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The JF-17 Thunder is developed by PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) CAC (Chengdu Aircraft Corporation) from China. So far the Pakistan Air Force contracted 135 aircraft of the type. The next generation Block III will see another 50 delivered over the coming years.
Rogier Westerhuis
The mighty F-16C Block 52 blasts off at Antolian Eagle in Turkey.
Dino van Doorn
| Begum Nusrat Bhutto/PAF Sukkur (OPSK) | ||||||
RWY 14/32 POS 27°43'19"N 068°47'31"E ELEV 196 ft | ||||||
| PAF Sukkur |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
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no permanently based aircraft |  |
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| Islamabad/PAF Nur Khan (OPRN) | ||||||
RWY 09/27, 12/30 POS 33°36'60"N 073°05'57"E ELEV 1668 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Nur Khan |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
35 (Composite Air Transport) Wing
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No.6 Air Transport squadron 6(ATS)sq |
Antelopes | C-130B C-130E L-100 |
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No.10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport squadron 10(MRTT)sq |
Buffaloes | Il-78MP |  |
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No.12 Very Important Person Transport squadron 12(VIP)sq |
Globe Trotters | A319 Beech 350i Ce680A Falcon 20 Global 5000 G-IV/G450 |
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No.41 Very Important Person Light Communication Transport squadron 41(VLC)sq |
Ce172 EMB500 PA-34 PA-46 Y-12 II |
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No.52 Air Transport squadron 52(ATS)sq |
Markhors | CN235M-220 |  |
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Transport Conversion School TCS |
C-130 (on loan) |  |
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Pakistan has a wide variety of staff and VIP transports. Most look quite anonymous as can be seen with this Ce560XL J-754 of the VVIP flight. You can just make out the PAF-shield on the nose.
Jan Gerrits
Visiting Amsterdam/Schiphol for the Nuclear Security Summit was G450 J-756.
Erik Sleutelberg
| Jacobabad (OPJA) Shahbaz AB | ||||||
RWY 15/33, 15L/33R POS 28°17'03"N 068°26'59"E ELEV 185 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Shahbaz |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
39 (Tactical) Wing
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No.5 Multi-Role squadron 5(MR)sq |
Falcons | F-16C-52 F-16D-52 |
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No.11 Multi-Role squadron 11(MR)sq |
Arrows | F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
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No.88 Combat Support squadron Advanced Helicopter Training School 88(CS)sq AHTS |
Rams | AW139 |  |
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| 11sq has moved to 39 Wing Shahbaz AB, originating from 38 Wing Mushaf AB. | ||||||
| Karachi/PAF Korangi Creek (--) | ||||||
RWY none POS 24°46'56"N 067°08'11"E ELEV 18 ft | ||||||
PAF Korangi Creek |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
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Pre-trade Training School PTTS |
F-6 F-7 Mirage |
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| These are in use as instructional airframes; it is not a flying base. | ||||||
Seen on a pre-delivery testflight is AW139 17-004, one of a larger order placed for AW139 helicopters.
Marco Muntz
Four CN235s are operated since 2004.
Stephan de Bruijn
| Masroor (OPMR) | ||||||
RWY 04/22, 09/27 POS 24°53'37"N 066°56'24"E ELEV 35 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Masroor |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
32 (Tactical Attack) Wing
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No.2 Multi-Role squadron 2(MR)sq |
(Proud) Minhasians | JF-17 (Block II) |  |
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No.4 Electronic Warfare squadron 4(EW)sq |
Karakoram Eagles | KE-03 |  |
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No.7 Tactical Attack squadron 7(TA)sq |
Bandits | Mirage 3EA Mirage 3DP |
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No.8 Multi-Role squadron 8(MR)sq |
Haiders | JF-17 (Block III) |  |
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No.22 Operational Conversion Unit squadron 22(OCU)sq |
Ghazis | Mirage 3DP Mirage 5EF Mirage 3EL Mirage 3BE Mirage 3BL |
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No.84 Combat Support squadron 84(CS)sq |
Dolphins | AW139 Mi-171Sh |
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Masroor Station Flight Masroor SF |
MFI-395 | |
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The Pakistan Air Force operates a large fleet of Mirage 3 and 5 aircraft. It is a mixture of freshly produced aircraft and second hand examples from France, Australia, Lebanon and Libya. Around 50 Mirage 3OAs and Mirage 3ODs were bought during the late eighties and are serving the Air Force from Masroor. This one, 90-533, was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force on 22 February 1966 and operated there as A3-33.
