SyAAF SA 342 Gazelle Shot Down (2016-12-19)

Yesterday, 19th Dec., a SyAAF Gazelles was shot down by ISIS fire in T4 AB surroundings taking into account that since late 2014 a pair -at least- of Gazelles were deployed from Mazze AB to the T4 and housed inside the maintenance hangars as mentioned in my previous post.

The Gazelle was piloted by Brig. Gen. Khedr Al-Hussain "العميد خضر الحسين" and Major Abbas Yunes "الرائد عباس يونس", both were KIA.
I need to draw your attention here that some pro-regime media claimed the death of Major Amer Ibrahim due to the crash of his helicopter at the surrounding of the airbase which is false.

SyAAF SA 342 Gazelle Shot Down (2016-09-02)

Yesterday 2nd Sep. 2016, a SyAAF SA 342 Gazelle helicopter piloted by Col. Mohammad Ali Habib "العقيد محمد علي حبيب" and Major Alaa' Ahmad Dayyoub (or Deeb) "الرائد علاء أحمد ديوب أو ديب" was targeted and successfully hit by a TOW ATGM while the helo was patrolling nearby Al-Khattab village to the north of Hama city; both pilots were KIA.

Since Hama AB didn't house any Gazelle during the last short period, I can suspect the Gazelle was operating from Stamo newly established airbase.

This incident -footage can be seen in this VIDEO- reminds me of a similar one when a SyAAF Mi-8 was targeted by an ATGM when approaching to land at Abu DhHoor AB on 8th Sep. 2014.

SyAAF Units Photos From Syrian Army 2015 Calendar

SyAAF L-39ZO in Kweres, serial is intentionally blurred

I would like to share with my audiences photos from Syrian Army 2015 calendar, of course I excluded those of SyAF, SyAADF and Navy ;)

SyAAF Mi-25, seems he forgot to blur the serial 2858 written under canopy ;)

SyAAF Mi-17

SyAAF SA 342 Gazelle

Formation of SyAAF Su-24M2, note the different pylons/rails fitted under each Fencer

SyAAF MiG-29S, note the different pylons/rails fitted under each Fulcrum

Syrian Navy Ka-28

Formation of SyAAF MiG-29S

Formation of SyAAF Mi-17 mostly photographed over Damascus in 2011/2012

Formation of SyAAF L-39ZA/ZO

SyAAF Mi-17

SyAAF Mi-25 photographed during the live fire maneuvers in 2012

SyAAF SA 342 Gazelles

SyAAF Mi-17 with serial 2966

Syrian Navy Ka-28

Photos from SyAAF TABQA AFB (Part I)

Many activists' FB pages reported that Tabqa AFB has fallen to ISIS, I can't confirm this without photos from the heart of the base. Anyway, I will take this opportunity to post the first batch and could be the last for this base while it is under SyAAF control.
Above, a Gazelle with serial 1343 has been deployed into this airbase armed with four HOT ATGM missiles.

 

At least, two Mi-25's were also detached to this base as they are much more effective against individuals and vehicles than Jets.

This Hind should be the same videoed yesterday carrying a single FAB bomb fitted to its right wing.

I dare not say this is a MiG-21MF taxiing -considering its more than 40 years of service with SyAAF-, but it really looks an MF with its original camo colors.

A MiG-21bis preparing to take off.

Another MiG-21bis taxiing after landing.

Sadly, the famous MiG-21MF at the entrance of the airbase -with serial 460- is photographed today in this status.

A phased out MiG-21 -should be an MF- at the base.

Tabqa airbase is mainly for training for MiG-21's. Here above, a MiG-21UM with serial 2360.

Another MiG-21UM phased-out near the double HAS at the western side of the air field.

This UM was photographed today by rebels as well, it is phased-out at the road to the airbase.

Tabqa AFB On Syrian State TV


This afternoon, the Syrian official TV channel broadcasted a video report from Tabqa AFB confirming the airbase is till safe despite the continues trials from ISIS/ISIL to overrun it.
The video contains a tour in the air field where we could see HAS's and few phased-out MiG-21's.

Also, it showed a MiG-21bis taxiing after landing (as the drogue parachute compartment is open aside as can be seen here above).

Many FB pages reported the intensive traffic of military transporters 'Ilyushin' from and to the airbase, the An-26 above was among.

The biggest surprise here is to see a Gazelle deployed in this base!! This one carries the serial 1343.

Mi-25 landing with one FAB fitted to its right wing pylon.

