An armed CH-146 Griffon ready for an escort mission over southern Afghanistan. The Canadian helicopter, assigned to the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing (JTF-Afg AW) has a badge on its tail that I can't indentify. The Griffon was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Canadian Forces Operation SAIPH that run from October 2009 - May 2012.

The Canadian Forces enhanced their transport capability in Afghanistan with the lease of six US Army CH-47Ds that were already in theatre. The US Army helicopters were repainted into Canadian colours, like this 147203 (former 87-00086) at the time of this pictures, this Chinook supported Operation SAIPH that ran from October 2009 - May 2012. This Chinook flew up to October 2011 for the CF and was eventually scrapped, its serviceable components were removed for use in newly purchased F models.

A Flying Razorback A-10C during their last Air and Space Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment when the unit deployed about 300 Airmen and twelve A-10Cs to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield. In June 2014, the unit transitioned to unmanned MQ-9 Reaper aircraft.

The tiltrotor was first deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 with VMM-261 "Raging Bulls" and saw its first offensive combat mission during Operation Cobra Anger on 4 December 2009. Only a few months later, this picture was made at Kandahar when one of the Ranging Bulls Osprey's dropped of some high ranking military at the massive coalition base.

Operations like Enduring Freedom need a enormous amount of support, that many that even the military have less aircraft available. So many civilian operators of transport aircraft, especially those who are willing to fly at any moment to any location (war of not), take their benefits out of it. Trans Avia Export is one of these company's. On an average day at Kandahar during OEF, many Il-76s from many different company's were seen.

The new Foxtrot Chinooks are a welcome variation in all green US Army helicopters. The 82nd Aviation Regiment were deployed to war-torn Afghanistan in 2010. They sport a nice Dolphin on their tail.

In a war environment Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) is often necessary. Some UH-60s are assigned to this duty, and they received a red cross on their doors. In this way, during combat evacuations, the military are hoping they will not receive enemy ground-to-air fires on their helicopter. In a worldwide gentlemen agreement, fighting forces will not attack machines of buildings with these markings. Unfortunately... for some rebel and opposing forces it doesn't matter at all. This old UH-60A was seen during its take-off for another MedEvac mission from deployment location Kandahar.

Chinooks are a real workhorse, especially in combat environments. They are used for a broad range of missions. The standard US Army Helicopter Drab colour (FS34031) is on the CH-47Fs changed into Woodland Desert Sage (FS34201). This colour is tactical seen, much better in a desert environment. The 82nd Aviation Regiment deployed their Chinooks early 2010 to Kandahar.

The serials of US Army UH-60s are so difficult to read, so maintenance high lighted the last three of the serial. In that way, pilots can more simply find the helicopter on the flight line that they are going to fly.

A CH-53E Super Stallion made a spectacular tactical landing over Kandahar air field in the war torn Afghanistan. By coincidence I was at the right place to picture the top view of the mighty helicopter, only moment later it disappeared in a brown out condition. The CH-53E was deployed with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 365/Reinforced 'Blue Knights' (a CH-46E Sea Kight squadron).

The OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior is equipped with the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This MMS is a kind of beach ball perched on top of the rotor blades that is equipped with a gyro-stabilized television system (TVS), a thermal imaging system (TIS), and a laser range finder/designator (LRF/D). The 94-00063 unfortunately crashed a few months after this picture was taken during a post maintenance test flight from Kandahar. The crash was caused by technical failure during an autorotation landing.

The OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior is equipped with the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This MMS is a kind of beach ball perched on top of the rotor blades that is equipped with a gyro-stabilized television system (TVS), a thermal imaging system (TIS), and a laser range finder/designator (LRF/D).

The OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior is equipped with the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This MMS is a kind of beach ball perched on top of the rotor blades that is equipped with a gyro-stabilized television system (TVS), a thermal imaging system (TIS), and a laser range finder/designator (LRF/D). The 94-00063 unfortunately crashed a few months after this picture was taken during a post maintenance test flight from Kandahar. The crash was caused by technical failure during an autorotation landing.

The OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior is equipped with the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This MMS is a kind of beach ball perched on top of the rotor blades that is equipped with a gyro-stabilized television system (TVS), a thermal imaging system (TIS), and a laser range finder/designator (LRF/D). The 94-00063 unfortunately crashed a few months after this picture was taken during a post maintenance test flight from Kandahar. The crash was caused by technical failure during an autorotation landing.

The OH-58D(I) Kiowa Warrior is equipped with the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This MMS is a kind of beach ball perched on top of the rotor blades that is equipped with a gyro-stabilized television system (TVS), a thermal imaging system (TIS), and a laser range finder/designator (LRF/D).