Rogier Westerhuis
Although at first glance this Global 5000 looks like just another business jet, it is in fact operated by the Pakistan Air Force.
Paul Marsh
| Mianwali (OPMI) PAF Base M.M. Alam | ||||||
RWY 06L/24R, 06R/24L POS 32°33'47"N 071°34'14"E ELEV 690 ft | ||||||
PAF Base M.M. Alam |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
37 (Combat Traning) Wing
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No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit squadron 1(FCU)sq |
Rahbers | K-8P |  |
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No.20 Operational Conversion Unit squadron 20(OCU)sq |
Cheetahs / Eagles | F-7PG FT-7PG |
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Shooter Lead-In Fighter Training squadron Shooter(LIFT)sq |
Shooters | F-7P FT-7P |
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No.63 Combat Unmanned Aerial System squadron 63(CUAS)sq |
Harriers | Wing Loong II (UAS) |  |
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No.86 Search and Rescue squadron 86(SAR)sq |
Ababeel | Alouette 3 |  |
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Mianwali Station Flight Mianwali SF |
MFI-395 | |
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| The new Shooter squadron is tasked with Lead-In Fighter Training whereas 20sq is now the Operational Conversion Unit for F-7 pilots. | ||||||
| Minhas (--) Kamra | ||||||
RWY 12/30 POS 33°52'13"N 072°24'00"E ELEV 1030 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Minhas |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
33 (Tactical) Wing
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No.3 Airborne Early Warning Squadron 3(AEW)sq |
Angels | Saab 2000 Saab 2000AEW |
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No.15 Multi-Role squadron 15(MR)sq |
Venomous Cobras | J-10C |  |
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No.16 Multi-Role squadron 16(MR)sq |
Black Panthers | JF-17 JF-17 (Block I, Block II) JF-17 (Block III) JF-17B |
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No.87 Search and Rescue squadron 87(SAR)sq |
Dragonflies | Alouette 3 Mi-171Sh |
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No.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight 1(UAV)Flight |
Abad Burraq Shahpar |
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Minhas Station Flight Minhas SF |
MFI-395 | |
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Ministry of Defence Production
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Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra PAC Kamra |
JF-17 manufacture MFI-395 manufacture Mirage overhaul F-7 overhaul |
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| 15sq is the first J-10 unit, with the Mirages transferring to newly erected 50sq. The UAVs are now operated by their own squadrons and it is unknown if the UAV flight still exsists. | ||||||
Falcon 20s are used by two different squadrons. This J-753 is a 24sq Blinders example.
Erwin van Dijkman
The K-8 Karakorum has become quite a succes after a somewhat slow start. It was co-developed with the Chinese who manufacture it.
Erwin van Dijkman
| Mushaf (OPSR) | ||||||
RWY 06/24, 14/32 POS 32°02'55"N 072°39'55"E ELEV 614 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
38 (Multi-Role) Wing
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No.9 Multi-Role squadron 9(MR)sq |
Griffins | F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
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No.24 Electronic Warfare squadron 24(EW)sq |
Blinders | Falcon 20 |  |
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No.82 Combat Support squadron 82(CS)sq |
Stallions | AW139 |  |
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Mushaf Station Flight Mushaf SF |
MFI-395 | |
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| Airpower Center of Excellence (ACE)  |
Combat Commanders School, JF-7 squadron CCS, JF-17 sq |
Dashings | JF-17 (Block-I) |  |
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Combat Commanders School, No.23 squadron CCS, 23sq |
Talons | F-7PG FT-7PG |
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Combat Commanders School, 29 squadron CCS, 29sq |
Agressors | F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
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| Shaheen Training Corps
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No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air Training Corps SATC |
Stemme S6T |  |
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| The JF-17 squadron took over the heraldics from the F-7P squadron that was decommissioned in 2021. The former JF-17 CCS, Fierce Dragons, will receive J-10CE. The F-16 flight is now named 29sq and is thought to receive its own F-16s rather than loan them from other squadrons. The Stemme S6T motorgliders live in the shelters near the threshold of runway 32R. | ||||||
The 38th Wing at Mushaf operates a squadron with F-16A/B MLU. Seen here is a 9sq Griffins F-16B MLU.
