Small Air Forces Thread #15

[magyaralba]

Here is an operational syrian mig-21.....

Cheers

[Starsign]

Cambodian MiG-17
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYQmQkcfIv...+Elliott+2.jpg

[gkozak]

A Congolese B-26K, a Norwegian HU-16, and a Peruvian HU-16.

[STRATOSAURUS]

Nigerian Bo-105
http://flancosur.com/2012/03/27/el-e...05-nigerianos/
Regards from Spain.

[Cherry Ripe]

A Congolese B-26K

Intriguing; from the right in the background ( on the apron ) there is a single-engined trainer ( T-6? ), a pair of H-21s, something that looks like a Cessna Bobcat ( silver ) and then is that a Helio Twin-Courier on the left in line with the end of the hangar?!

From that eclectic mix ( and the fact that the H-21s were based with Pacific-side Army squadrons ) I would have placed that photo in SE Asia.

Thoughts?

Fascinating photo.

[gkozak]

Intriguing; from the right in the background ( on the apron ) there is a single-engined trainer ( T-6? ), a pair of H-21s, something that looks like a Cessna Bobcat ( silver ) and then is that a Helio Twin-Courier on the left in line with the end of the hangar?!

From that eclectic mix ( and the fact that the H-21s were based with Pacific-side Army squadrons ) I would have placed that photo in SE Asia.

Thoughts?

Fascinating photo.

Congo actually used a few H-21s; there is a recent SAFO Magazine article about that. As for the T-6, they were also used by Congo. The Bobcat I am not sure about, but it does look like one in the photo. And your eyes must be much better than mine- I've looked for the Twin-Courier, and still can't see it!

[Cherry Ripe]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Congo actually used a few H-21s; there is a recent SAFO Magazine article about that.

I didn't know that. Very interesting, were they sourced from France or the USA? I would think the climate must have been lethal to the wooden blades!

I have been studying the background of the photo and here is a zoomed section with what I thought looked like the Twin Courier. Initially I had also thought of a Do-28 ( prior to the '28D model ) but is it actually an aircraft?

Addendum: This site notes that C-130E 63-7868 was involved in the Stanleyville hostage rescue operation in November 1964. Would that correspond to the date of this picture?

[MSphere]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I didn't know that. Very interesting, were they sourced from France or the USA? I would think the climate must have been lethal to the wooden blades!

Here two Congolese/Zairose H-21Cs for you....

[MSphere]

Nigerian Bo-105
http://flancosur.com/2012/03/27/el-e...05-nigerianos/
Regards from Spain.

... and this is how it all started..

[KERVYN]

(from wikipedia ) :

Africa in the 1960s

CIA contracted pilots, some previously employed during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, flew B-26Ks for ground attack against Simba rebels in the Congo Crisis. New production B-26K Counter-Invaders were delivered to the Congo via Hurlburt Field in 1964


with friendly greetings,

Etienne

[KERVYN]

a 'better' view;




from; http://worldatwar.net

friendly,

Etienne

[MSphere]

Few images of Congolese B-26K, the last one shows CIA-hired technicians rearming the aircraft.

[gkozak]

Thanks for the quick reply!



I didn't know that. Very interesting, were they sourced from France or the USA? I would think the climate must have been lethal to the wooden blades!

I have been studying the background of the photo and here is a zoomed section with what I thought looked like the Twin Courier. Initially I had also thought of a Do-28 ( prior to the '28D model ) but is it actually an aircraft?

Addendum: This site notes that C-130E 63-7868 was involved in the Stanleyville hostage rescue operation in November 1964. Would that correspond to the date of this picture?

I think the timeframe for this image matches for the C-130. And I would guess that the twin-engine aircraft is an early Do-28. The H-21s are ex-USAF, and I imagine that the climate played hell with the wooden blades. The SAFO article on them is from Volume 33, No. 2 (130) of the SAFO Magazine, October 2009.

[gkozak]

A Sudanese Jet Provost, with early national markings. Also, a South African T-6 in interesting camo, as well as an uncharacteristically neat and clean UH-1H from El Salvador.

[TigerII]

I found this very nice picture of one of four former Belgium Army Alouette II delivered to Madagascar in 2011. Any more details welcome.
Picture via Philippe DuCroix

[gkozak]

I found this very nice picture of one of four former Belgium Army Alouette II delivered to Madagascar in 2011. Any more details welcome.
Picture via Philippe DuCroix

A great photo of a very unusual subject. Note the round variant of the segmented national insignia, one I have never seen before.

[Rafael Patrón]

Hello

Check this great video of the Mexican Air Force F-5F Tiger II.


http://www.sedena.gob.mx/images/stor.../f5/index.html

[flightman]

Typ: CASA C-101 Aviojet
Operator: Honduras - Air Force
SN: FAH-238

Source: airliners.net

(click for large version)

[gkozak]

Typ: CASA C-101 Aviojet
Operator: Honduras - Air Force
SN: FAH-238

Source: airliners.net

(click for large version)

What is it with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador? Why do their aircraft quickly end up looking so worn and shoddy? It's not like they see any real action.

