| title (item) | field_cer_web | field_cer_navbox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 206 |
During the 1970s, the Iranian Army closely followed the helicopter-related developments and thinking of the US Army. When, based on experiences from Vietnam, the Americans decided to develop hunter-killer teams consisting of light scout helicopters and dedicated armoured attack helicopters, the Iranian army aviation followed in fashion. One of the results was the acquisition of 214 Bell 206s, the majority of which entered service with the army and were camouflaged as shown here, in dark sand and dark earth on top surfaces and sides, and light grey on undersurfaces. In addition to use as scouts, they were primarily deployed for utility purposes. The insets show an interim variant of the IRIAA’s crest (applied on many of its Bell 206s and AH-1Js during the second half of the 1980s and later on), and the service title of the IRIAA in Farsi (more commonly known as ‘Havaniruz’). (Artwork by Tom Cooper)