135 Squadron (Israel)

Last updated
135th Squadron IAF
טייסת 135
IAF Squadron 135.svg
Logo of the Squadron
ActiveAugust 12, 1987 – present
CountryFlag of Israel.svg  Israel
AllegianceFlag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg  Israel Defense Forces
BranchIsrael Air Force Flag.svg  Israeli Air Force
Type Reconnaissance Squadron
Garrison/HQ Sde Dov Airport
Nickname(s)Air Kings
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance Beechcraft Super King Air 200
Beechcraft A36 Bonanza
Bonanza A36 ("Khofit") plane of this squadron RamatDavid 020517 Bonanza 01.jpg
Bonanza A36 ("Khofit") plane of this squadron

The 135 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Air Kings Squadron.

This squadron operate a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 ("Tzofit" and "Kokiya") and Beechcraft A36 Bonanza ("Khofit").

The squadron based at Sde Dov Airport. [1]

History

The squadron was established on May 1, 1974 , and was called the "Light Transport Squadron". Since then she has carried out many missions, in which she transports commanders and officers in Israel and abroad, relay missions, electronic warfare and intelligence gathering, as well as many training missions, in which she flies navigators during the pilot course at the flight school and trains pilots from all the corps on its 3 types of aircraft.

Its establishment was done in a quick process, and without many bureaucratic obstacles, as part of learning the lessons after the Yom Kippur War . The Air Force Commander at the time, Major General Benny Peled , decided that the Air Force needed a squadron that could perform transport missions in all conditions. In addition, the SDF increased in the flying camel squadron ( 100 squadron ), and it was decided to split it up, and assign the transport and patrol missions to the air kings squadron. The crane and sparrow aircraft remained in the flying camel squadron, while the Cessna and Islander aircraft were transferred to the "light transport" squadron. About half a year after the end Yom Kippur War A couple of pilots were sent to the United States and were converted on the Zamir ( 80-B Queen Air ) plane.

During Operation Litany, in 1978, the squadron performed 88 reconnaissance sorties and 35 transport sorties. During the peace negotiations with Egypt , the squadron made transport flights for members of the negotiation team on Zamir planes to Cairo and Alexandria.

On July 30, 1982, the squadron's missions were redefined following the intention to purchase Beechcraft RC-12D "Guardrail" aircraft for intelligence missions. The new planes were absorbed into the squadron in November 1984 and were given the Hebrew nickname "Cuckoo". Since 1985, the squadron has been performing operational missions using the Cuckoo. [2] Over the years the squadron received many new aircraft; In 1995, the Cessna was replaced by the Pashush aircraft ( TB-20 Trined ), and in 2002 the Nightingale was replaced by the Scout aircraft. [3] [4]

The Peshosh was replaced by the Coastal in 2004, and was used by the squadron until its closure in 2018.

Throughout the years of its activities, the squadron has flown many and varied types of aircraft, demonstrated impressive achievements, such as the squadron that performed the greatest number of flight hours in the force. While most of the squadrons are engaged in training, the Air Kings squadron carried out operational activity for the benefit of the current state security, in all sectors.

In 2004, the squadron appealed to the general public to propose a new name, and within a few months it adopted its current name "Kings of the Air Squadron", which indeed represented it in an appropriate way, thanks to its planes produced by the company " King Air " (which translates in Hebrew as "King of the Air") , and thanks to its holding the flight hours record for many years.

The technical branch of the squadron, which was responsible for maintaining the planes and preparing them for sorties, was also shared with Squadron 100 ("the Flying Camel Squadron").

The squadron was closed in December 2018 and merged back into Squadron 100. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Air Force</span> Aerial service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of April 2022, Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas A-4 Skyhawk</span> Carrier-based attack aircraft

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, and later, McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy's pre-1962 designation system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">69 Squadron (Israel)</span> Israeli Air Force squadron formed 1948

The 69 "Hammers" Squadron is an Israeli Air Force squadron operating the F-15I Thunder out of Hatzerim. It was formed in July 1948 to operate three B-17 Flying Fortresses which the fledgling Israeli Air Force had acquired in the United States. The squadron flew the Flying Fortress, an aircraft credited with propelling the IAF into the realm of modern aerial warfare, during both the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and 1956 Suez Crisis. Disbanded in early 1957, 69 Squadron reformed in 1969 to fly the F-4 Phantom II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatzor Airbase</span> Airbase in Hatzor, Israel