[Italy]

What is it with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador? Why do their aircraft quickly end up looking so worn and shoddy? It's not like they see any real action.

humid environment, saline air, guinea pig pandemic

[TR1]

What is it with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador? Why do their aircraft quickly end up looking so worn and shoddy? It's not like they see any real action.

Sitting around and not being touched up often will do that.

[MadRat]

Humidity, especially salt rich, is both corrosive and abrasive.

[gkozak]

Humidity, especially salt rich, is both corrosive and abrasive.

Great points, everybody. The climates of these countries are rough on aircraft- not like the desert of Arizona, where they can sit for decades without significant deterioration.

[KERVYN]

this is a view of an ex-Fijian B-707
(airliners.net photo # 0662963) :



Kuala Lumpur - Subang / Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SZB / WMSA)
Malaysia, June 1981

N705PA (cn 17686/124) Shot of the impounded 707. Check out titles of Royal Fiji Military.... Still searching for the side shot. ( !! )


BUT.... WAS IT REALLY A MILITARY ONE ? .......... I'm not convinced !

Can you read the word after Royal Fifi.... ?
I'd like to see the full title !
Can you help ?

I'm looking also for pics of their nowadays Harbin Y-11

This is just to complete -& try to end - my collection of world's (171) Air Forces.
(my other missing country is Bhutan.... see avatar )

friendly yours,

ETIENNE

[cthornburg]

Etienne

Here's a side shot.

Chris

[KERVYN]

thanks, Capt,

for the side view... it was already published in a former thread,
by GKOZAK

and, there is nothing to see about titles, markings, etc...

friendly yours,

Etienne

[gkozak]

this is a view of an ex-Fijian B-707
(airliners.net photo # 0662963) :



Kuala Lumpur - Subang / Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SZB / WMSA)
Malaysia, June 1981

N705PA (cn 17686/124) Shot of the impounded 707. Check out titles of Royal Fiji Military.... Still searching for the side shot. ( !! )


BUT.... WAS IT REALLY A MILITARY ONE ? .......... I'm not convinced !

Can you read the word after Royal Fifi.... ?
I'd like to see the full title !
Can you help ?

I'm looking also for pics of their nowadays Harbin Y-11

This is just to complete -& try to end - my collection of world's (171) Air Forces.
(my other missing country is Bhutan.... see avatar )

friendly yours,

ETIENNE

This is a superb and extremely interesting photo- thanks much for posting it. I am virtually 100% positive that the entire logo reads, "Royal Fiji Military Forces". This is their name for their armed forces. I have also attached another rear/side view of this aircraft. The color values are not as good, but is does show the number N705PA to the rear of the rear door.

Yes, Bhutan is now my "holy grail" as well. If anybody finds a picture of any aircraft from their armed forces, please post it here asap!

Another one that has been very elusive is Sao Tome e Principe. I have posted some interesting photos that I found, though, the only ones of aircraft with national insignia. Though the Do-228 is a civilian aircraft, serving with the airline Africa's Connection, it is the only aircraft from that country that I have seen marked as such. Then again, as with most very small countries, I figure that their aircraft could, and very likely would, be "requisitioned" for military service if necessary.

Also, a New Zealand UH-1H sporting the old "fern" roundel, NZ3809...

...and some unusual South American subjects. Venezuela DC-4, and de Havilland Dove (never knew they used this one), Bolivia T-25 Universal and A-122 Uirapuru, and Argentine Army SVH-3.

[cthornburg]

Kuala Lumpur - Subang / Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SZB / WMSA)
Malaysia, June 1981

N705PA (cn 17686/124) Shot of the impounded 707. Check out titles of Royal Fiji Military.... Still searching for the side shot. ( !! )


BUT.... WAS IT REALLY A MILITARY ONE ? .......... I'm not convinced !


More than likely a chartered aircraft to move troops into an island and overwhelm it during the coup. I've flown charter airlines and they usually operate on a shoestring. I've flown to many islands here in the Pacific over the last 20 years, not to Fiji though. An aircraft full of troops would likely do the trick in what they were trying to accomplish. So probably impounded due to lack of payment for services rendered. So was it military? In Haiti they had a Connie dropping 50 gal IED's drums out of the aircraft. Not military. If your on the ground would you yell up your not military!

Chris

[KERVYN]

with thanks to both of you, Greg and Chris, for the views & comments

here is an interesting site about the RFMF, but nothing about aircraft !:

www.rfmf.mil.fj

with friendly greetings,

Etienne

[Gerard]

Argentine Army SVH-3.

AFAIK this is not a real helicopter but only a simulator. Nevertheless a great picture.