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5601 Squadron (Israel)
5601 Squadron, also known as Manat ( he, מנ"ט, an acronym for ''Merkaz Nisu'ey Tisa'', he, מרכז ניסויי טיסה, lit. ''Flight Test Center''), is the Israeli Air Force unit responsible for flight and weapons testing, airframe modification and avionics integration. Although formed in 1978, Manat may have its origins in a flight test unit established as early as March 1950. Based at Tel Nof, Manat comprises a flight section, including test pilots and flight testing engineers, a technical section charged with aircraft maintenance, an avionics section, and a UAV section operating from Palmachim. The squadron operates a fully instrumented example of every Israeli Air Force frontline combat aircraft type on strength at any time. It also operates a number of UAVs and will utilize helicopter and transport types from other squadrons when necessary. Among the aircraft currently operated by Manat are three F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force ( he, בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר תֵּל נוֹף) , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. It is located near Rehovot, Israel. Tel Nof houses several fighter, helicopter, and airlift squadrons. Also located at the base are several special units of the Israel Defense Forces, including Unit 669 (airborne combat search and rescue) and the paratroopers training center. History Tel Nof was founded in July 1939 during the British Mandate as RAF Aqir and served as the main Royal Air Force station in Palestine. From the 1948 Arab-Israeli War until 1950, it was known as Ekron Airfield. The base housed the IAF flight academy until April 1966 when it was moved to Hatzerim Airbase. On 18 October 2011, Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for over five years and four months, returned to Israel via Tel Nof as part of a deal to exchange Shalit for 1,027 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
