During a visit to the Israeli Defence Force’s museum at Hatzerim, last April, reader Paul Van Oers was told by a local source that all of the Tsukits have been retired from service; not only from the Heyl Ha’Avir, but also all other units. 536 and 540 were two of nine examples preserved in a storage area adjacent to the museum.

Since making its first flight on May 19, 1976, a total of 137 production UTVA 75s have been built. This Yugoslav two-seat basic trainer has been modified for crop-spraying (75AG) and as a four-seat touring aircraft (75A). It has seen service with air forces and flying clubs in Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Republic Srpska, Bosnia-Hertzegovena, Macedonia and a sole example has been sold to Jordan. In some of the former Yugoslav countries it flew combat missions during the conflict, serving as a liaison, reconnaissance and even ground attack aircraft for which it was fitted with Zolja (64mm) or Osa (90mm) rocket launchers and carried 50 to 65kg bombs.

Spanish Air Force Falcon 900 T18-1 arriving at Birmingham Airport on May 6, 1996, bringing a delegation for the Western European Union Minister’s Meeting. There were 27 countries represented at the meeting, with foreign and defence ministers of 22 nations arriving by air.

Resplendent in the colours of Jersey Airlines (as was), de Havilland Heron 2 G-AORG Duchess of Brittany was flown in to Alderney on June 16, 1996, during the island’s GA fly-in. G-AORG saw service with Jersey Airlines from 1956 to 1962; it was then operated by the Royal Navy as a Sea Heron (XR441) until its retirement in 1989, when it was bought by its present operators, Duchess of Brittany Ltd. Although several Herons remain registered in the UK, this is the only example which is currently airworthy.

Sad sight of a Royal Saudi Air Force Chipmunk (602/603?) languishing at Jeddah in 1985. Also at Jeddah in various states of disrepair were a number of Dakotas, DC-4s, T-28s, Vampires, A-26s and Harvards.