Иранские Boeing 747 способны дозаправляться в воздухе от летающих танкеров Boeing 707-3J9C. Но иранский парк самолетов-заправщиков, полученных из США, страдает от нехватки запчастей, вызванной санкциями.
Formerly N93102 with TWA, 747-131F serial 5-285 takes on fuel from an IIAF KC-707 via its nose-mounted receptacle. The 747 was re-serialled 8-5106 in 1976 and was destroyed during an Iraqi Air Force bombing raid at Lake Urmia in northern Iran in November 1986.

By early 1980 most of the IRIAF’s KC-707s were overdue for overhaul and had been grounded, forcing the use of drogue-adapter kits on the KC-747s’ refuelling booms in order to refuel the IRIAF’s F-14A Tomcats.

KC-747 serial 5-8107, accompanied by a MiG-29UB (top), F-4E (middle) and F-14A, during an Iranian Military Day Parade in Tehran in April 2015. One of the IRIAF’s three KC-747s, this aircraft has also used the civil registration EP-NHP since the early 1980s, but has been withdrawn from use and remains in storage today.

IIAF KC-747 serial 5-8107 refuels a trio of ECM pod-equipped McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs of the USAF’s 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron near the 7th Tactical Fighter Base at Shiraz during a CENTO exercise in August 1977. The Central Treaty Organisation was a military alliance between Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and the UK, but which often also included American forces.

Seen here at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, in October 1975, 747-131F serial 5-280 wears its original Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) colour scheme of white upper surfaces and silver undersides separated by a dark green cheatline, with roundels on the fuselage aft of the wings and Iranian flag on the fin. It was re-serialled 5-8101 in 1976.

In the wake of the 1979 revolution three of the IRIAF’s four 747-2J9Fs were transferred to Iran Air, including 8-5116, which acquired the civil registration EP-ICC, and which is seen here in full Iran Air Cargo colours in February 1985. It was put into storage in late 2006 and is currently preserved at the Tehran Aerospace Exhibition Centre.

747-2J9F serial 5-8115, wearing its civil registration EP-SHA as well as the IRIAF legend on its fuselage, at Amsterdam in the early 1990s. Note the stylised tulip insignia painted on the fins of IRIAF 707s and 747s at that time, applied as a tribute to the Iranian war dead of the Iran-Iraq War. This aircraft is non-airworthy in 2021.

Four IRIAF KC-747 crew chiefs pose for a photograph in front of 5-8103, including Aflatoon Adhami (furthest left) who participated in the attack on H-3 as a boom operator refuelling IRIAF F-4Es at very low level.

By the end of October 1978 the IIAF had taken delivery of four of the five 747-2J9Fs ordered in 1976, all fitted with hinged nose-doors, as seen here yawning open. The four were serialled 5-8113 (seen here) to 5-8116; the fifth, intended to be 5-8117, was still under construction in the USA when the 1979 revolution occurred and it was never delivered.

Originally 5-281 in IIAF service, former TWA 747-131F was re-serialled 5-8102 in 1976, and is seen here the following year. This aircraft has not flown for some time and remains in a stored condition on the Karbor ramp at the IRIAF’s 1st Tactical Fighter & Transport Base at Mehrabad International Airport in 2021.

Colonel Jalal Khatounabadi at the controls of an IRIAF 747-131F on a night mission during the Iran-Iraq War.

Crunch! On August 16, 2020, former Iraqi Airways 747-270C YI-AGN, serialled 5-8106 in IRIAF service, was substantially damaged when an engine run-up went awry at Mehrabad International Airport. Note the severe damage to the nacelles, leading edge and fuselage as it is towed back to the FARSCO Aviation MRO Center.