Bøker av Babak Taghvaee

Emirates is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates. As of 2019, it is also the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,600 flights per week from Dubai International Airport. It operates to more than 150 cities in 80 countries through its fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. Illustrated with over 150 images, this book examines the history of the airline from its founding in 1985 until the present day.

For 65 years, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has protected Malaysia's airspace, territorial lands and waters. With 21 helicopters and 119 fixed-wing aircraft, including 26 in reserve, as well as early warning radars, air defence systems and recently procured unmanned aerial vehicles, RMAF is the spearhead of the country's defence against the increasing hegemony and military presence of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China, particularly its Air Force and Navy in the South China Sea. It also plays an important role in supporting the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Agency to protect the strategic Strait of Malacca and counter any piracy activity there. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, RMAF participated in tens of counter-insurgency operations against communist rebels, while in 2013, its fighter jets participated in similar operations in Sabah. During both wartime and peacetime, RMAF has served the Malaysia by participating in humanitarian and disaster relief operations. In this book, history and current fate of the aircraft and helicopters currently in service with the RMAF, including several of the reserved and decommissioned examples, are fully covered, coupled with over 110 images.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, the Israeli Air Force has become a sophisticated and formidable power supported by highly trained personnel and a vast array of contemporary weaponry. Continually on alert in a regional hotspot, the Israeli Air Force has evolved to become the main pillar of defence for the nation. The force currently has 402 aircraft at its disposal, including 290 fighter-bombers, 136 helicopters and 80 unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance and attack. Each year, the Air Force carries out hundreds of combat sorties and training missions to keep its personnel trained to a state of readiness and to protect its borders. The history of the force and its aircraft are detailed alongside the significant wars that have shaped the current Air Force.

The history of the Iranian Air Force, currently known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), can be divided into two phases ‿ before the Islamic Revolution (1978‿79) and after it. The origins of the force lie in the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF), which became operation with its first fully trained pilots in 1925\. Until World War Two, the IIAF inventory consisted of entirely od European aircraft, however, following the British and Soviet invasion of Iran, the IIAF‿s bases were occupied and all aircraft destroyed. In this book, Babak Taghvaee examines the inventory of the IIAF during both world wars.

This book covers the history and current fate of the airline's aircraft and looks at Aegean Airlines' climb to the top of Greece's aviation industry.

Completely designed, developed and manufactured in France, the Rafale multirole fighter jet has turned into one of the most successful Dassault products in the market of 4th Generation multirole fighter jets. In addition to the 128 examples currently in service with the French Air and Space Force and Navy Aviation, 225 other Rafales were sold to Croatia, Egypt, Greece, India, UAE and Qatar.For years, French Navy Aviation and the Air and Space Force have been the two main operators of the multirole combat aircraft. The first had its first Navy variant, the Rafale M, put into operation in 2002 while the latter began operating its first Rafale Bs in 2006. Since that, they both have used these aircraft in combat during various anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Chad, Syria and Iraq. In addition to that, their aircraft were used to bolster defense of NATO's eastern borders during the recent war in Ukraine.

The Hellenic Air Force is one of the most powerful in Europe. With 37 helicopters, 343 fixed-wing aircraft including 206 fighter jets, as well as surveillance drones and surface-to-air missile systems in its service, it plays a key role in protecting Greece and its allies in the Mediterranean. In recent years, Greece's fleet of combat aircraft, particularly fighter jets, has been upgraded to ensure the force retains its position within NATO's structure. Alongside combat aircraft, the Hellenic Air Force has a significant domestic role that requires a fleet of water bombers to protect the country and its infrastructure from forest fires. Alongside are helicopters fulfilling search and rescue missions and training aircraft to ensure continuity of service throughout all the Air Force's specialist branches.

Established 31 years ago by means of a fleet of Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154 passenger aircraft, Mahan Air soon turned into the largest airline of Iran. Despite being highly sanctioned by the US government and many other EU countries, Mahan Air has managed to take the place of Iran Air, Iran's flag carrier, in many of the domestic and international routes to Iran in recent years.Under control of retired Generals of Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Corps (IRGC), the airline plays an important role in transportation of personnel and troops of the Quds Force (IRGCQF) branch of the force from Iran to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Within the past eleven years, thousands of IRGCQF members were deployed to Syria using passenger aircraft, such as the large fleet of Airbus A310s of the airline.Mahan Air also serves political interests of the Iranian government in the Middle East and Latin America. The airline has had two of its A340-303s, two Airbus A340-642s and one of its Boeing 747-3B3Ms leased to flag carriers of Syria and Venezuela. Despite being heavily sanctioned, Mahan Air has not only managed to maintain its fleet of Avro Jet RJ70/85/100s, Airbus A310s, A300s, A340s and Boeing 747s but also managed to increase their numbers to a level to become the largest airline of the country, connecting it to East and Southeast Asia by means of its large fleet of long-haul and wide-body passenger aircraft.

The development of the F-5 lightweight supersonic fighter in the mid-1950s was almost a gamble for the Northrop Corporation, but ultimately resulted in one of most commercially successful combat aircraft in modern history.