defence Exposition held at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria. Held as two concurrent events comprising an airshow and [...]
Gazelle 50th Anniversary Commemorative Fly-in
On April 7, 1967, legendary French helicopter Test Pilot Jean Boulet took the Sud Aviation SA.340 on its maiden flight. To mark this important anniversary and celebrate the success of what we now know as [...]
US Air Force Air Education & Training Command
Life in the United States Air Force (USAF) begins with the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) with their mission to "recruit, train and educate Airmen to deliver air power for America". Often nicknamed ‘The [...]
