Military Jets Photography: March 2011

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.

Sea King Mk48 Belgian AF RS02

AS532UL Swiss AF T-337

Harrier GR7 RAF ZD407/38

F-16AM Belgian AF FA-133

Hawk T1A Red Arrows RAF

AH-64D Netherlands AF Q-09

AS532U2, S-441, AH-64D, Q- 14 Netherlands AF

C-130H-30 Netherlands AF G-275

AS532U2, S-442 , AH-64D, Q- 14 Netherlands AF

AH-64D, Q-30, F-16AM, J-055, PC-7, L-11 Netherlands AF

F-16AM Netherlands AF J-055

AH-64D Netherlands AF Q-30

Tornado F.3 RAF ZG763/WM

Spitfire IIa, P7350/XT-O, Lancaster BI, PA474/QR-M, Spitfire XiX, PM631/S
Battle of Britian Memorial Flight

C-130H New Zealand AF NZ7003/03

F-16AM, J-055, TB-25N, N320SQ, Spitfire LFIXC, PH-OUQ

Ja-35Ö Draken Austrian AF 02

Chinook HC.2 RAF ZH892/BL

F/A-18C Swiss AF J-5011

RF-4E Turkish AF 69-7459

F-4E (AUP) Hellenic AF 71743

Together with a friend I went to the Meeting de l'air at Cazaux. We departed the night of Friday on Saturday. After a 12h drive we arrived at our camping around noon. After we've installed our tent, we visited the Zoo of Arachon, had a look where the entrance was for the Sunday and then we went to the beach of Cazaux. There we had a wonderfull view of the Patrouille Suisse performing their demo. Unfortunally I didn’t had my camera with me so I couldn't take any pictures of them above the lake of Cazaux.

On Sunday it was showtime. We left our camping in time because we didn't wanted to queue for a long time. The gates opended at 10 o'clock sharp and we were able to enter the base very smooth. After having a look at the programme we decided to do the static at the end of the day since the flying already started at 10 o’clock. In the morning we had 2 local Alpha Jets together with 2 Belgian Alpha Jets who are based at Cazaux who were the opening of the flying programme. Other acts were more tactical flying such as an interception of a slow flying airplane, a Tucano, by 2 fast flying aiplanes, 2 Mirage’s 2000C, an interception of some fast intruders performed by a couple of Mirage's 2000C, a base attack by 4 Mirage’s 2000D and an another one by 2 French Alpha Jets, 2 Belgian Alpha Jets and 2 Singaporian TA-4SU Skyhawks. We also had the Austrian Draken.

The first jets that took of in the noon were the Mirage IVP, the Mirage IIIE and the Jaguar E. They performed a fast on and a slow fly by. Before they landed for nearly there last time all three made a touch and go. Later during the display we had 3 F-16’s, a Danish, a Belgian and a Dutch. Other French flying were an Alpha Jet and a Mirage 2000C. The Sécurité Civile was there with a Canadair CL415 and a Trekker. There were also 5 acrobatic teams, Patrouille Suisse, Marche Verte, Royal Jordanian Falcons, Frecce Tricolori and the Patrouille de France.
At the end of the day we had a look at the static. The layout of the base made that we had to walk quit a distance to see everything. But there were some nice planes in the static like a special painted Mirage 2000C from the Tigermeet held earlier in Turkey, the new Rafale, special decorated French and Belgian Alpha Jets and a Singaporian A-4SU .
We had a very nice day with some fantastic weather. The flying was very good with the highlights being the last flights of the Mirage III, Mirage IV and the Jaguar. The position of the sun was sometimes a bit tricky but I managed to take some descent pictures.