Erwin van Dijkman
And 11sq Arrows moved to Shahbaz AB with their MLU F-16s.
Erwin van Dijkman
| PAF Bholari (--) | ||||||
RWY 04/22 POS 25°14'37"N 068°02'07"E ELEV 198 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Bholari |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
| 41 (Tactical) Wing
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No.18 Operational Conversion Unit squadron 18(OCU)sq |
Sharp Shooters | JF-17B |  |
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No.19 Operational Conversion Unit squadron 19(OCU)sq |
Sherdils | F-16A ADF F-16B ADF |
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No.53 Airborne Early Warning Squadron 53(AEW)sq |
Hawks | Saab 2000AEW | |
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| 18(OCU)sq has replaced its F-7/FT-7P aircraft with two seat Thunders. | ||||||
| PAF Murid (--) | ||||||
RWY 14/32, HEL POS 32°54'34"N 072°46'32"E ELEV 1743 ft | ||||||
PAF Murid |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
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No.60 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron 60(UAV)sq |
Shahpar I (UAS) |  |
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No.61 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron 61(UAV)sq |
Burraq (UAS) |  |
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No.62 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron 62(UAV)sq |
Falco (UAS) |  |
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No.64 Combat Unmanned Aerial System squadron 64(CUAS)sq |
Bayraktar TB2S (UAS) |  |
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No.65 Multi-Role Unmanned Aerial System squadron 65(MR UAS)sq |
Knights | Bayraktar Akıncı CH-4 (UAS) Wing Loong II (UAS) |
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No.66 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron 66(UAV)sq |
Shahpar II (UAS) | |
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Risalpur is the cradle from whence many fighter pilots came. The distinctive tweeting sound of the T-37 is very familiar to them.
Erwin van Dijkman
With well over 300 produced and current export orders under construction, the Mushshak family can be considered a huge succes.
Piet Luijken
| Peshawar (OPPS) | ||||||
RWY 17/35 POS 33°59'36"N 071°30'52"E ELEV 1180 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Peshawar |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
| 36 (Tactical Attack) Wing
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No.17 Air Superiority squadron 17(AS)sq |
Tigers | F-7PG FT-7PG |
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No.26 Multi-Role squadron 26(MR)sq |
Black Spiders | JF-17 (Block I, Block II) |  |
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No.81 Search and Rescue squadron 81(SAR)sq |
Kangaroos | Alouette 3 |  |
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Helicopter Flying Training School HFS |
Alouette 3 | |
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Peshawar Station Flight Peshawar SF |
MFI-395 | |
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| 17sq was at Quetta-Samungli under 31 Wing but moved to Peshawar to make room for a new JF-17 squadron to be based at Quetta-Samungli in 2018. | ||||||
| Quetta/Intl (OPQT) | ||||||
RWY 13/31, 13R/31L POS 30°15'05"N 066°56'16"E ELEV 5267 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Quetta |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
31 (Air Superiority) Wing
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No.28 Multi-Role squadron 28(MR)sq |
Phoenix | JF-17 (Block I, Block II) |  |
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No.85 Search and Rescue squadron 85(SAR)sq |
Saviours | Alouette 3 |  |
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Quetta Station Flight Quetta SF |
MFI-395 | |
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Both the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force are operating the Mil Mi-17, seen here is a Mi-171Sh, but with square windows.
