Recreating Historic KC-97 Flight By Israeli Air Force

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Presenting recreation of Israeli air force's emergency KC-97 cargo resupply mission from an Israeli air force base to HE1F Fayid air force base in Egypt located approximately 23 km south of Ismailia and 69 miles northeast of Cairo during Yom Kippur war.

Yes you are reading it correctly!!! It marked the first time in history of Israel that Israeli air force plane had landed on Egyptian air force base!!! How did it happen? Israeli army forces with tanks managed to smash through Egyptian defenses, crossed Suez Canal, and landed on Egypt pushing 30 miles deep inside Egypt which created one logistical problem which was replenishment of supplies such as food, fuel, ammunition, and spare parts. Since it would take too long time for supply trucks to travel from Israel to deep inside Egypt, they decided to use cargo planes to fly all supplies from Israel to HE1F Fayid air force base that was captured by Israeli army.

Presenting the historic flight....

Starting engines at an Israeli air force base



Wing view of engines that were started to roaring life!!



Taxiing to short of runway



Entering into runway for take off



Starting take off run spewing desert sand dust



Airborne on climb to FL160





Passing through clouds while crossing Negev desert toward Sinai desert



Cockpit view of Gulf of Aqaba which indicates entering into Sinai desert



Cruising at FL160 crossing Sinai desert



Passing Israeli air force's Etzion Air Force Base



Cruising across Sinai desert with background view of Gulf of Aqaba



Cruising





Nice tail view



Gulf of Suez is becoming visible ahead!!!



Wing view of Gulf of Aqaba



Wing view of Gulf of Suez



Approaching Gulf of Suez





Leaving Israel to enter waters of Gulf of Suez





Now above waters of Gulf of Suez





Making left turn to fly along Gulf of Suez





Now flying north along waters of Gulf of Suez







Passing sunken ship which indicates that Suez Canal is getting closer



Passing entrance of Suez Canal where town of Suez is on left and town of El Shatt is on right



Passing Israeli army's temporary bridge that Israeli army built for tanks, troops, and trucks to cross waters of Suez Canal into Egypt



Making maneuvers to approach the Egyptian air force base's runway



On final runway approach





TOUCHDOWN



Darn the desert sand winds!!!



Unloading supplies



Thank you for viewing!! Stay tuned for next exciting screenshot.

Regards,

Aharon

[DaveB]

That's a very shiney aircraft Aharon. I bet it's equally well maintained too

Nice recreation and thanks for posting

ATB
DaveB

[Aharon]

Dave,

Thanks for your kind words. Now you understand why I badly badly wanted two Israeli air force liveries for KC-97s and C-97s so that I could recreate this historic flight.

Another historic flight is of course the famous Entebee rescue where KC-97s and 707 tankers were busy refueling planes in midair during round trips to Africa and back.

Moreover, Israeli KC-97s and Israeli C-97s were the only ones out of 659 KC-97s and C-97s built that saw combat action. Israeli C-97s during wars were busy shuttling emergency supplies between Europe and Israel.

Regards,

Aharon

[DaveB]

Ahh.. I didn't realise KC97's were involved in that Op. You learn something new every day

ATB
DaveB

[Aharon]

Yep but unfortunately the refueling operation flight details of Israeli air force KC-97s and 707s remain secret even though 30 years ago in past yet still remain secret so I am unable to recreate other flights except doing my best guessing.

Israel also used A-4 Skyhawks as refueling tankers too to refuel other IAF jet fighters or IAF helicopters.

Regards,

Aharon