CRUZEX 2024
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea BrasileiraThe Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (CRUZEX) is the largest exercise in South America and attracts participants from all over the continent as well as the USA. The exercise was first held in 2002 and 2024's...
Base Aérea de Natal – Força Aérea Brasileira
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea BrasileiraBase Aérea de Natal (BANT) was originally called Parnamirim Airport and was a significantly strategic base during World War II for missions to West Africa.BANT was used by the Brazilian Air Force, US...
Brigata Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito Italiano – Italian Army Aviation Support Brigade
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian FrenchThe Brigata Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito reports to the Comando Aviazione dell-Esercito and consists of four regiments which have existed for many many years. The regiments all have/had their own aircraft/helicopters which...
7° Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito “Vega”
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French7° Reggimento AVES "VEGA" was formed in 1998 at the Rimini Miramare base reporting to the "FRIULI" Airmobile Brigade. The two flight groups of 7° Reggimento "VEGA" provide significant operational flexibility allowing the unit...
5° Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito “Rigel”
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French5° Reggimento was established in 1976 at Carsarsa della Delizia, the airport dedicated to the First World War Italian ace Maj. "Francesco Baracca". 5° Reggimento "RIGEL" formed by the fusion of two pre-existing flight units:...
4° Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito “Altair”
Authors: Ian French & Jon Astley Photography: Ian French4° Reggimento was established in 1976 at Bolzano and controlled all alpine units. It had three squadrons originally. 24° Gruppo Squadroni “ORIONE” at Belluno (South Tyrol). 24° Gruppo Squadroni was established in...
Aviazione dell’Esercito at Viterbo
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French & Jackie Rodgers1° Reggimento Aviazione dell’Esercito “Antares” at Viterbo1° Reggimento was originally formed in 1976 with 11 Gruppo and 51 Gruppo. 28 Gruppo which was originally independent was added in 2013.11° Gruppo...
Overview of Aviazione dell’Esercito
Author: Ian French & Brian Rodgers Photography: Ian FrenchThe organisation and role of Italian Army Aviation has undergone significant and frequent radical changes over its life making a thorough, succinct and coherent history rather challenging.The Army Aviation...
Exercise Nordic Response 2024
Author: Ian French Photography: Ian French, USMC, Royal Norwegian Air Force & Swedish Air ForceNordic Response was originally a Norwegian exercise called Cold Response, which took place every two years. With the expansion of NATO to include Finland and Sweden, this...
Força Aérea Brasileira – Part 2
Author: Ian French Photography: Força Aérea Brasileira & Ian FrenchPart 1 of the Força Aérea Brasileira covered the wing structure and this artcile, Part 2, covers the units outside of that structure. The first unit is Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE) at Brasilia...
Força Aérea Brasileira
Author: Ian French Photography: Força Aérea Brasileira & Ian FrenchThe Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) is the aerospace branch of the Brazilian armed forces and is managed by the Aeronautics Command (Comando da Aeronáutica – COMAer). COMAer was created in 1999.COMAer...
Peru – Direccion de Vigilancia y Reconocimiento Aeroe (DIVRA)
Author & photographer: Ian FrenchThe Dirección de Vigilancia y Reconocimiento Aérea (DIVRA) was established in 2015 to address the growing threat of drug trafficking and terrorism and to better organise the country's surveillance operations. It is based at Las Palmas...