No fewer than 296 Bell 214As – a variant specially developed and built for Iran – were acquired by the IIAA during the 1970s, and locally designated Esfahan. All were painted in dark yellow sand and dark earth over, and pale grey under. The first batch received serial numbers 6-4651 through to 3-4937, the second 2-6003 to 2-6008. The IIAA patch was usually worn on cockpit doors during the 1970s, but generally replaced by the ‘Onion’ after the revolution of 1979. The service title – originally IIAA, but extended to IRIAA after 1979 – was usually applied on cabin doors, often in white. As illustrated here, Iranian Bell 214As could be armed – usually with LAU-3/A or similar launchers for 3.75in unguided rockets – but are not known to have used this confguration during the war with Iraq. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)