The only An-26 lost in the war was reported on July 14, 2014 near the Izvarino border checkpoint in the Lugansk region. It was hit by a SAM while conducting a resupply mission, claimed to have been performed at supposedly safe, high altitude. Two of the eight people on board were killed in the crash.
A Polish Air Force MiG-29 showing clearly the two powerful engine intakes.
The Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing R-73 missile, referred to by NATO as the AA-11 Archer, is the air-to-air weapon of choice for the Polish MiG-29s conducting air policing.
Under the name Operation ‘Orlik’ the Polish Air Force has now participated six times the Baltic Air Policing Mission, five of these as the lead nation.
An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon breaks from formation with another Polish MiG-29
A Polish Air Force MiG-29 in close formation with two Italian Typhoons over northwest Lithuania during a joint training mission, illustrating the co-operation between NATO allies on the Baltic Air Policing mission.
Su-25M1 '08' took a hit during a combat mission near Starobeshevo (reportedly a mobile SAM system). Pilot, Capt Vladislav Voloshin, ejected and was recovered by Ukrainian troops.
Su-25M1 '04' was gunned down on July 23, 2014 while attacking separatist positions at Saur-Mogila height. Its wreckage was found not far from the city of Shakhtyorsk in the Donetsk region.
A separatist fighter posing with a fragment of fin from a downed Su-25 on July 23, 2014.
A two-seat Su-25UB assigned to the 299th TAB taxing out, armed with 250kg high-explosive bombs.
This Su-27 Flanker assigned to the 831'st BTA at Mirogorod was seen at the beginning of hostilities flying show-of-force missions over separatist-held territories.
Challenger C-168 escorted three F-16 Fighting Falcons last summer to test the possibility of operating the type in Greenland.
RDAF F-16 Fighting Falcons intercept a Challenger as part of their Quick Reaction Alert training.
The 500 lb Paveway IV is the first air-to-surface weapon to have the guidance section and the fuse fully integrated, and the two communicate with each other throughout the flight to the target.
Tornado GR4 ZA469/‘029’ loaded with a UTC Aerospace Systems RAPTOR pod over Afghanistan during a mission from Kandahar in January 2014.
This shot shows both of the war fits used by the Tornado GR4s in Afghanistan (RAPTOR pod and Paveway IV, or two Paveway IVs and one launcher loaded with Brimstone missiles). Both configurations include a Litening III pod.
Tornado GR4s on the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base during exercise Red Flag 14-01, in which No.lX(B) Squadron participated.
A Tornado GR4 crew run through pre-flight checks before departing Kandahar Air Base for the last time in November 2014.
A Tornado GR4 with four fully-loaded Brimstone launchers takes off from runway 24 at RAF Marham.
RAF aircrew inspect Brimstone missiles loaded on a Tornado GR4 at Kandahar.
Tornado GR4 ZA461/‘026' takes off from Nellis Air Force Base on a Red Flag mission. The aircraft is loaded with one live Paveway IV bomb.
The crash site of Il-76MD Candid ‘76777’, shot down by two shoulder-launched missiles on June 14, 2014, while on approach to Lugansk Airport.
Guardia di Finanza Nexus variants have an imaging sensor turret and vertical blades for wire cutting on the windscreen and under the nose.
AW109N ‘GF-309’ from the Guardia di Finanza Centro di Aviazione (training centre) at Pratica di Mare in maritime patrol configuration, fitted with four inflatable flotation devices, two each side, on the lower surfaces.
A Guardia di Finanza Nexus showing the position of the inflatable floating devices, the FLIR and the retractable landing gear.
Over Venice, this AW109N Nexus from 14° Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri based at Treviso operates in Italy’s northeast.
A powerful searchlight, useful at night or in bad weather when patrolling at sea, is fitted to Nexus of the GdF.
The FLIR Systems SeaFLIR II thermal imaging sensor is fitted under the nose.
The second Carabinieri Nexus, over the Alps before delivery, with its temporary ‘81664' military serial painted on the tail boom.
A Wescam imaging sensor fitted under the rear fuselage of the Corpo Forestale AW109Ns. The service grounded its Nexus fleet on April 1, 2014, awaiting a decision about its future.
The Nexus has a modern glass cockpit with six multifunction displays.
An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon breaks from formation with another Polish MiG-29
A Polish Air Force MiG-29 in close formation with two Italian Typhoons over northwest Lithuania during a joint training mission, illustrating the co-operation between NATO allies on the Baltic Air Policing mission.
The AMI’s Typhoons are armed with the Mauser BK-27 cannon, AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided missiles and IRIS-T infrared missiles for air policing.
This Tu-143 UAV was discovered in a field near the city of Shakhtyorsk on August 1, 2014 by separatists. It is not clear if the UAV had been shot down by the rebels or crashed because of system failure.
An antiquated Tu-143 Reis UAV was actively used by the Ukrainian military for reconnaissance missions over territories controlled by separatists and saturated with air defence weapons. The vehicle seen has its Soviet-era five-pointed red star hastily painted over before being declared ready for operational deployment.
Покидание экипажем горящего самолета-разведчика Ан-30
The ill-fated An-30B ‘80’ had just been hit by a SAM near Slavyansk on June 6, 2014 while performing an artillery fire correction mission, with two crew members seen escaping from the burning aircraft.
Crash site of An-30B '80' near the city of Slavyansk where it was gunned down on June 6, 2014.
A320-200 OO-SND (msn 1858) is painted in a ‘Diables Rouges' (Red Devils) scheme to honour the Belgian national football team.
Airbus A320-200 OO-SNB landing at Brussels International Airport on March 17, 2015.
