Photos of SyAAF MiG-23s

After the post of stills of Syrian MiG-21's, I have prepared this post for the mighty Syrian MiG-23's with some very rare stills been published for the first time.

Actually it is one still which is shown above, for a Syrian MiG-23ML in a HAS ready for scramble fitted with two AA-7 Apex missiles under the pylon of the wing gloves. While unfortunately, It is very hard to recognize the missiles those are fitted under the fuselage on both sides of the additional fuel tank...should be AA-8 Aphid's.

Another Syrian MiG-23ML appeared in media during the last SyAAF live fire maneuvers took place on July 2012. It carries the serial 2795.
Such type has received serious overhaul in Krasnodar facility in Russia.

Another Syrian MiG-23's could be spotted in Hama AFB few months ago. 

The very famous take of the pair of SyAAF MiG-23BN's also appeared in the said maneuvers of 2012, firing S-24 unguided air-to-surface rockets.

Great clear shot for a SyAAF MiG-23BN flying over Qaboon district in Damascus in Sep. 2013 after bombardment sortie, showing details of camo could be of interest of modellers and profiles makers.

Another shot from the bottom for a SyAAF MiG-23BN was taken on 21 Aug. 2013 while dispensing flares over Darayya in Damascus.

Photos of SyAAF MiG-21s - Updated II

Updating the photo archive of Syrian MiG-21's with new interesting stuff from the period before and after the current Syrian uprising.
Starting to a photo for the MiG-21R which is in display in Teshreen Panorama in Damascus. This photo is one of the first being taken for this aircraft since the reg. number is still readable 676, as recently the plane received new paint with terrible froggy patterned camo where the serial number is hidden completely -I prefer not to post here at all.

Another shot for the same reconnaissance variant (note the wing tips which are different than any other fighter variant of this type). Here it's equipped with 2 x AA2 Atol's with 2 x UB-16 unguided rocket pod (thanks to Oryx for his latest post about pods). BUT, because of the style of the post carrying the aircraft, it was impossible to mount the very famous camera pod on the centreline pylon.

Again, new photos for the monumental SyAAF MiG-21FL at the main entrance of Kweres AFB, this time while rebels are shelling the base with locally made rockets.

Another take for the same FL in a foggy ambiance as hardly we can see the signage of the Air Force Academy on the furthest right.

The MiG-21MF served for the SyAAF for more than 40 years. I believe there are no more survivors of this type nowadays. Thus, I would consider any post-uprising spotted MiG-21 is a 'bis'. Here is one releasing two S-24 air-to-surface unguided missiles.

Not to forget the second MiG-21bis with serial 2280 downed just after taking off from Abu DhHour AFB in August 2012.

SyAAF MiG-21bis maneuvering over Tabqa town (near Euphrates Dam).

Another bis accelerating after releasing its load somewhere near Tabqa town.

Photos of SyAAF MiG-15/17's

Few stills of SyAAF MiG-15's and MiG-17's I collected from many sources, gathered them in a post to share them with you.
For the 40th anniversary of Teshreen war, I would choose to start with a MiG-17 in display in Deir EzZour, the birthplace of the great ace Ghassan Abboud who could downed Six Israeli aircraft during the war.

Another shot for the same MiG-17 which is in display in a roundabout in the city which is known as 'aircraft roundabout'. I'm not sure here whether the camo is original since the serial numbers are over-painted.

Rare shot for a SyAAF MiG-17 with its serial number 1219. Infront, the pilot Riyadh Ali Hmesheh who was martyred during the aerial combats over Lebanon in 1982.

Another MiG-17 in display, but I could not recognize the location. It carries the serial 1159.

MiG-15bis also in display in Aleppo city.

Another shot for the same. The insignia under the cockpit is probably the Air Force Academy's.

Photos from SyAAF NEYRAB AFB (Aleppo IAP)

Few rare shots I could find taken in the air force base -currently more than an international airport- of Neyrab, since almost two years this air base has been playing a serious role in the attack sorties the SyAAF is conducting against Aleppo city and its country.
This base has been attacked by FSyA many times, been under siege for few months, resulted in a suspected damage to a Syrian Air Il-76 has been stationed there and seen along a year in its place on the main tarmac of the civilian part.

No surprise to see the L-39's are still flying these days over Aleppo which the last one was spotted just yesterday, as 'The Factory' in this base keeps them operational.

Above, a photo for an armed L-39ZA carrying the serial 2145 spotted a year ago firing unguided rockets and releasing FAB's over Aleppo. Beside it another L-39ZA with serial 2130.  

