Military Jets Photography: January 2013

2007 07 07 Meeting de l'air Evreux

In 2007, Evreux was one of the airbases to organize on July 8th a Meeting de l'air. The Evreux airshow would have become a footnote in the history of French airshows, but the organisers were able to attract the USAF ‘Thunderbirds’ to their field. The USAF demoteam ‘the Thunderbirds’ spent a few weeks in Europe.
The static show demonstrated 2 lines with static aircraft, showing fighters like Mirages, F-16’s, A-10’s, Rafales, Typhoon. Several transport aircraft like the C-160, C-130 and C-17 were parked on the public part.
The flightline of the show was located on the parallel runway, close to the public. You could see the flight preparations from nearby of the stuntteams: the Breitling Jet team, Patrouille de France, Patrulla Aguila, Royal Jordanian Falcons and the Thunderbirds. Also the solo aircraft like F-16, Mirage 2000, Fouga Magister were very close.
I attended the well organised spottersday on the 7the. Unfortunately the Thunderbirds and the Patrulla Aguila didn't flew that day. But the weather was good compared to the massive rainshowers on the showday which even let to some cancellations like the Belgian F-16 and Fouga Magister.

F-16C USAF Thunderbirds

MS-733 Epopee de l'industrie et de l'aeronautique F-AZKN

C-17A USAF 02-1106

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-018

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-YT/124

A-10A USAF 81-0945/SP

SA.341M French Army 4071/BOH

CM.170R Les Mohicans du Fouga F-AZZE

Harrier GR9 Royal Air Force ZG480/70

CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT35

Alpha Jet E French Air Force Patrouille de France

C-160NG French Air Force 64-GN/R214, 64-GM/R213

P-51D Société de Developpement et de promotion de l'aviation F-AZSB

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-055

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 5-OC/36

CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT35

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-131
CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT35

2007 06 30 Koksijde Airshow

The International Airshow of Koksijde was back at is normal place on the calender, namely the first weekend of the summer holiday.
The organisers managed to attract some interesting static particpants like two Turkish Phantoms, a Hellenic T-6, a rare French PC-6 and a Ukranaian An-30B.
The flying display featered mainly the Belgian Air Force but there were some interesting civilian acts like the Huey, the Catalina and the Gnat pair. Foreign military participation were the Dutch F-16 Demo Team, Spanish Typhoon and the Danish Baby Blue Team.
Like all European airshows Koksijde also felt the crisis with less air arms willing to participate into foreign airshows but yet again Koksijde had attracted some rare quality items.

RF-4E Turkish Air Force 69-7458

PC-6 French Air Force 887/MCA

EC.135T1 German Army 82+52

UH-1H Huey.co.uk G-HUEY

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-86

A.109BA Belgian Army H30

Sea King Mk48 Belgian Air Force RS05

C-130H Belgian Air Force CH-11

Gnat T1 Gnat Display Team G-RORI, G-TIMM

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-055

CM.170R Belgian Air Force MT35

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-131

Sea King Mk48 Belgian Air Force RS05, RS04, RS01

EF2000 Spanish Air Force C.16-29/11-09

2007 06 29 Arrivals Waddington Airshow

After attending the Jaguar Enthusiast Farewell Day at RAF Coningsby, I went to nearby Waddington to witness some of the arrivals for the airshow at the end of the day.
It was funny to see a former 6 Squadron Jaguar GR3A from QinetiQ arriving while a few hours before a final goodbye was said. Other arrivals included a pair ofNorwegian F-16's,two RAF Tornado's F.3, two Tucanos, one Hercules and one Merlin.
With the presence of the Indian Air Force for the Exercise Indra Dhanush with six SU-30MKI Flankers, two Il-78 and one Il-76, the Waddington Airshow had something to show to the public. Unfortunately the show was cancelled on Sunday and even Saturday had quit some rain. Luckily for me the weather on Friday was good.

F-16BM Norwegian Air Force 689

Merlin HC3 Royal Air Force ZJ137/W

Jaguar GR3A Royal Air Force XZ117/ES

An-2T Air Unique LY-BIG

Hercules C5 Royal Air Force ZH881/881

CT-49A NATO LX-N20000

Tornado F.3 Royal Air Force ZE200/DB, ZE734/JU

Tornado F.3 Royal Air Force ZE200/DB

Tornado F.3 Royal Air Force ZE734/JU

Il-78MKI Indian Air Force RK-3452

Su-30MKI Indian Air Force SB041

Sentinel R1 Royal Air Force ZJ690

2007 06 29 Jaguar Enthusiast Farewell at RAF Coningsby

With the Jaguar Force ceasing operational flying on 30 April 2007, and the final Jaguar Squadron, No 6 Squadron, disbanding on 31 May 2007, the days of the Jaguar within the Royal Air Force were over.
In the time-honoured fashion, the Squadron personnel organised some social events – a Families’ Day, an Officers’ Mess Ball, and a Hanger Party. As a ‘thank you’ to the many aviation enthusiasts who have given the Jaguar Force unswerving support over many years the Squadron personnel organised a photo shoot, which gave the enthusiasts the rare opportunity to witness the aircraft at close quarters, and without the usual barriers that one would find at an airshow.
Once entered on base, a short visit was made to the 29(R) squadron hangar, the flightline were 41(R) and 29(R) squadron were visible and to the the Battle of Britian Memorial Flight hangar. Then it was to the HAS area were 6 squadron is based.
Only three Jaguars were still with the squadron while all the others were already flown to RAF Cosford to be stored. There was one Jaguar T4 and two special painted Jaguar GR3A's on static. One was painted in desert pink and positioned in a shelter and later that day it made a little taxi run. The second Jaguar was painted in a fancy jaguar scheme. Other static displays were a Typhoon F2, a Tornado GR4 and a preserved Lighting F.6.
A great thank you must go out to the people of RAF Coningsby and in special to the men and woman of 6 Squadron for organizing such a wonderfull but sad day.