Later, more videos come to public over YouTube, among them:
The FIRST VIDEO, In which we can see clearly the serial of the Gazelle 1343, while in the SECOND VIDEO, we can see an Il-76 military transporter at 1:17.
This THIRD VIDEO, gives a better view to the air field and the phased out MiG-21's.

Profiles of SyAAF Units - Part II (Rotary-Wing Aircraft)

Completing the profiles of SyAAF units those provided as a special gift for this blog from our friend "Erased24" .
The second part is dedicated for the rotary-wing units (Helicopters), and starting with the naval Kamov Ka-28 first appeared in media in the live fire maneuvers took place on July 7th 2012 in a promo on the Syrian TV; The one here carries the serial 12. 

Mil Mi-14PL with serial 2396, this HAZE A was spotted in Hmemeem airbase near Lattakia.
 

Mi-8 with serial 95 (i.e. 1295), I spotted this ONE in Aleppo IAP (Neyrab) in 2010 before it appeared again in the video of purifying Taftanaz airbase.

M-17 with serial 51 (i.e. 2951), this ONE was also spotted by me while stationed in the same Heli's overhaul facility in Neyrab airbase late 2011.

Mi-25 with serial 2802 which first published in the live fire maneuvers mentioned above, before it was seen later on damaged in the purified Taftanaz air field.

SA-342 Gazelle with serial 1312 fitted with the AS.12 ATGM.

Another Gazelle with serial 1352 fitted with the HOT ATGM.
Original photos of these two Gazelles in addition to ones to be published for the first time will be posted soon here.

Aircraft & Air Vehicles Over Syria

While updating the LIST of aircraft spotted in Syria, I found few interesting videos:

Syrian Airline Tu-154 landing in the military airbase in Hama city, 14 July 2012.

Gazelle scouting over Darayyah town, Damascus country, few videos are available in the LIST, this one is dated 20 March 2012.

Syrian Airline Yak-40 spotted flying over Al Qsair town, Homs country, 2 May 2012.

UAV spotted scouting over Kafar Batna town, Damascus country, 6 February 2012.

Another UAV spotted flying over Homs city, 14 April 2012.

Later, on 7 July 2012 another UAV appeared flying again over Kafar Batna town, Damascus country.

The recent UAV appeared over Talbeeseh town, Homs country, 21 September 2012.

Very strange propeller appeared over Al Atareb town, Aleppo country on 13 March 2012.
Can anyone recognize this air vehicle which wasn't seen before? Is it one of those could be seen in Al Qsair AFB as per the below aerial image (one of the four airplanes) ?

Note there are two types of propellers in this yard.

If the footage here is true in Syria, then this will be the first appearance of a Harbin Z-9 helicopter spotted on 13 May 2012 over Darayyah town, near Mazzeh AFB in Damascus, this should be used for VIP or even Assad family transporting.

The first appearance in media for a SyAAF Su-24MK in action in Idleb province, dispensing flares while maneuvering and bombing Free Syrian Army units besieging Al Ma'sara checkpoint near Mhambel town !!

I left the most strange video to the last, it's a real UH-1 Huey said to be flying over the borderline town of Talkalakh on 21 September 2012 !!!!
Again, if the footage is real, then there are two theories, it might be a Lebanese (FAL) Huey patrolling near the border, or it is an Iranian (IRIAF) unit been transferred to Syria !!

Again a pair of Huey's were spotted flying over Al Qsair town in Homs country as said in the video, the publishing date of this video is 22 September 2012.
The last theory of these Huey's is they might be videoed flying in the Lebanese sky, but said to be in the Syrian sky !?!?

SyAAF L-39 Albatros

Nice and rare photos of SyAAF L-39 Albatros been taken some few days before the annual parade in Rasm Al Abboud training air base; The above reg. 2052.

Close shoot to an L-39 reg. 2090 looks locally repainted.

Syria used to operate around 100 L-39's, the majority is ZO variant.

Another photo for the same 2090.

These aircraft were distributed into 3 bases : Rasm Al Abboud, Ksheish and formerly Abu Dhhour.

The reg. number here is not readable, but looks 209x

Training for the aerobatic team which contains four aircraft with permanent plain color for each one extracted from the colors of Syrian flag...Black, White, Red and Green.

16 L-39's forming the word "Asad" in Arabic.

Amazing shoot shows an L-39 and Gazelle above, with one of the phased out Meteors Night Fighter Mk.13 in Rasm Al Abboud air base !!

Gear and flaps downed preparing for landing.

Three L-39's in the main yard in Rasm Al Abboud AB, note the furthest one has different camo pattern.