Royal Netherlands Air Force
Open Days Leeuwarden AFB Sept. 16-15, 2011
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Location:Leeuwarden;
Netherland, |
Admission: FREE |
Parking: 5
Euro free bus shuttle to the airport |
Value: Excellent |
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Royal
Netherlands Air Force Open Days "Luchtmachtdagen 2011": On
16 and 17 September, 2011, the Royal Netherlands Air Force presented
itself to the public during the coming Royal Netherlands Air Force
Open Days under the motto “The Future Hangs in
the Air” at Leeuwarden Air Base. |
The
Royal Netherlands Air Force has two F-16 bases of operation,
one major helicopter base (in addition to two smaller ones),
one air base for transport aircraft, one air operations centre
for tactical air control and one guided weapons base. Leeuwarden
Air Base is one of the two F-16 base of operations. In addition
to this main feature, the base is also home to the search and
rescue squadron, with AB-412 rescue helicopters that are ready
on a 24/7 basis. These helicopters are deployed for rescuing
pilots in distress at sea, or airlifting patients from sea vessels
or for the Wadden Islands (with the exception of the isle of
Texel) to hospitals on the mainland. |
The
aerobatics display was one of the highlights of the RNLAF Open
Days. This year’s programme featured the Patrouille
Acrobatique de France, the Red Arrows from the UK, the Red Devils
from Belgium and various solo teams; the Belgian and the Turkish
F-16 demonstration teams among them. Unfortunately the Patrulla
Aguila from Spain, could not attend due to a death in the family
of the commander. Due to the recent accident that has taken a life
of a pilot from the Red Arrows Team, one of the red BAE Hawks was
replaced with a black one in his honour. |
The
Dutch F-16 Solo Display Team with their bright orange and black
paint schemes thrilled the home crowds and the Apache Helicopter
Solo Display Team showed off their new colour scheme. An Air
Power demonstration showed the cooperation between several branches
of the armed forces and the indispensable role that the Air Force
plays in such scenarios. |
The air show was continuous from 9 am to 5 pm with a one hour
lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30. To say the least it was excellent!
The event stood out from most air shows in Europe, or for that
matter from anywhere world wide. The 182,000 visitors (Friday 50,000
and Saturday 132,000) where thrilled and fascinated by what they
saw. All the teams put on one of their best performances of the
season, and the event was extremely well organized. |
The Air Force
Day is held alternately at the airbases Volkel, Gilze-Rijen and
Leeuwarden and due to this, the next one to be held at Leeuwarden
AFB will be in 2016. |
| AirShowsReview would like to thank
Major K.F. Beek-Regnery, B.C., Chief Press and Public Information
Officer and all from Airbase Leeuwarden for their generous cooperation,
hospitality and friendliness! |
Some
of the participants were:
- RNLAF F-16 Demo Team
- RNLAF Apache Demo Team
- Red Arrows
- Patrouille Acrobatique de France
- Red Devils from Belgium
- Royal Jordanian Falcons
- Belgian F-16 Demo Team
- Turkish F-16 Solo Demo Team
- F/A-18 Finish Air Force
- MiG-29 Polish AIr Force
- MB339 Italian AIr Force
- Black Cats UK Royal Navy
- Hunter formation
- and too many others to list...
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Rating:
9.9 out of 10 |
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Report co-written by Laszlo
Nyary and Peter Thivessen with photography by Peter Thievessen
for AIRSHOWSREVIEW LLC
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© 2011
AIRSHOWSREVIEW LLC All Rights Reserved. |
All trade names, trademarks and
manufacturer names are the property of their respective owners. |
