IRIAF Flight Patches

Due to the fragmentary and incomplete nature of this page, the badges are organized by aircraft (F-4, F-5, F-14) rather then by organization (TAB or TFS)

Wing Patches - Wing patches indicate a pilots ability to fly a certain type of aircraft. They are typically worn on the upper right sleeve, though they can also be seen on the upper left sleeve. Designs often vary by TAB or Squadron but do not appear to be set-in-stone and sometimes vary.

TAB/TFS Patches - Patches that indicate which tactical fighter squadron or air base a pilot belongs to are usually worn on the right breast. These are, of course, unique though some squadrons do not have an assigned patch.


McDonnell Douglas F-4D/E

Wing Patches
1) Features traditional "Spooky" design. This style is worn by F-4 pilots from TAB-9 in Bandar Abbas.
2) Generic F-4 wing-patch
3) Line drawing of F-4D on red background. Worn by F-4 pilots from TAB-3, squadron unknown.
4) No further details

TAB/TFS Patches
1) No further information
2) No further information
3) TAB or TFS patch of unit based in Hamedan (TAB-3).
4) Squadron patch of the 91st TFS bsed in Bandar Abbas; features a shark.
5) Squadron patch of the 11th CCT. The 11th CCT is based in TAB-1 Mehrabad and is tasked with advanced weapons training. Patch features a mother and baby tiger.
6) Squadron patch of the 61st TFS based out of Bushehr. Date unknown and as such, may not be recent.

Northrop F-5E/F

Wing Patches
1&3) Examples of two different styles of wing patches worn by officers from the 21st TFS.
2) No further information
3) No further information. The different colour (red vs blue) may indicate a certain level of flight experience.

TAB/TFS Patches
1) Squadron patch for the 21st TFS based in Tabriz. A patch with a black border indicates 1,000+ flight hours, while one without the border indicates 500+ hours.
2&3) Squadron patches for the IRIAFs aggressor adversary training. Implication of the different colour is unclear but may correspond to experience levels. Most likely TFS 41 or 42 at TAB-4 in Dezful.

Grumman F-14

Wing Patches
No further information on any of the patches. Like with the F-4 and F-5, one possible explanation for the different colours is differing flight hours. Alternately, it may correspond to different TAB/TFSs.

TAB/TFS Patches
Most of the patches seem based on original IIAF designs with the iconic "Tomcat" figuring prominently in the imagery. No further details on which patches correspond to which squadrons.

 Dassault Mirage F-1
In this case, the wing patch is worn on the left sleeve because the pilot is also qualified to fly the F-14 (whose patch is found on the right sleeve). No further information. 

Chengdu F-7

MiG-29
1) Combination of wing and squadron patch identifies this pilot as hailing from TAB-1s MiG-29 squadrons. Squadron patch features a swooping eagle.
2) TAB patch for MiG-29s. Has not been observed in service.
3) Has not been observed in service, thus may belong to 23rd or 24th TFS at TAB-2 in Tabriz.

Transport Aircraft
The 11th CH-47 squadron is based out of TAB-1 and is tasked with personnel transfer between bases as well as battlefield recovery of downed aircraft. 

 

Trainer Aircraft
***To be updated***


Unknown Patches

Imagery is mostly via screenshots of Youtube uploads from "FulcrumPilot" as well as patches for sale via auction sites (multiple sources).