On March 13, 2015, Brussels Airlines and Moulinsart unveiled A320-200 OO-SNB (msn 1493) with this striking livery inspired by the Belgian cartoon character Tintin. Both Belgian companies worked several months on the project, based on the original drawings by Herge. The livery features a 37m long black shark, based on Professor Calculus’ shark submarine from the Tintin adventure, Red Rackham’s treasure. The aircraft was baptized ‘Rackham’ and carries the legend ‘We fly you to the home of Tintin’ on the fuselage.
This bomb-laden Su-24M Fencer '66' is from the 7th TAB home-based at Starokonstantinov. A handful of airworthy aircraft were involved in operations employing unguided munitions only.
ECHO Flight's Dash 8s operate from austere landing strips in remote areas of East Africa.
One of the two ECHO Flight Dash 8 Series 102s (5Y-BTP) outside DAC Aviation's facility at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
MiG-29 ‘02’ from the 40th TAB, home-based at Vasilkov near Kiev, was lost in action on August 7, 2014 near Yenakievo in the Lugansk region.
A MiG-29 from the 204th TAB formerly based at Belbek in the Crimean Peninsula, seen armed with R-73 air-to-air missiles. As many as 37 aircraft in dismantled form were returned to Ukraine in May and June 2014, soon after the annexation of the Crimea by Russia. The first of these was returned to the air on July 31 2014 in Kuibakino.
A B-8M1 rocket pack used to fire 80mm rockets in front of MiG-29 ‘02’ that was gunned down near Yenakievo on August 7, 2014.
The crash site of MiG-29 '02' downed near Rozovka village in the Yenakievo area on August 7, 2014.
Avro RJ100 OO-DWL (c/n E3361), one of 12 left in Brussels Airlines service.
Apart from the SLAR radar, the Challenger can also be equipped with a Telephonies APS-143B(V)3 Ocean Eye surface radar as seen here on C-172.
The Challengers’ main system in the fight against oil pollution is the Terma 9000 SLAR radar fitted under the fuselage.
The CL-604 Challenger is equipped with a FLIR Systems Star Safire II thermal imaging sensor housed in a retractable housing underneath the rear of the aircraft.
Challengers can drop flares, life rafts and small and medium size packages from the rear cargo door. The latter capability is often used over Greenland to deliver supplies in remote areas.
Challenger C-168 escorted three F-16 Fighting Falcons last summer to test the possibility of operating the type in Greenland.
Challenger C-215 is 721 Squadron's latest addition, seen here in the hangar shortly before being officially added to the squadron’s fleet.
RDAF F-16 Fighting Falcons intercept a Challenger as part of their Quick Reaction Alert training.
The small but comfortable cockpit of the CL-604 Challenger is occupied by the mission commander in the left seat, and the first officer in the right.
During a maritime patrol mission, the two system operators in the back of the aircraft use the SLAR and thermal imaging sensor to monitor the sea looking for ships dumping oil.
DAC Aviation began humanitarian aid support flights with a fleet of DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft, which remain in service.
A330-301 OO-SFC (msn 45), wearing its Red Devils scheme, taxies to the Brussels runway in June 2014 before departure to Sao Paulo. The Belgian football team was aboard for the flight to the World Cup finals.
Brussels Airlines operates to 17 destinations in 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Dakar in Senegal, where A330-322 OO-SFW (msn 82) is seen during turnaround.
The Red Devils scheme is also painted on Airbus A330-300 OO-SFO (msn 45).
Cessna Grand Caravan EXs are among aircraft used to transport personnel and supplies to remote areas.
I-ENAV is one of four P180s operated by the Italian national flight assistance agency ENAV to support the Italian air navigation services network.
The state police's PS-B15 at Pratica di Mare, where many of the state-operated Avantis are based.
The P180 MPA will feature a greater wing span and take-off weight.
The Corpo Forestale's P180 has a VIP configuration, but also features a FLIR turret and can be configured as an air ambulance.
The Guardia Costiera Avanti II pictured during a training flight off Sicily.
Personnel working on the P&WC PT6 turboprop engines in the 14° Stormo maintenance hangar at Pratica di Mare.
The Avanti II cockpit is dominated by the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics and three large colour multifunction display screens.
Many Avantis used by the Italian military and other state bodies are configured for VIP flights.
Seen from this side profile, there is a row of vortex generators on the wing, just aft of the pneumatic de-icing boot.
To ensure the cockpit is as clutter-free as possible many of the switched are in a neat overhead panel.
The Aspen Avionics EFD-1000 ‘Evolution’ standby instrument is entirely self-contained and provides airspeed, altitude, attitude and navigation information.
The cabin has wide leather seats, individual air vents and reading lights. Four passengers can be accommodated in club-style seating, with the fifth in the co-pilot's seat.
The ‘LVL’ button on the instrument panel automatically engages the autopilot and returns the aircraft to straight and level flight.
The throttle incorporates a Take Off Go Around (TOGA) button. When pressed, it disengages the autopilot (the yaw damper remains engaged) and moves the flight director command bars to an 8 degrees nose up, wings level attitude.
The multi-function display shows a large amount of navigation and systems information, but surprisingly it doesn’t currently have an electronic checklist.
Brussels Airlines A319 OO-SSG (msn 1160) on final approach to Brussels International Airport: one of 18 in the carrier’s fleet.
Brussels Airlines no longer operates Boeing 737s in Europe, but 737-400 OO-LTM (c/n 25070), with winglets, is operated by its Korongo Airlines subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Wet-leased Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s are used on short-haul routes with lower traffic densities.
