An IRIAF Mirage F.1BQ on finals at Mehrabad. Twenty-four Iraqi Air Force F.1s sought sanctuary from bombing in Iran during the first Gulf War. These aircraft were kept by Iran as compensation for the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War. It is believed eleven of the type remain active.

IRIAF's AWACS Ilyushin Il-76TD Adnan-2, 5-8208, is seen returning to Mehrabad after the flypast. Two Adnan-2s and an Adnan-1 fled from Iraq to Iran during the first Gulf War in 1991 and were inducted into the IRIAF. As Iraq reportedly had problems integrating the AWACS radars it is not known if the IRIAF has made them operational. Other 'heavies' that took part in the flypast were three Boeing 747 tankers, one Boeing 707 tanker and an ELINT version of the latter type.

Among the many helicopters seen on April 17, 2008, were 18 Chinooks from the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation. This air arm is reported to have 27 of these tandem-rotor helicopters airworthy at Shahid Vatanpour Army Air Base. Four Chinooks also serve with the IRIAF at Mehrabad. Other helicopter types in the aerial procession were IRIAA Agusta-Bell 205 As, 206As, 214s and AH-1J Cobras, while the Navy was represented by an Agusta-Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King, one Agusta-Bell 206 and a Sikorsky RH-53D.

An IRIAF Su-24 Fencer, 3-6810, lines up for departure at Tehran Mehrabad. Due to the crash of a Su-24 on April 14, 2008 at Mehrabad, the Fencers' participation in the flypast was cancelled.

A colourful FT-7M lines up next to two camouflaged examples on the runway. Eight of this Chinese derivative of the MiG-21 took part in the flypast - three single-seat F-7Ms and five two-seaters.

Only one RF-4E was part of the large formation of aircraft over Tehran on April 17, 2008. This is one of 16 RF-4Es that Iran purchased, with it being estimated that between three and six remain airworthy. This reconnaissance Phantom is assigned to the 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Nojeh/Hamedan.

Iran has developed a number of its own variants of the F-5. Two of the Saeghe twin-tail variant are pictured preparing to depart for the flypast from Tehran Mehrabad.

Four F-5Es at a holding point prior to departure. Iran took delivery of 169 F-5Es and Fs, of which at least 70 are still believed to be airworthy. These aircraft are normally based at the 2nd Tactical Air Base at Tabriz.

A total of 22 IRIAF Phantom IIs were in the flypast. Other frontline fast jets that participated were 12 F-14A Tomcats, eight MiG-29 Fulcrums, eight F-7Ms (five of which were FT-7M two-seaters), three Mirage F.1s and 36 F-5s of five different variants (made up of 25 F-5Es and Fs, four F-5B Simorgh, four Azarakhsh and three Saeghe).