This and the following photo's seem to have been taken during a CFE arms inspection to an Airfield in Baku, Azerbaijan back in 2000. Pictured above is AN-2 Colt, that seems to have been requisitioned for Military service during its bloody war with Armenia during the 1990's, hence the ad hoc application of Dark green over its former Aeroflot marks. No serial or code is visable, if indeed it carries one at all, though the Azeri fin flash can just be made out on the tail.
Azeri AN-12B Cub without any visable serial. Accurate figure's as to how many aircraft served with the Air Force during the conflict over Ngorniy Karabakh are hard to assertain, since many aircraft were requisitioned. The Transport element was based at Gyandzha. Although faded, the cheatline on this aircraft is actually Blue, with the small Azeri flag situated on the rear fuselage, above the cabin window's.
A very nice suprise must of been these two BE-12PS Chaika ASW/Maritime Patrol aircraft taken over from the Russian's at Baku, but seemingly placed in storage and never used by the Azeri's. The posibility is, that they may have been earmarked for the Azeri Navy.
Another type included in the Black Sea Fleet transfer were a number of KA-27PS Helix-A, three of which are seen here. Visible serials are 142 and 143, with 142 wearing fresher marking's. These would of been earmarked for the Azeri Navy, and not the Air Force.
Between 24-30 L-29 Delfin advanced Trainer's were inherited by the Azeri Air Force, and several actually undertook combat mission's over Ngorniy Karabakh from there home base at Kyurdamir, with some being lost due to lacking any armour agiainst light arms fire.
A few Mil Mi-2 Hoplite's were inherited from the Russian's, with yellow 40 still showing it's ancestry through her weathered camo. Mi-2's are currently in service with an Helicopter regiment based at Gala. Note the L-29 Delfin serialed 116 in the top photograph.
Weopon rack's are seen attached to this former Russian Mi-8MT Hip-H. Carrying the Azeri code of Red 121 over its former Russian code of 43, they served heavily in the War with Armenia, wih several being shot down.
Red 135 has the Azeri fin flash coving it's tail, and painted in a smart Green and Grey scheme.
Another veteran of the conflict with Armenia, is this Mi-24P Hind-F. Note the Shark mouth!
Another veteran, this time in the form of red 115, a former Russian Mi-24V. It wear's a shark mouth, with the Fin flash covering the whole fin, which was possibly applied as an identification aid against confusion with Armenian example's.
(All Photo's courtesy of Cold War Warrior)
These Hind's dont seem to carry any Azeri insignia and may have been used for spare's recovery to keep the service's other Hind's operational.
You can see many more excellent and extremely rare image's in Cold Water Warrior's Flickr account, http://www.flickr.com/photos/16498755@N07/
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