Another shot for one of these L-39ZA's with its rocket pods. 

A shot from distance for the tarmac of the military section of the base showing the frontal hangars of 'The Factory' with four L-39's infront. In many aerial images and various videos for this area, there were around four MiG-23's left, probably are UB variants.

Returning back to the civilian section where few Mi-8's are parking there. The above carries the serial 35.

Another Mi-8 beside, with serial 79 (having its complete serial number 379).

Finally, a shot for the Il-28 in its place with a fuselage of a Meteor lies infront.

Photos from SyAAF KWERES AFB (Part I)

It's not Green yet, unfortunately, but soon will be.
Kweres, which is known also Rasm Al Abboud, or الكلية الجوية 'The Aerial Academy' that located to the east of Aleppo, somewhere in the middle between Aleppo IAP (Neyrab) and Kshesh AFB.

I got to find some great photos taken in the period between 13th and 24th Aug. 2013 in which we can notice some slight modification to the layout of air units.
Let's start with the photo which shows the main yard, the corrugated-metal hangar seen to the left in the background -it is one of two- is the one which is known as الصيانة 'The Maintenance', in this image we can survey:
- 9 L-39's
- 3 Mi-8's (one of them carries the serial 37 or 27)
- 1 Flamingo
- 1 wrecked Meteor

Closer shot to the same hangar, which can accommodate at least Eight to Ten L-39's.

This area is to right of that hangar, shows wreckage of two Meteors. It's good to know here that in Kweres alone there are Fifteen airframes of this type, One only in Neyrab and One used to be seen in the Technical Academy in Aleppo city before shifting it somewhere.

Another Two poor Meteor's lie here, I don't remember if I mentioned before this fact somewhere in my blog: these Meteor's were phased out from service with their full operational status! that took place when Soviets started delivering their MiG-15's in 1950's, one phased out Meteor did not record more than 10 hours flying!!!

Now, going to the far eastern border of the air field, with a comprehensive shot shows the eastern secondary tarmac accommodating Five L-39's. Another one can be seen inside the HAS to the right of the image. 

Closer shot to the L-39's there...

And, to the one inside the HAS, with two Mi-8's seen in the first photo.

Our hero here did not save any measure to photo-archive the base from different corners -hoping he will do the same to the western end of the air field. Showing the Five L-39's here with a very interesting wreckage of MiG-15UTI, MiG-17 and MiG-21 (could be F-13) newly brought here!!

Another Four L-39 are gathered inside an aircraft shelter not very far from the south eastern double HAS.

The Two Mi-8's in a very weird location, never used to accommodate any aircraft here before, in the coming days I will prepare a key map showing the location of each aircraft recently spotted in the base.

Again they appear here...

A shot shows the location of a SyAADF AA guns, to the left of the photo there is an aircraft looks like a MiG-21 while previously there was only one Meteor in this place. We have to wait until new GE aerial imagery comes.

The last photo is for a Meteor sadly lies away from the tarmac where it belongs to with its washed out camo.
I'm sure someday -in the near future- we are going to see detailed photos for these great birds.

Syrian Air - Falcon 20F in Mazze Airbase

A new video just been uploaded to YouTube showing a Syrian Air Falcon 20F taking off from Al Mazze airbase. Aside from being the very first time for such type to be spotted operating since the beginning of the uprising in the country, it is good to know that this aircraft is used only and only for VIP transport, I'm talking here about presidential trips !! Although I cannot confirm whether it took off carrying the 'Assadist Family'.

SyAAF Mi's & MiG's in Deir EzZour AFB

Deir EzZour AFB is still one of the Assadist regime's stronghold not only in Deir EzZour city, but in the Eastern part of Syria which is called Al Jazeera, as it is the home base of MiG-21's those perform bombardment and attack sorties over the city and nearby villages.

I could find these two shots for this AFB, both were taken on 26th Dec. 2012.
The first one above shows the double HAS in the furthest west of the airbase sheltering a pair of MiG-21bis, a MiG-23BN stands between the HAS and another row of MiG-21's (look to be phased out).
Referring to the available records, the MiG-23BN was very effective during the fourth quarter of 2012 and was last seen operating from this base in the mid of May 2013, knowing that this variant was never seen in Deir EzZour AFB before the uprising.

The second shot shows the heli's tarmac infront of the airbase command's buildings, pair of Mi-25's and three Mi-8/17's.

A very interesting video showing the main jet tarmac with five MiG-21's in row, and two are inside the eastern double HAS.