Photos of Pakistan Air Force at Lajes AB, Azores - Portugal

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Ilyushin Il-78 Midas (serial# R09-001) Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft photographed at Lajes Air Base, Portugal, on May 7, 2011.

Unique PAF Il-78 photo angle with low visiblity PAF roundel painted over the wing visible to viewers.

Click here to see large photo. (Photo by Leandro Rocha)

Abbas

[Toste]

Hi

The 4177 departing from Lajes


Click Here to see large photo.

Best Regards,
João Toste

[raihans]

very beautiful shot

[TAILWIND]

Beautiful picture. The beast is still gathering itself after t/o. Prop sync not engaged, landing gears in transition. I always wondered about the unique and most unusual nlg door arrangement of the herc. Conventionally, the doors are split sideways and swing about the longitudnal axis. Here the large door panel pivots on the lateral axis exposed fully to the airflow. Requiring greater hydraulic forces to operate and strong door panels.
Wonder what the 50s designers from Lockheed had in mind or were compelled due to space constraints.
I read somewhere, C130 is the 'most beautiful ugly aircraft'

[Abbas Ali]

I read somewhere, C130 is the 'most beautiful ugly aircraft'

I like this advertisement from 1990s in which Lockheed itself states "The C-130 may never win any beauty contests, but its positon as the world's best tactical airlifter remains unchallenged."



Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Abbass. No one can beat you. I had seen this ad long ago but you were able to dig it out. Welldone =D>

[Abbas Ali]

^ Your're welcome.

Actually I have this Lockheed advertisement in a 1993 edition of 'Flight International' magazine with a cover story on PIA.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Abbass we can also say 'charlie has looks only mother would like'. jokes apart, c-130 is by far the most successful aircraft ever. Sometime referred to as an aviation fluke. I read somewhere that first production aircraft is till in active service. With current US DoD plans, the C-130s are planned to remain in service and production till later half of 21st century, which if achieved will make it only aircraft to remain in active service for more than 100 years.

[Abbas Ali]

I think majority of C-130s of Pakistan Air Force are also close to the age of 50 years.

Abbas

[Toste]

Hi,

Last week landed here a IL-78 on the way to USA. On the way back landed at Santa Maria (another Island of Azores) due a storm at Lajes.


Click here for large photo!

Best regards
João

[raihans]

Click here for large photo!

PAF IL-78 Midas tanker in the background, another great shot by Toste from Portugal

[Toste]

Hello


Click here for large photo!

Toste

[Toste]

Hello

Another IL-98 at Lajes, this time R11-003:


Click here for large photo!

Toste

[raihans]

beautiful shot, thanks Toste for sharing...