Military Jets Photography: 2005 06 18 Luchtmachtdagen Gilze-Rijen

Each year the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNlAF) holds its Open Day at one of its main bases. This year it was held at Gilze-Rijen, home of 301 Squadron.
The static was a bit hard to take some decent pictures as you were able to walk in front and at the back of the static. But the Open Day had some nice attractions like a Hellenic, a German and a pair of Turkies Phantoms, an An-124 with an Apache inside, a Ja-35 Draken, and so on.

The flying display started with two Belgian displays, first the SAR display by the Sea King followed by the Fouga Magister. During these two displays the weather changed completly from low clouds to a perfect blue sky. Other flyers in the morning were a superb Swiss Super Puma, a Harrier GR7, a Belgian F-16, the Netherlands historic flight and the Red Arrows.

As always during the Open Days in Holland there’s the Air Power Demo. With this Demo the RNlAF want to show there tax payers what they do with their money. For the first time we had eight (8!) Apaches in the Air Power. The Air Power started with some waves of F-16’s bombing the target. Once they think that everything is “cleared” it’s time for the Apaches to clean things up. They do that as low as possible and as fast as possible. Once the area is cleared, the Cougars comes in to drop some soldiers to secure the perimeter. While the Cougars are bringing some more soldiers and material, the Apaches are still keeping a very good eye on the area. After the area is completly secured it's possible to bring some more soldiers with a C-130 Hercules. This one makes a very short tactical landing, lets the soldiers get of the plane, makes a little backtrack and departs back home. The participating F-16’s do have to be refueled and that’s why the Koninklijke Luchtmacht has a KDC-10 as a tanker. At the end of the Air Power all the helicopters and jets that participated make one fly by together.
The afternoon started with a unique formation, a F-16, an AH-64D and a PC-7 from the RNlAF. After some fly pasts it was time for their solo display. Both the Apache as the Viper used there flares much to the delight of the crowd. Further solo displays were given by the Tornado F.3, Austrian Ja-35 Draken, Swiss Hornet, French Alpha Jet and the Chinook from the RAF. Gilze managed to attract the Royal Jordanian Falcons, the Battle of Britian Memorial Flight, the Blue Eagles as the Breitling Jet Team also. Another unique formation was formed when the Dutch F-16 teamed up with the Mitchell and the Spitfire to make some fly pasts.
Blessed with glorious weather, free entrance and a superb flying programme I left Gilze-Rijen with a big smile on my face.