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N FEBRUARY 11, celebrations took place
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throughout Iran to mark the 25th anniversary of the Islamit Revolution. In Tehran, President Khatami led some 100,000
of his countrymen in a march to Azadi (Freedom) Square, as no fewer than eleven helicopters were seen in the air
carrying out various tasks. Three transport helicopters set the scene tor the day, taking off with parajumpers on
board: an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) CH-47C Chinook (the first to take off) followed by an
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Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC, Pasdaran) Mi-8MT and an IRIAF Mi-8MTW-5. Neither Mi-8 wore
national insignia or unit markings. When the march and the speech-making ended, two Bell 212s flew the President and
his entourage away from the scene. Three further helicopters, an Islamit Republic of Iran Police (IRIP) Bell 205, a
IRIAF Bell 214C and a unmarked Bell 206L Long Ranger flew over the crowds with TV cameras, while tour Bell 214s
dropped flowers and strips of coloured paper.
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