Stephan de Bruijn
To fulfil the air refueling needs the Pakistan Air Force turned to Russia and ordered four Il-78MP aircraft. They have been in service since 2008 with 10(MRTT)sq at Islamabad.
Jim Walg
| Rafiqui (OPRQ) | ||||||
RWY 15L/33R, 15R/33L POS 30°45'29"N 072°16'57"E ELEV 492 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Rafiqui |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
| 34 (Tactical Attack) Wing
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No.14 Air Superiority squadron 14(AS)sq |
Tail Choppers | JF-17 (Block II) |  |
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No.25 Tactical Attack squadron 25(TA)sq |
(Night Strike) Eagles | Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP Mirage 5DD |
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No.27 Tactical Attack squadron 27(TA)sq |
Zarrars | Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP |
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No.50 Tactical Attack squadron 50(TA)sq |
Safshikan | Mirage 3DA Mirage 3EA Mirage 5DD Mirage 5DR Mirage 5PA |
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No.83 Search and Rescue squadron 83(SAR)sq |
Kites | Alouette 3 |  |
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Pakistan is a regular customer for Chinese products. The F-7, a MiG-21 derivative, is operated by a number of squadrons and locally known as F-7P. Apart from the F-7P, Pakistan is also operating the F-7PG since 2002 and the FT-7 as shown here.
Rogier Westerhuis
This flightline shot shows some of the 12 single seat and 6 dual seat Block 52 F-16s of PAF. Normally found at Jacobabad, but seen here at Konya.
Ian French
| Risalpur (OPRS) PAF Academy Asghar Khan | ||||||
RWY 09L/27R, 09R,27L POS 34°04'52"N 071°58'21"E ELEV 1050 ft | ||||||
PAF Academy Asghar Khan |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
Primary Flying Training Wing
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No.1 Primary Flying Training squadron 1(PFT)sq |
MFI-395 | |
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No.2 Primary Flying Training squadron 2(PFT)sq |
MFI-395 | |
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Basic Flying Training Wing
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No.1 Basic Flying Training squadron 1(BFT)sq |
T-37B T-37C |
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No.2 Basic Flying Training squadron 2(BFT)sq |
T-37B T-37C |
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| Advanced Jet Training Wing
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No.1 Advanced Jet Training squadron 1(AJT)sq |
K-8 |  |
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College of Flying Training
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Flying Instructors School FIS |
T-37B |  |
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PAF College of Flying Training PAF college |
Scheibe SF-25 Falke | |
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PAF Formation Aerobatics Team Sherdils |
Sherdils | K-8 |  |
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| No.6 Wing, Shaheen Training Corps
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No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air Training Corps SATC |
Stemme S6T | |
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| The Primary Flying Training Wing, Basic Flying Training Wing and, the Advanced Jet Training Wing, also belong to the College of Flying Training, PAF Academy. | ||||||
| Sharea Faisal (OPSF) PNS Mehran (Karachi) | ||||||
RWY 08/26 POS 24°52'29"N 067°07'04"E ELEV 29 ft | ||||||
PAF Base Faisal |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
| 40 (Air Mobility) Wing
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No.21 Air Transport squadron 21(ATS)sq |
Burraqs | C-130E Saab 2000 |
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No.89 Search and Rescue squadron 89(SAR)sq |
Mi-171Sh | |
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| PAF Base Faisal was named after Shaheed King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. | ||||||
Like many other countries in the world Pakistan is operating a fleet of C-130s. It is a mixture of former USAF, Iranian and Australian aircraft.
Erwin van Dijkman
Luckily, we sometimes get to see the Herks in Europe.
Stephan de Bruijn
| Skardu/PAF Qadri (OPSD) | ||||||
RWY 14/32, 15/33 POS 35°20'05"N 075°32'15"E ELEV 7600 ft | ||||||
PAF Qadri |
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| Wing | Squadron | Name | Aircraft Type(s) | Badge | ||
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Permanent deployments | |
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| PAF Qadri was upgraded from FOB to MOB in 2021. Units keep a permanent detachment here on rotational basis. | ||||||
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