Cockpits of SyAAF Aircraft - Part I

The first part of photos taken in cockpits of SyAAF aircraft of various types.

Of course, the invasion of Tabqa AFB by ISIS has revealed some valuable shots inside MiG-21 types.

Cockpit of the 2217 MiG-21bis

 

Cockpit of the 1543 MiG-21MF

 

Cockpit of the 1543 MiG-21MF

 

Cockpit of the 1543 MiG-21MF (extracted from a Video)

 

Cockpit of the 1543 MiG-21MF (extracted from a Video)

 

Cockpit of a SyAAF Flamingo basic trainer

 

Cockpit of a SyAAF MFI-17 Mushshak basic trainer

 

Photos of SyAAF MiG-23 (ML/MF) - UPDATED

 
OK, please enough Tabqa and enough MiG-21's, let's change some air!
Above, a new photo emerged the last month for a MiG-23 at least armed with R-24 missiles (long white) -could be either ML coming from Sh'eirat AFB or an MF coming from Hama AFB- maneuvering over Lattakia coast at very low altitude. Are SyAAF patrolling the coast regularly or it was an incident to spot that MiG-23 that day!?!?

 
Syrian MiG-23MF landing in Hama AFB.

One of the rarest shots for an armed MiG-23ML inside a HAS, typically fitted with R-24R (AKA AA-7 Apex) medium-range air-to-air missiles under wing roots pylons and R-60 (AKA AA-8 Aphid) short-range air-to-air missiles under fuselage.
 

The first time to spot a MiG-23ML fitted with B-8 unguided missiles pods over Damascus area, performing raids against ground targets, the place the BN dominate there.

Photos from SyAAF TABQA AFB (Part IV)

The last batch of photos -so far- for the overrun airbase of Tabqa revealing photos for at least eleven MiG-21's leaving tens of sadly scraped units (there are few MiG-15/17's among) without any photo record.

Again, I would recommend to download the 'KEY MAP' of this airbase in order to understand the location of each unit seen here.

2217 MiG-21bis...who did say ISIS won't find pilots :P

460 MiG-21MF at the Main Gate

549 MiG-21UM (Location Unknown)

Eastern Double HAS with 1543 MiG-21MF inside

Rear view of the 1543 MiG-21MF

1543 MiG-21MF

1543 MiG-21MF. Note the inboard pylon for FAB and the outboard rail 
for missiles/rockets

R-13M air-to-air missiles

Chaff/Flares dispensers over wooden crates

UB-16 unguided rocket pods (Preliminary variant?!?)

Newly taken aerial view for the airbase

Photos from SyAAF TABQA AFB (Part III)

Tabqa AFB Key Map

Some more amazing stuff here emerged from Tabqa AFB that was seized by ISIS on 25th August. I worked on various videos and photos in coordination with the greatest GE which from I succeeded to indicate the location of each MiG-21 appeared in, and reflecting that on the 'KEY MAP' above, just download it and do your best to find the RED MiG's with their variant and serial written beside. (note that each RED aircraft is oriented as seen on footage). 

Let's say that this is the first time to have a solid evidence for UM trainers with serials in range 5xx; also to see an MF with serial 18xx instead of 15xx or even the rare 4xx range alike that poor 460 damaged on the gate of this base !!

Double HAS with two MiG-21UM's inside (the 560 is to the right) and 2217 MiG-21bis outside

2217 MiG-21bis

2217 MiG-21bis

2217 MiG-21bis

560 MiG-21UM

MiG-21MF

1810 MiG-21M (Could be one of the ex-East German units delivered to 
SyAAF after the 1973 war. Special thanks to Tom Cooper)

471 MiG-21MF

Closer View to the 471 MiG-21MF (Notice the insignia of 'The Factory' or 
AKA '419 Plant' of Neyrab airbase overhaul facility at the air intake)

2357 MiG-21UM

1569 MiG-21MF

U.S. Predator UCAV Over Syria!!

Today, 5th September, the U.S. Predator UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) is first spotted in Syria flying over Al-Raqqa city.

The appearance of these Predators over Al-Raqqa area comes after Tabqa AFB been seized by ISIS and their preparations to advance towards other areas especially Deir EzZour AFB.

Harbin Z-9 Helicopter in Syria



Finally, the existence of the Harbin Z-9 in Syria is confirmed!! with this aerial imagery newly uploaded on GE (Google Earth) on 28 Aug. 2013 confirmed the appearance of a quad-rotary-winged helicopter in Hmemim (Lattakia) airport which is no doubt the Chinese made Z-9.
 

Back, on 13th May 2012, a video for a Z-9 helicopter said to be spotted flying over Darayya (Damascus) was published (below). That time it wasn't confirmed neither by speech, nor by footage whether the helicopter was truly videoed in Syria, especially with few videos that period for Turkish and Lebanese Bells said to be flying in Syrian sky those were actually videoed in their home land...

 

Since that date, I was examining every update for GE trying to locate this helicopter in airbases or even presidential palaces in Damascus or Lattakia but failed, until this latest update which revealed the existence of this VIP transporter in Syria.

Spotted Aircraft/Aerial Vehicles over Syria: August 2014

August, witnessed the fall of Tabqa airbase into the hands of ISIS (Da'esh), resulting in concentrating their advance to the east to Deir EzZour AFB.
Tabqa is the main training base for MiG-21 aircraft in Syria, the base was -as said- tactically abandoned by the regime to be recaptured again sometime in the future...as stated as well. It was left with what couldn't be evacuated of intact but non operational airframes such as the 2217 MiG-21bis and the 1543 MiG-21MF (at least).

Kweres was under siege of ISIS units and was shelled heavily since the mid of August, Hama as well, but by FSyA this time.

Below is the list of spotted 'Aircraft and Aerial Vehicles' over Syria during the month August 2014. Raids and SyAAF sorties did not become as less as what is listed below, but it looks that spotters, our all-the-time heroes have lost their interest to video raids and aircrafts, adding to that the lack of net connections in many places preventing them uploading their stuff to share it with us:

PROVINCE	CITY/TOWN	DATE	AIRCRAFT	LINK
Hama	Mourek	02-08-2014	MiG-23MF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXERxXnRR8
Hama	Khattab	02-08-2014	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGv8ovBzWg0
Damascus	Yalda	04-08-2014	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6hWjRejkrU
Damascus	Adra	05-08-2014	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kJ1j6GtoA4
Homs	Sha'er	07-08-2014	Su-22M	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3zDbtUaLKE
Idleb	Kensefra	08-08-2014	Su-24MK	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MACugyjSQqk
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	09-08-2014	Su-24MK	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIw8B-r-sVc
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	09-08-2014	MiG-21	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNUkMGLquPw
Idleb	Deir Sunbol	10-08-2014	Su-24MK	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S1Bhu3Xp7o
Homs	Al-Ghanto	18-08-2014	Su-24MK	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BklGbcMCcR8
Damascus	Mleha	20-08-2014	MiG-23BN	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfltWXRccqA&feature=youtu.be
Damascus	Douma	21-08-2014	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVShya2cFzA
Homs	Houle	21-08-2014	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c65vlXGXMY
Hama	Al-Zawar	23-08-2014	Su-22M	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpbLNXYL8Cc
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	27-08-2014	MiG-23MF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_tkiH5uk6Q
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	29-08-2014	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1bzI3f3dtU
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	30-08-2014	MiG-21	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw_T8Pl8bpA