2011 05 08 The end of en era

With the recent defence cuts in the Netherlands, huge savings need to be done. These include the disbandment of two tank battalions, the elimination of all 17 Cougar helicopters, half a dozen fewer ships for the Navy and 19 fewer F-16s.
Of the 17 Cougars 3 are still flying around to keep the pilots active before they can make their transition onto the NH90.
Here's a list of the Cougars and what happened to them (credits to GRAS).
S-400  AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 05.11 
S-419 AS.532U2 LCW               Woensdrecht 01.11
S-433 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 02.11 
S-438 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 11.10 
S-440 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 06.11 
S-441 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 12.10 
S-442 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 11.10 
S-444 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 04.11  
S-445 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 03.11
S-447 AS.532U2 300 Squadron Gilze-Rijen 06.11
S-450 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 04.11  
S-453 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 05.11
S-454 AS.532U2 300 Squadron Gilze-Rijen 07.11
S-456 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 05.11  
S-457 AS.532U2 300 Squadron Gilze-Rijen 07.11 
S-458 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 05.11 
S-459 AS.532U2 storage           Gilze-Rijen 04.11
More info about Gilze-Rijen can be found on the website of Gilze-Rijen Aviation Society.

I had the luke to photograph 16 of the 17 Cougars during the years I've seen them.

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-419

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-433

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-438

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-440

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-441

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-442

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-444

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-445

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-447

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-450

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-453

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-454

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-456

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-457

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-458

AS.532U2  Netherlands Air Force  S-459

2005 07 14 TDPU Florennes

The Tactical Discussion and Procedures Update (TDPU) event organised by 350 (F) Squadron at Florennes airbase was aimed at looking into the standardisation of the procedures and the improvement of the team-work between NATO squadrons equipped with the latest operational F-16 MLU M3 upgrade. At the same time 350 (F) Squadron, having a strong Air Defence squadron tradition, organised a Fighter Meet which gave the opportunity to train air-air type missions against all major participating Air Defence Squadrons from Europe. Also present at Florennes were some F-16 MLU M4 upgraded aircraft from the Norwegian, Danish and Dutch Air Forces for some development testing giving a first peek of things to come for the Fighting Falcon family. On 14 July 350 (F) squadron organised a Spottersday to give the general public a good view of the activities going on at Florennes Airbase. Plagued by some last minute cancellations due to the London bombings and the fact that it was France's National holiday, the splendid weather non the less made this a very refreshing and easy going-day.

F-16AM  Belgian Air Force  FA-101

F-16AM  Royal Norwegian Air Force  658

F-16BM  Netherlands Air Force  J-210

F-16AM  Belgian Air Force  FA-91

Super Etendard  French Navy  13

Super Etendard  French Navy  25

E-3A AWACS  NATO  LX-N 90448

F-16AM  Belgian Air Force  FA-57

F/A-18D Swiss Air Force  J-5236

F/A-18C  Swiss Air Force  J-5008, J-5006

Tornado IDS  German Air Force  45+56

Tornado IDS  German Air Force  45+56