The Aviation Magazine No. 54 January-February 2018 | Page 30
AFM Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter and a Beechcraft B200 King Air
Saudi Hawks aerobatic display, right top
Turkish Stars aerobatic display, right bottom
Support aircraft
Nine supporting aircraft flew in to ferry the necessary ground personnel, equipment and logistics backing
for the three aerobatic teams, these were:
Swiss AF – Beech B1900D – T‐729 – supporting the arrival and departure of the Swiss PC‐7 team;
Turkish AF – Airbus A400M – 15‐0051 – supporting the arrival of the Turkish Stars;
Turkish AF – Lockheed AC‐130E – 62‐13187 (Solo Turk markings) – in conjunction with the Turkish Stars;
Royal Saudi AF – Lockheed C‐130H – 472 – supporting the Saudi Hawks team arrival;
Royal Saudi AF – Lockheed C‐130E – 1623 – supporting the Saudi Hawks team arrival;
Royal Saudi AF – Lockheed C‐130H – 473 – supporting the Saudi Hawks team departure;
Royal Saudi AF – Lockheed C‐130H‐30 – 1631 – supporting the Saudi Hawks team departure;
Turkish AF – Lockheed C‐130H – 70‐01947 – supporting the Turkish Stars’ departure; and
Turkish AF – Airbus A400M – 15‐0055 – supporting the Turkish Stars’ departure.
Other notable observations
RAF Tornado GR.4 from 9 Squadron, ZA370 (004) flew in on the Tuesday after the air show bringing a RAF
technician to assist in the necessary work on the serviceability of Tornado GR.4 ZG779 (136) of the same
squadron. The latter returned to Malta on Monday after taking off due to an onboard technical malfunc‐
tion. At the time of writing ZA370 was still at Park 5, MIA.
A US Navy MH60 from HSC‐28 departed on Wednesday following the air show after a technical matter pre‐
vented it from leaving earlier.