One of the trio of Biman Bahini An-26 transports which replaced veteran C-47s in the early 'eighties, these utilising the many semi-prepared airstrips in Bangladesh and making the occasional paradrop sortie.

Biman Bahini CM-170 Magister basic trainers lined up with (in background) An-26 transports at Tezgaon AB, Dhaka

The Biman Bahini received its first Mil Mi-8 helicopters in the early 'seventies, the four survivors of these being returned to the Soviet Union for overhaul - which has proved protracted - and four being acquired on loan.

The rear fuselage of a Biman Bahini MiG-21MF.

Истребители МиГ-21 и F-86 ВВС Бангладеш на авиабазе Тезгаон
A unique photograph of the five former Pakistan Air Force Canadair Sabre 6s lined up with two MiG-21MFs at Tezgaon AB shortly before the former were grounded owing to lack of spares

MiG-21MF fighters photographed at Tezgaon AB shortly after their arrival in Bangladesh in 1973. Normal attrition coupled with the destruction of others by the Army element of the Biman Bahini during an unsuccessful coup attempt late 1977 reduced the fighter element to three operable aircraft which have long since been grounded.

The Bell 206L Long Ranger, originally provided for the transportation of Ministry of Family Planning teams, is now used for liaison and casevac tasks, the remainder of the Biman Bahini helicopter fleet comprising Bell 212s and Mi-8s.

Also from China came four FT-2 (MiG-15UTI) advanced trainers.

Chinese-supplied BT-6 primary trainers of the Biman Bahini aerobatic team which is manned by FTS instructors.

The Nanchang-built BT-6, on which 25 hours are flown by trainee Biman Bahini pilots, has been standard primary instructional equipment since establishment of a flying training school with Chinese assistance nine years ago.