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This year’s NATA Tiger Meet was held in Norway at the Main Air Station (MAS) Orland, home of the 338 Squadron. The airbase, which is situated on a peninsula near Trondheim, was once used by the Luftwaffe during WW II. In 1952 Ørland airfield was selected to be the Main Air Station, and with financing from NATO the air station was completed in 1954. Today, some 60 years later, it looks much the same as it did when it first commenced operations. The 338 fighter squadron has been based here from the beginning and has flown the F-84, F-86, F-5 and since 1985, the F-16. In 1999 the squadron’s F-16s were upgraded to the MLU version.
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The NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) is the largest tactical air exercise in Europe. This year it was dubbed “Arctic Tiger.” The NATO Tiger Meet over the years has become a multinational joint exercise with complex scenarios designed to challenge the training requirements of the pilots and their crew. Besides the Tiger Squadrons there are other international air and ground units that participate in the exercise to further enhance the training value. |
In 2012, participation for the Artic Tiger was down from previous years due to continued financial problems in Europe. Missing were the participiants from Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, Poland and Portugal. Despite this, there was still a good selection of aircraft from Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, NATO, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. Tanker support was provided by UK aircraft and two Ohio Air National Guard KC-135s. Two AWACS that took part in the exercises were from Geilenkirchen, Germany. |
| A highlight of the Tiger Meets is the tiger-theme painted aircraft and this year’s event was no exception. Some schemes were from years past (2 RNoAF F-16s from 2004 and 2007 and last year’s Luftwaffe Tornado ECR and Swiss Hornet), some were modified (BAF F-16) and many were new for 2012 (FAF Rafale, 2 TuAF F-16s, RNethAF F-16, R NoAF F-16 and Luftwaffe Tornado IDS). Additional new tiger-painted aircraft were a Rafale and 2 Turkish Vipers. |
The next Tiger Meet was originally planned to be held in Greece, but was ultimately cancelled. There is speculation that the 2013 Tiger Meet may be held in Norway once again. This would be a favorable outcome as the Orland area of Norway is very scenic with blue skies, cool climate and fresh clean air. |
| The Magazine would like to thank Morton Rosenlund, Kaptein/Presse og informasjonsoffiser 138 Luftving/Luftforsvaret Midt-Norge and Morton Granhaug, Områdetillitsvalgt Midt-Norge for their generous cooperation, hospitality and friendliness during our visit to the2012 Nato Tiger Meet. |
Rating: Not an air show. |
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