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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 13h

A real favourite of mine - one of the awesome French Navy Rafale M pair at the much-missed Yeovilton Air Day in 2017. This jet wears the lovely colours of Flotille 11F’s “White Tiger” as they hosted that year’s NATO Tiger Meet at BAN Landivisiau.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

One of the coolest classic jets on the European circuit; the Messerschmitt Me262 replica at AirPower in 2022.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Throwback to RIAT 2014, and the awesome Polish AF Su-22 pair, which was their only flying appearance at the show, despite getting around on the continent a bit. The venerable “Fitter” was finally retired from Polish service in 2025.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A JASDF U-125A, part of Koku Kyunandan, the air rescue squadron with detachments at several JASDF bases. The U-125A’s role is soon to be replaced by drones, and this jet (018) seems to have been the first of the fleet to officially retire, being last seen stripped for parts at Komaki.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A real favourite of mine - a Romanian AF MiG-21 arriving at RIAT 2019, on the cusp of the type’s retirement. A true Cold War classic design. Sadly, there are no more MiG-21s left flying in military service in Europe.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

An (EH)AW101 / Merlin HM2, seen at RIAT 2025. The aircraft (the HMs, especially) have served the U.K. for a few decades and continue to be amongst some of the best naval/maritime helicopters in the world.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

An Armée de l’Air Dassault Mirage F1 at RIAT 2013. My first season with a digital camera, and I was just lucky enough to capture these before they retired from French service.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The French Navy’s newest helicopter type, the Airbus Helicopters H160B (which is an interim model before the militarised H160M comes along), seen at Hyeres last year.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A Royal Danish Air Force MH-60R performing at Aerotorshow a few months ago.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The Spanish Air Force SF-5M at RIAT 2024. Always great to see F-5s, especially as the type is now so scarce.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A USAF CV-22B Osprey operating at RAF Fairford in January this year; part of the work up to seize a Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

One of two KC-130Hs with the JASDF. Wearing a scheme similar to the C-2s, just two of the fleet are painted in this way, the remainder wear a grey/green livery.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

A glorious-looking EC-665 Tigre from the French Army, with day glo strips to boot!

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A Taiwanese AH-1W Super Cobra at its base in Guiren in 2024. Great to see one of the more advanced versions of the “Snake” family.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A Royal Canadian Air Force CH-47 Chinook at RIAT 2017. Great to see a fairly exotic example of the type.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

An AH-64E under the lights at RAF Northolt in 2025.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A former Australian Air Force PC-9A on its second post-restoration flight from Saint Athan recently. This machine, G-SBST, retains the former “Roulettes” display team livery.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The Qatari-marked (but Boeing flown) F-15QA rocking it at RIAT 2024.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

One of the colourful JASDF Aggressor Eagles based at Komatsu some years ago.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A lovely-looking Sécurité Civile H145 D3 (DRAGON13) practicing Bambi-bucket work a few weeks ago. These choppers and their fixed wing counterparts have been incredibly busy fighting wildfires recently.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

One of the Ep Epic Fury bombers based at RAF Fairford in March 2026 supporting Trump’s stupid war with Iran. One hopes for a swift draw down of these assets soon.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The awesome AS565 Panther of the Aeronavale. Love how aesthetic these helicopters are.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Fairly unremarkable but still rare even when it was in-service; a Spanish Air Force C.101 Aviojet at Murcia in 2015. They were familiar across Europe in their Patrulla Aguila colours, but few got to see them in their “operational” livery. The type has now retired from service, replaced by PC-21s.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

An E-2K of the Republic of China Air Force (operated on behalf of the Navy) landing at Pingtung in 2024.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A great moment at RIAT in 2022, where these Hungarian Mi-24P visited the show. The Hungarian Hinds have now been retired. #Mi24 #Hind #Mi24Hind #RIAT #HungarianAirForce

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Another F-2 topside from Hyakuri in 2023. We had eight launches that morning, four of them carrying rare loadouts of weapon configurations. #F2 #MitsubishiF2 #Mitsubishi #JASDF #Hyakuri

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

An RAF Tornado heading through the Mach Loop back in March 2018, in somewhat cinder conditions than we’ve had in the U.K. recently! If memory serves, I was the only one up the Bwlch that day, and had two passes from two different Tornados.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A Czech AF UH-1Y Venom - the latest and most lethal of the venerable “Huey” family.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A C-130J of the Royal Danish Air Force dumping out flares at Karup in 2022.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

One of Couteau Delta launching out of Valence-Chabeuil a few weeks ago. Always awesome to see the Mirage 2000D.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The very smart Dassault Falcon 10MER of the French Navy. These little jets are on the cusp of retirement, being replaced by the Pilatus PC-24.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

A B-1B Lancer landing at RAF Fairford in 2021 during a BTF.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

An AW159 Wildcat with a full load of LMM Martlet missiles performing tests at Leonardo’s factory site at Yeovil several years ago.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A favourite of mine - a Republic of China Air Force F-5F at Hualien in 2024. One of just a handful left in service at the time. The type was retired in June 2025.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Czech Air Force UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper. They’re the only country in Europe to operate the latest versions of the legendary Huey & Cobra designs. This photo shows how much commonality the aircraft share.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A pair of Hellenic Air Force F-4s in the break to land. Awesome to see these Cold War titans still at it!

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A throwback to this spectacular F-15C launch from RIAT on departures day in 2017.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Japan’s awesome Mitsubishi XF-2A in its bright test and development livery put through its paces at Gifu in 2023.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The indigenous Kawasaki OH-1A “Ninja” flying at Tachikawa in 2023. In 2022, the Japanese Government stated their intention to replace their scout and attack helicopters with UAVs in the near future, meaning that the OH-1’s days are numbered.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The new H160B for the French Navy. The type is an interim model whilst the military H160M is developed. The type replaces the Lynx and Dauphin in Aeronavale service.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The Me262 flying at Zeltweg in 2022. A really cool and unique aircraft on the European classic jet circuit.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

One of Couteau Delta landing at Valence-Chabeuil in June.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A JASDF F-15J in 2023 - love the look of these single seat Eagles.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The F-22 Demo Team at RIAT in 2017. It has been some years since they (or any ACC demo) have flown at the event. #F22 #Raptor #F22Raptor #RIAT #USAF

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The new Airbus A350-1000ULR as part of Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” into Cardiff recently. Yesterday it set a record as the first commercial airliner to fly non-stop for over 24hrs from Melbourne to Toulouse, at a distance of 12,460 nautical miles

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

An old favourite of mine, a Czech Mi-24/35 in its “Alien Tiger” livery, performing at Zeltweg in 2022. The type has now been retired from Czech service, with many of the aircraft being donated to Ukraine.

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The German Tiger Display Team at Aerotorshow. Always great to see the EC665 in the air - I love the German Army livery! #EC665 #TigerDisplay #GermanArmy #heeresflieger #Aerotorshow

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Tom Jones @tomjaviation.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

One from a few years ago. A JASDF Mitsubishi F-2 rolling out at Hyakuri with a punchy loadout of four ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, and two AAM-3 air to air missiles. It’s rare to see an F-2 with a full mission load.

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