Babak Taghvaee reports from the Kish Air Show, which had the ‘wow’ factor after the Iranian air force took part.
KISH AIR SHOW
IRAN’S MOST important aviation event of the year, the Kish Air Show, was held at the international airport on Kish Island between November 16-19, and proved to be a real spectacle. The highlight was participation by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), the first time it had flown at the event since 2002. It sent 11 aircraft from two tactical transport bases and three tactical fighter stations. In addition, two overseas flight demonstration teams – the Russian Air Force’s ‘Russian Knights’ and Latvia’s ‘Baltic Bees’ – also showed off their skills.
Five fighters of the IRIAF’s 2nd Tactical Fighter Base Tabriz-Fakkuri attended, comprising a F-5E Saeghe, and a F-5F Saeghe II together with a MiG-29B (3-6108) and two MiG-29UBs (3-6303 and 3-6307). They were deployed to Kish Island via a refuelling stop at Shiraz, Iran, on November 13. MiG-29 3-6108, was used for daily flight demonstrations. On November 15, the six ‘Baltic Bees’ L-39Cs arrived and the following day saw the five ‘Russian Knights’ Su-27s, including a Su-27UB, accompanied by an Il-76MD land after attending Air Show China (see p50-57).
