AirForces Monthly October 2014

In a two-part feature in the October issue of Air Forces Monthly, Glenn Sands looks at how 31 Squadron is preparing for the last ever Tornado Force detachment to Afghanistan.

From the RAF personnel to the pilots, everyone at the RAF Marham base is tested during the week of the Mission Readiness Exercise.

In contrast, Alan Warnes details how millions of US dollars were wasted on the ill-fated program to supply the Afghan Air Force with a C-27A transport fleet – a program that ultimately saw all the aircraft scrapped.

For our Exercise Report, Neil Dunridge travelled to Hawaii to witness RIMPAC 2014 and flew on tanker support missions with the RCAF.

Often seen in combat with the Israeli Air Force over the Middle East in the 1980s, Ofer Zidon looks at the introduction and combat history of the AH-1 Tzefa. Known as the Cobra in the West, it was recently retired after nearly 40 years in service.

At last the Royal Navy has its own Aggressor Squadron – 736 NAS recently stood up with a small number of Hawks, but has big plans for the future. Lewis Gaylard found out their plans.

As the prospect of conflict increases in another War on Terror, Dave Allport, Alan Warnes and Glenn Sands pull together the latest information explaining what units are likely to deploy to the region.

Plus you’ll find all the latest military aviation news, contracts and deployments from around the world.