Nörvenich AB is usually closed on Sundays, but to allow the Israeli AF to rotate / exchange some 60 personnel between the two exercises Blue Wings 2020 and MAGDAYS 20-3, an exception was made on August 23, 2020. Consequently, this "Shimson" arriving from it's homebase Nevatim near Beersheba was the only movement on that cloudy day.

BHI² is a Florida-based joint venture between Brainerd Helicopters Inc. and Brown Helicopter. The company is a major player in the 2nd hand market for used ex US Army UH-60 Blackhawks to be used in the firefighting business. This refurbished Blackhawk - now designated H-60X - can be seen here taking-off with a 925 US Gallon (3500 Litres) internal foam / water tank, which could quickly be removed if need be.

Arkia's DC-3/C-47's helped keeping Israel's southernmost city - Eilat - connected to the rest of the country in the late 1950's / early 1960's. However, the airframe shown here never carried the registration 4X-AES, which did exist though but had c/n 11923 (USAAF FY 42-92154 > RAF FL562 > HB-ATO > NC74136 > OO-AFB > to Israel DF) and then to Arkia between April 2, 1957 and June 26, 1966. The history of the airframe shown here is best described at http://www.dc-3.co.za/dc-3-individual-aircraft-history/cn-6223.html . "4X-AES" has since been moved a few miles north to the new Eilat Airport LLER.

SAS is not known for any spectacular livery on its airplanes, so this special scheme commemorating "70 Years of SAS" (founded in 1946) was a welcomed change. LN-RGI - built in early 2014 - wore this livery between August 2016 and December 2017.

The serial of 281 is derived from the last three digits of the airframe's US FY number, which is 78-0281. This particular aircraft was licence built by Fokker in the Netherlands, as were the other 59 F-16A and 12 F-16B ordered by Norway in July of 1975.

Built in 1989, N208JW was leased by MAF Madagascar from Greystoke Engineering Inc. Flagstaff (AZ) for about 2 years in 2002 / 2003, after MAF's Partenavia 68C suffered a landing accident and was out of business for a while. Previous registrations were N9743F and F-OGOD. Still current as N208JW with Maxim Aviation Llc Summerland Key, Florida.

47-6901 was the first of 14 Recce Phantoms originally acquired directly from McDonnell Douglas for the JASDF. In the 1990's, 17 F-4E's were modified to RF-4EJ in addition. This airframe entered service in 1974 and remained in flying condition till the squadron ceased operations on March 9, 2020. It was one of at least three RF-4EJ painted in this blue Marine camouflage.

A total of twelve A109 SP "Da Vinci" entered service with REGA as from 2009, of which 10 remain in service at the time of upload.

Between 1987 and 2010, the Republic of Singapore AF operated four E-2C Hawkeyes with Squadron 111 "Jaeger", which was formed at Tengah to fly those Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platforms. The four aircraft had US Navy BuNos 162793 through 162797 and carried the RSAF serials 011, 012, 014 and 015. As from 2008, the E-2's were gradually replaced by four IAI equipped Gulfstream 550 AEW platforms. 015 shown here is now on display at the Singapore AF Museum in Paya Lebar, Singapore.

Delivered new to the JASDF in 1975, this RF-4EJ was the 2nd last of a batch of 14 initially ordered by Japan. In the 1990's, an additional 17 F-4EJ's were converted to (R)F-EJ Kai and joined the ranks of Hikotai 501 based in Hyakuri. The japanese reconnaissance Phantoms wore different camouflage schemes over the years, making them famous among photographers.

Air Madagascar - till 2012 a staunch Boeing customer as far as jetliners are concerned - wrote history when it started to operate this ex Air France A340 in April 2012, followed by sistership 5R-EAA (ex F-GLZT) two month later. The two planes were said to have been overpriced and linked with some safety and EASA certification issues, Air Madagascar continues to struggle financially up to this day. As a counter measure, this airframe has been registered in Island as TF-EAB (from March 2013) and Air Atlanta did operate it on behalf of Air Madagascar. Parked at the time of upload.

This dual seat F-15B was delivered to Israel second hand in 1992. Ex USAF serial / FY 73-0113. It was among a batch of 25 used F-15A's (20 planes) and F-15B's (5 planes) basically given to Israel for free, as a reward for Israel's restraint to keep itself out of the 1991 Gulf War, despite being attacked by Iraqi Scud misslies. "113" carries the emblem of the 133th Squadron based at Tel Nof AB and was part of the 2017 Blue Flag exercise. Apparently it was named 'Zeev Boded' in Hebrew, meaning 'Lone Wolf' in English.

Citilink was founded in 2004 as a subsidary of Garuda Indonesia. Citilink has the same basic livery layout like its mother company, but in green / yellow colors instead of the blue paint the Garuda planes wear. PK-GLT joined the Citilink fleet new in 2013.

Built in 1975, first registration N59607. It went to Canada in April 1978 and flew as C-GAHM with various canadian operators, such as Alpine Helicopters, Eagle Copters and Great Slave Helicopters. It is reported to have been converted to Bell 205A-1++ just before joining the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in September of 2015.

Between 2001 and 2008, Sapphire Air from South Africa had a contract with the Government of Madagascar to maintain two Bell 407's on stand-by. Their duty was mainly to transport President Marc Ravalomanana and other officials around the island of Madagascar. Note the "Repoblikan 'i Madagasikara" titles applied above the cabin.

Built in 1985 and first registered as N3199J, this Long Ranger was sold to swiss foundation Helimission in December of 1987, and consequently registered in Switzerland as HB-XSP. It then served in Ethiopia, Kenya and briefly in Mocambique till 2007 before being transferred to Yayasan HELIVIDA Indonesia. It was on the FAA register as N126SP for a few month before getting it's current registration PK-HCP. Still based in Palu, Sulawesi at the time of upload.

Aeroméxico Connect is the regional airline of (and feeder for) Aeroméxico. XA-ACI is seen here shortly before touching down on LAX's RWY 25L.

To fullfill its duties, the San Diego County Sheriff Department operates a nice mix of helicopters of different sizes. Besides this MD500, it also operates Bell 407 and Bell 205 helicopters.

This Mitsubishi built F-4EJ Kai / Phantom II of 301 Hikotai "Frogs" is seen here at dusk during last checks before launching into an early night flight at Nyutabaru. In June of 2016, the squadron moved to Hyakuri AB and was the last unit to operate the legendary Phantom. It stopped flying the F-4 in October 2020 and has since relocated to Misawa to operate the new F-35s.