Military Jets Photography: February 2012

2006 07 02 Meeting de l'air Cambrai

On the 2nd of July a 'Meeting National de l'Air' was held at France most northern airbase Cambrai-Epinoy just across the Belgian-French border. This show was in the same weekend as the Koksijde Air Show. The weather at the time of the airshow was perfect, with a blue sky and the sun in your back the whole day. The airshow could be very nicely photographed under these conditions. Fortunately Cambrai is also famous for having the aircraft participating in the flying display parked at a flightline just in front of the public.
The display started with an AS555 helicopter performing a 'slow intercept' on an Piper Navajo and forced it to land. At first with a sign saying 'Zone Interdit' (Forbidden Area) and later on with a sniper pointed at the intruder. A fighter type interception was made later during the day when no less then five Mirage 2000's took off. Their goal was to intercept an Alpha jet that was acting as the intruder. The French AWACS who was coordinating this intercept made a couple of flyby's. Offcourse the Patrouille de France and Cartouche Doré were present at the show.
The Swiss PC-7 Team with no les then 9 aircraft gave a splendid performance, as did the Team Breitling with their civilian L-39C Albatross trainers. Further participants came from the Dutch and Belgian Air Forcewith both their F-16 while the Belgians also sended their Fouga pair.
France has their own collection of unique warbirds, most of them not often seen abroad. At Cambrai there were quite a few of them in the flying display. A nice variation on those well known jet displays seen on most shows in Europe.
The static show was split into two separate areas. On the west side were all jets from the French Air Force represented while on the east side the foreign part of the static could be found. These included Danish F-16's and C-130J, German F-4's, USAF F-15's and RAF Jaguars and a Tornado.
In general the Meeting National de l'Air was a nice airshow with a typical French atmosphere.

Jaguar T4 Royal Air Force XX840/EY

Jaguar T4 Royal Air Force XX835/EX

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-KV/108

Mirage F.1B French Air Force 30-SR/518

PC-7 Swiss Air Force A-933

Alpha Jet E French Air Force 314-LS/E22 and 314-LA/E72

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-131

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-055

E-3F French Air Force 36-CA/201

Alpha Jet E French Air Force 314-LA/E72

SA341F French Army BXW/1383

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-YJ/80

Alpha Jet E French Air Force 7-PX/E35
Mirage 2000C 12-KD/109

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-131

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-YE/85, 12-KD/109
12-YJ/80, 12-YI/94, 12-KC/120

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-YE/85

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-KD/109

CM170R Belgian Air Force CM26 and CM40

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-055

Alpha Jet E French Air Force 314-LA/E72

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 5-OZ/17

Alpha Jet E French Air Force Patrouille de France

2012 02 10 Spotting at LFQI

EC 1/12 Cambresis have about a month and half to go as the squadron will be dissolved at the end of March. The squadron, together with EC 05/330 at Mont-de-Marsan, are the only French squadrons that are part of the NATO Tiger Association. But luckily the Tiger will continue it's spirit with EC 01/007 after EC 1/12 will be disbanded.
And although the squadron is to cease flying operations they remain on full duty as they've just returned from a two week shooting exercise at Corsica. Today five of the six Mirages 2000 returned to their home soil.

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 103-LC/108

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 103-YE/122

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 103-KN/121

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 103-LJ/105

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 103-LL/86

2006 07 01 Koksijde Airshow

During the weekend of 1 and 2 July the Koksijde Air Show 2006 was held. Main themes of the 30th edition of this show were 60 years of Belgian Air Force and 35 years of Alouette III.
Koksijde airbase, situated at the Belgium coast, is home of the 40th squadron, operating five Westland Sea King MK.48 for 30 year now. Also based at Koksijde are three aging Alouette III’s from the Navy flight which are used for liaison and support flights for Navy ships.
Of course the largest group participants came from the Belgian Air Component. A number of F-16 were shown both on the ground as well as in the air. The base attack was only performed by two F-16’s this time. The year 2006 will mark the end of operations of the Fouga Magister. Two Fouga's painted in the famous Red Devil color scheme made up the display team ‘Fouga Pair’ for this occasion. One of the Fouga’s is also marked with the squadron crests of all units which have flown the ‘Whistling Jet’.
Several jet-powered warbirds displayed their capabilities during the flying display. The T-33 TBird made one of its last public appearances, as a couple of weeks later the jets tragically crashed during a take off from Duxford, UK. Fortunately the pilot escaped with minor injuries, but the jet was written off as result of the mishap.
As the Belgian Air Force (Air Component) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, a number of aircraft represented the early years of the air force. These include some very nice formations of a bare metal Harvard with a C-47 Dakota in BAF markings.
Also noteworthy to mention was the delegation of the Czech Air Force which showed their latest asset in the form of a JAS-39C Grippen and a L-159ALCA.
The Air Show at Koksijde remains one not to be missed as they always can attract some nice participants.

F-86A Golden Apple Operations G-SABR

CT-133AN Golden Apple Operations G-TBRD

C-47A Dakota et Compagnie F-AZTE

CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT26

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-100

Sea King Mk.48 Belgian Air Force RS05

L-159ALCA Czech Air Force 6050

CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT26 and MT40

PBY-5A Plane Sailing Air Displays Limited G-PBYA

F/A-18C Swiss Air Force J-5020

Jas-39C Czech Air Force 9240

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 5-OZ/17

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-131

F-5E Swiss Air Force Patrouille Suisse

2006 06 28 Spotting at EGXC

As I was for several months in England for my work, I took one day off to go spotting at RAF Coninsgby. The main goal was to see some Jaguars as the wouldn't last long in RAF service.
At RAF Coningsby you can see old and new at one base. Going from the Battle of Memerial Flight with Spitfires, Hurricanes and the Lancaster through Jaguars from No. 6 Squadron through Tornados F.3, Tornados GR4 and Harriers GR7 from No. 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron on to the 4the generation fighter, the Typhoon. The Typhoon is operated by No. 29(R) squdron, the Operational Conversion Unit, by No. XVII(Test and Evaluation) Squadron, the Operational Evaluational Unit, by No. 3(F) Squadron, the first Typhoon Operational Squadron and No. 11(F) Squadron. Although
No. 11(F) Sqadron joined the station as a Typhoon unit in 2007 there were already some jets with the squadrons insignia present on the flightline.
The day was packed with flying and not only from the local squadrons but there was also a visit from a Beech B200 and a Dominie T1 from the RAF, a Falcon 20 from FRADU and the Americans with two F-15C's and two F-15E's from RAF Lakenheath.
I went back home (or my appartment) with a very satisfied feeling of this day.