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Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
During World War II, the Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina flying boat became famous for its long-endurance missions over the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean against enemy ships and submarines. Only very few…
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Sayonara Samurai Phantoms
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II had a remarkable 50 year long lasting career in Japan. This is a personal review of Phantom encounters in the Land of the Rising…
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F-AZJU – La Ferté-Alais’ Ju-52/3m
The Junkers Ju-52 is an aviation legend, and “F-AZJU” is a true piece of jewelry for the French Amicale Jean Baptiste Salis. The aircraft is based at the Amicale’s homebase…
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Planespotting Japan – Military airfields around Central Honshu
One week of aviation photography can be easily spend around central Honshu, Japan‘s main island. This article focuses on a selection of major military airfields around Tokyo that are within…
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D-Day – 75th anniversary in Normandy
The 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy brought some highlights for the aviation enthusiast. Nearly two dozen Dakotas made their way from Duxford in England over the English Channel to…
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Classic Fighters – Omaka Airshow 2019
The thundering noise of a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18C fighter jet astonished the visitors of the 2019 airshow at Omaka. That is no wonder, as fighter jets are a…
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Scenic Switzerland – Tigers and Hornets fighting at Meiringen
Swiss Tigers are facing their extinction! 110 have originally been ordered by the Swiss Air Force. Nowadays their number is down to only 27. Apart from the F/A-18 Hornets, the…
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Good Bye SAR Huey at THR 30
Time to say farewell to a legend! The SAR command of the Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 (Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 / THR 30) at Niederstetten changed from the venerable Bell UH-1D „Huey“…
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Blue Wings 2020 Exercise
A historic first! August 2020 saw the visit of Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-16C/D “Barak” fighter jets deploying to Germany. With security on high alert and very restricted access to…
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Polikarpov I-16 Mosca at Madrid
The Polikarpov I-16 Rata is a rare bird. Only a dozen of originally more than 8500 produced aircraft exist, including seven that have been re-build for Sir Tim Wallis’ Alpine…
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Hatzerim – Israel AF Flight Course 176 Graduation
Twice a year, around three-dozen Israeli Air Force (IAF) officers receive their wings. Of these, roughly half will go on to become fighter pilots or weapons system officers, a third…
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Luftwaffe H145M LUH SOF operations
Barely touching the earth’s surface a pair of helicopters follows the terrain on the approach to its target. The flight route has been selected in way to remain undiscovered up…