picture 204264

In addition to the well-known Bell 214A Esfahan, no fewer than 335 of which were purchased by Iran in the 1970s in several major variants, the IRIAA also deployed about 70 Agusta-Bell AB.205A utility helicopters (essentially an export variant of the UH-1H Huey). Consisting of colours named earth yellow and field drab, the camouflage on their top surfaces and sides was slightly lighter than that on Esfahans, and they usually had the top side of their noses painted in black. While serials (in the range 6–4300 upwards) were applied in black on the fin, most received full service titles – in English and in Farsi – on the cabin doors. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)