Test pilot Assaf Ben-Nun flying Lockheed KC-130 Hercules 4X-JYU an May 15, 1985 - this was the first of four examples converted into tankers for Singapore.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed HC-130 / KC-130 / MC-130 - СШАUSA - 1959McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk - СШАUSA - 1954McDonnell Douglas F-4E / F-4F Phantom II - СШАUSA - 1965

Bedek began to refurbish surplus IDF/AF aircraft for re-export to the North American market. A C-46 Commando being transferred to the Bedek facility in 1955.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss-Wright C-46 / CW-20 Commando - СШАUSA - 1940

Test pilots Yochanan Rozer and 'Danny' Shapira took the first upgraded Zukit for its maiden flight in September 1980.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fouga CM.170 Magister - ФранцияFrance - 1952

Work on the first Fouga Jet trainer to be assembled by Bedek.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fouga CM.170 Magister - ФранцияFrance - 1952

Fouga 4X-FDA served as the Bedek pattern aircraft for the establishment of the local production line. It was designated BK-101 with BK standing for Bedek.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fouga CM.170 Magister - ФранцияFrance - 1952

The first Fouga to be produced by IAI was formally handed over to the IDF/AF an July 6, 1960.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fouga CM.170 Magister - ФранцияFrance - 1952

Full-scale model of the B-101 business jet revealing its Fouga ancestry.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fouga CM.170 Magister - ФранцияFrance - 1952

The IAI Lahav plant in the summer of 2000 with IDF/AF F-16Ds undergoing D-Level maintenance, Turkish F-4Es being upgraded, Sri Lankan Kfirs being prepared for delivery and their MiG-21 upgrade demonstrator.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: General Dynamics F-16B/D Fighting Falcon - СШАUSA - 1977IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974IAI МиГ-21-2000 LanceR - ИзраильIsrael - 1995McDonnell Douglas F-4E / F-4F Phantom II - СШАUSA - 1965

With diminishing demand to upgrade 1950s, 1960s and 1970s generation fighters, IAI formally launched the F-16 ACE (Air Combat Enhancement) project on December 2, 1998, in collaboration with most of the advanced Israeli aerospace industries. Demonstrator 4X-ACE was first flown on June 5, 2001.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: General Dynamics F-16B/D Fighting Falcon - СШАUSA - 1977

Colombian Kfir 3043 at IAI in February 1988. The contract for the purchase of 13 Kfirs was officially announced in October 1988, with deliveries commencing the following year.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974

Kfir production line in 1975.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974

The F-5 upgrade programme required IAI to develop its first major upgrade suit for a combat aircraft that was not in IDF/AF service.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - СШАUSA - 1963

Menachem Shmul in the Lavi B-1 for its second flight on January 8, 1987, with Adi Benaya piloting the chase Kfir TC2 308.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974IAI Lavi - ИзраильIsrael - 1986

Test pilot Assaf Ben-Nun first flew the Kfir prototype 712 on August 9, 1974.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974

IAI aircraft product line in August 1975.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Arava - ИзраильIsrael - 1969IAI IAI-1121 Commodore / IAI-1124 Westwind / SeaScan - ИзраильIsrael - 1963IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974

Ra'am (Thunder) B was the codename of the project that entered IDF/AF service in 1975 as the Kfir.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Kfir - ИзраильIsrael - 1974

The first Bedek hangar under construction in 1954 - though a Beech Bonanza, an Airspeed Consul and a Boeing PT-17, as well as a Spitfire, can be seen inside the yet-to-be completed structure.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Consul / AS.65 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1949Beechcraft Model 33/35 Bonanza - СШАUSA - 1945Stearman PT-13 / PT-17 Kaydet / Model 73 (Boeing-Stearman) - СШАUSA - 1934Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

The first major export contract won by Bedek was the sale of 30 ex-IDF/AF Spitfires to Burma. Shown just prior to departure from Israel, UB422, UB450 and UB442 were the last to be delivered and were ferried from Israel to Burma during October 9-18, 1955.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

IDF/AF Stratocruiser 5815 was flown during the IAI military modification process (between April 1962 and April 1967) with the civil register 4X-FOF and the IAI in-house designation A-125.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing C-97 / Model 377 Stratocruiser - СШАUSA - 1944

The swing tail modification of the ex-PanAm Stratocruisers constituted the first major aeronautical engineering effort at IAI.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing C-97 / Model 377 Stratocruiser - СШАUSA - 1944

The first major rotary wing upgrade programme for IAI was the Yas'ur (Albatross) 2000 project that began in June 1990 when IDF/AF Sikorsky S-65C-3 544 was delivered to IAI.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky CH-53 / S-65 Sea Stallion - СШАUSA - 1964