Hatzor Airbase, also titled Kanaf 4 is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base, located in central Israel near kibbutz Hatzor after which it is named. However, there have been no fighter jets stationed there since 2021, only patrol aircraft, UAVs and defense missiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tel Nof Airbase</span> Main base of the Israeli Air Force

Tel Nof Airbase, also known as Air Force Base 8, is the oldest and main base of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) located 5 km south of Rehovot, Israel. Tel Nof houses two strike fighter, two helicopter and a UAV squadron. Also located on the base are the Flight Test Center and several special units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), among others Unit 669 and the Paratroopers Brigade training center and its headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">107 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit


Squadron 107, also known as the "Knights of the Orange Tail Squadron", is a fighter aircraft squadron in the Israeli Air Force. The squadron operates F-16I ("Sufa") aircraft from the Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev.

East Pakistan Air Operations covers the activity of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army Aviation units in former East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The operations involved the interdiction, air defense, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Bangladesh Air Force, Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy Aviation wing in support of the Mukti Bahini and later Indian Army in Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAI Arava</span> Israeli light transport aircraft

The Israeli Aircraft Industries Arava is a light STOL utility transport aircraft developed and produced by Israeli aerospace company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is IAI's first indigenously developed aircraft design to enter production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">116 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

116 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as Lions of the South Squadron, is an F-35I Adir stealth fighter squadron based at Nevatim Airbase. They once flew the F-16A/B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">114 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 114 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Night Leaders Squadron, is a helicopter squadron of CH-53-2000 Sea Stallions based at Tel Nof Airbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 118 Squadron is an active helicopter squadron of the Israeli Air Force and is part of the Participation & Helicopter Group, based at Tel Nof Airbase.Established on October 1970 and nicknamed the "Night Birds", also known as the "Night Riders" and the "Nocturnal Birds of Pray", the squadron is operating the Sikorsky CH-53-2025 Yas'ur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">124 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

124 Squadron, established January 1st, 1958, is a squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as Rolling Sword Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">120 Squadron (Israel)</span> Israeli Air Force squadron

120 Squadron is a squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Desert Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">122 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 122 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Nahshon Squadron, is a G550 squadron based at Nevatim Airbase.

Air Commodore Abdus Sattar Alvi, SJ, SI(M), is a retired one-star rank air officer and a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force, who is renowned for his gallant actions during the third Indo-Pakistani in 1971, and served as a military advisor in the Syrian Air Force during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">115 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

115 Squadron, also known as the Flying Dragon or Red Squadron, is the Israeli Air Force's aggressor squadron. Based at Ovda, it is the sole IAF squadron to operate fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and ground-based assets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimshon Rozen</span> Israeli air force officer (1952–2011)

Shimshon Rozen was an Israeli Air Force weapon systems officer and a colonel in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Rozen participated in the Yom Kippur War and 1982 Lebanon War, accumulating hundreds of operational flying hours. Rozen also participated in the IAF's historic flight over the Auschwitz concentration camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ran Goren</span> Israeli fighter pilot and Major General

Ran Goren is a retired fighter pilot and Major General of the IDF, former Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Head of the Manpower Directorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ran Ronen-Pekker</span> Israeli Air Force general

Ran Ronen was an Israeli Air Force (IAF) brigadier general and fighter ace credited with seven kills. He commanded various fighter squadrons, the IAF flight academy, and Tel Nof Airbase, retiring from the IAF with the rank of brigadier general. One of his pilots later described him as "the greatest squadron commander ever".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rami Harpaz</span> Fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force

Rami Harpaz was a colonel in the Israel Defence Forces and a prisoner of war during the War of Attrition. Harpaz served as a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and spent three and a half years in an Egyptian prison. Following his release, he returned to the Air Force, and came to command the IAF base at Ramat David.

References

  1. ↑ "135 Squadron - The Light Transport". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
  2. ↑ https://www.iaf.org.il/9583-56136-he/IAF.aspx
  3. ↑ https://www.iaf.org.il/1204-21242-he/IAF.aspx
  4. ↑ https://www.iaf.org.il/618-19830-he/IAF.aspx
  5. ↑ https://www.iaf.org.il/9072-50838-he/IAF.aspx


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.