Aero-Linx!

Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet.

The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.

Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.

Aero Linx: Israeli Air Force

The Israeli Air Force was established during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, as a successor to the "Sherut Avir", which served as the aerial branch for the Haganah (later to become Israeli Defence Force). At the time of its establishment, the IAF consisted of a small number of troops and aircraft, with recruits and aircraft joining the air force from around the world, bringing valuable skills, aircraft and equipment along with them. The IAF performed its first sortie on May 29th 1948, and helped bring an Egyptian advance near Ashdod to a halt using four Czechoslovakian Messerschmitt planes. During the war, the IAF intercepted enemy aircraft, provided the ground forces with air support and flew attack sorties to Cairo, Damascus and Amman.

FMI: www.iaf.org.il