The BQM-155 Hunter production hall at the IAI Malat plant. IAI won the US Army contract in September 1989, and what became the RQ-5 in US service emerged as a valuable intelligence asset during deployment to the Balkans. The Hunter was also purchased by France and Belgium.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: TRW,IAI RQ-5 Hunter - СШАUSA - 1995

Switzerland was early to realise the potential of using UAVs, and the Ranger was specifically developed to operate from snow-covered surfaces. Following a protracted evaluation process that lasted for more than a decade, the Swiss contract was finally announced on September 1995, with Finland following the Swiss lead in July 1999.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Ranger - ИзраильIsrael - 1988

The Arava prototype 4X-IAI was first flown on November 27, 1969, but crashed during the final flutter test on November 19, 1970.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Arava - ИзраильIsrael - 1969

Arava 4X-IAO was modified as a test-bed for the installation of winglets, flying for the first time on June 2, 1976.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Arava - ИзраильIsrael - 1969

During the 1980s the Arava was adapted as an EW platform.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Arava - ИзраильIsrael - 1969

Commodore Jet 4X-COJ was manufactured in 1965 as a Model 1121. At first converted to an Aero Commander 1122 development aircraft, it became a Model 1123 development aircraft in 1969 but was lost in an accident on January 21, 1970.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI IAI-1121 Commodore / IAI-1124 Westwind / SeaScan - ИзраильIsrael - 1963

IAI was a pioneer in the use of winglets on commercial aircraft. Westwind 4X-CMK was converted as the model 1124A prototype and was first flown in its new guise on April 24, 1979.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI IAI-1121 Commodore / IAI-1124 Westwind / SeaScan - ИзраильIsrael - 1963

Westwind 1123 4X-CJA was first flown as the model 1124 prototype on July 21, 1975.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI IAI-1121 Commodore / IAI-1124 Westwind / SeaScan - ИзраильIsrael - 1963

Westwind 1123 4X-CKE was the second model 1124 prototype.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI IAI-1121 Commodore / IAI-1124 Westwind / SeaScan - ИзраильIsrael - 1963

The first Searcher for the IDF/AF was rolled out on November 12, 1991, and the first system was formally handed over to the IDF/AF on July 16, 1992. In addition to the home customer, the Searcher was reportedly exported to India, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Scout / Searcher - ИзраильIsrael - 1980

Development of the Searcher UAV as a successor to the Scout was launched in the late 1980s.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Scout / Searcher - ИзраильIsrael - 1980

В боях в долине Бекаа широко использовались дистанционно управляемые ЛА как ложные объекты, так и для разведки. На снимке: комплект IAI Scout с телекамерой под стеклянным обтекателем и другим разведдоборудованием. Символ в виде кедра на боку обозначает 14 успешно выполненных боевых операций над Ливаном.
The Scout UAV system entered IDF/AF service in 1981 and played a significant role in the destruction of the Syrian SAM network in Lebanon during the June 1982 Lebanon War. It could be operated conventionally from an airstrip, taking off and landing just like an aircraft or it could be catapulted from a mobile launcher and recovered by a net.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Scout / Searcher - ИзраильIsrael - 1980

Test pilot Menchem Shmul took to the air for the first time in the prototype Lavi on December 31, 1986.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Lavi - ИзраильIsrael - 1986

The Astra prototype 4X-WIN was first flown on March 19, 1984, with the second prototype, 4X-WIA, following in August of the same year.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI IAI-1125 Astra - ИзраильIsrael - 1984

The Helstar rotary wing maritime UAV that was first flown July 18, 1990, was probably ahead of its time. The project was shelved in 1992 partly because of an inadequate automatic landing system and partly due to a lack of interest from the Israeli Navy.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Helstar - ИзраильIsrael - 1990

First flown on October 18, 1994, the Heron is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV that, in 1995, demonstrated its ability to fly as high as 32,000ft and for over 51 flight hours.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: IAI Heron / Harfang - ИзраильIsrael - 1994

The most comprehensive Boeing 707 modification was the Chilean Condor project that turned the jetliner into an AEW platform with the Elta EL/M-2075 Phalcon. Tested in Israel as 4X-JYI, the Chilean Phalcon was first flown on May 12, 1993, with official hand-over following on May 2, 1995.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing EC-135E / EC-18 ARIA / Condor - СШАUSA - 1968

Adi Benaya demonstrated the Super Phantom at the June 1987 Paris Airshow.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: McDonnell Douglas F-4E / F-4F Phantom II - СШАUSA - 1965

The Technology test-bed was a Dassault Mirage IIIBJ two-seater modified with a General Electric J79 turbojet and carrying test equipment in the rear cockpit.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dassault Mirage IIIB / IIID - ФранцияFrance - 1959