Military Jets Photography: May 2013

2008 07 05 International Airshow Florennes

This years edition of the annual Belgian Defence Days took place at Florennes, an airbase in the province of Namen. Florennes is the home base of the 2nd Tactical Wing, the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) and the Belgian demo pilot Michael 'Mickey' Artiges.
In the static there were two rows of static aircraft. Highlights included two beautifully painted A-7 Corsair IIs, two Belgian F-16s and a Belgian C-130 all with special tails, two Spanish F-5's and one of the last apperances of a Polish An-26.

The flying display had lots of variety; warbirds, jets, smaller trainers and big transports/tankers. And also the three display teams, the Turkish Stars, Patrouille de France and the Breitling Jet Team. The warbirds were a P-40, A-1 Skyraider and a P-51 Mustang. The latter joined the Belgian F-16 Solo Display for a heritage flight. The F-16 solo displays were from Belgium and the Netherlands. Also present was the F-18 demo from the Swiss Air Force. The most rare flying display was given by a IAR-99 from Romania.
The Defence Days of 2008 was much better compared to the 2007 edition in Koksijde. The variety of aircraft in the flying display was much bigger and the static had some rare gems.

Prince Filip of Belgium

Bo105P1 German Army 87+38

Sea King Mk48 Belgian Air Force RS03

Alpha Jet E French Air Force F-TETJ/E25

A-7E Hellenic Air Force 160616

SF-5M Spanish Air Force 23-25/AE9-005

Alpha Jet E Belgian Air Force AT32

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-121

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-72

SH-14D Netherlands Navy 265

IAR.990 Romanian Air Force 725

A.109BA Belgian Army H26

2008 07 04 Arrivals Airshow Florennes

The Belgian Defence Days this year was held at Florennes Air Base. There were some interesting static displays that I liked to see arrive for the show. Therefore I went to catch the arrivals because spotting at Florennes is so great.

SA318C Belgian Amry A-68

A-7E Hellenic Air Force 160616

A-7E Hellenic Air Force 158825

An-26 Polish Air Force 1509

F-4F German Air Force 38+00

AD-4N Amicale Jean Baptiste Salis F-AZDP

PC-9M Irish Air Corps 261

Su-22M-3K Polish Air Force 707

P-51D Nordic Warbirds N167F

NF-5A-2000 Turkish Air Force Turkish Stars

F-16BM Danish Air Force ET-197

Mirage 2000C French Air Force 12-KM/95

Vampire T55 Yves Decamps F-AZGU

P-40N Société de Developpement et de Promotion de l'Aviaion F-AZKU

Super Etendard SEM French Navy 69

F-16BM Netherlands Air Force J-653

E-3A NATO LX-N90459

2008 06 27 Tigermeet at BAN Landivisiau

The 2008 event was originally scheduled to be held at Lechfeld Airbase in Germany; however due to operational commitments of the hosting Tornado unit the event had to be re-scheduled. In their operational role, 11F operate from the 38,000 ton nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. However, with the carrier in dry dock for a 15 month overhaul, re-fit and fuelling of the nuclear powerplant, this presented the rare opportunity for a Tiger Meet to be hosted at Landivisau, in north western Brittany.
A 'Spotters Day' was organised by 11F to accommodate the huge interest in the event, this taking place on Friday 27th June.
The Ocean Tiger participants presented a number of attractive paint schemes this year. The host unit painted a pair of Super Étendard Modernisé in a very eye-catching red & black tiger scheme. EC 05.330 brought a stunningly painted Rafale, the scheme comprised an overall yellow and black tiger scheme with large eye painted on the tail. From Switzerland came 11 Staffel, with their amazingly decorated F/A-18, this scheme deservedly won the Silver Tiger Trophy at the event’s awards ceremony.
One unexpectedly attractive participant was the veteran Nord 262E of 28F, which turned heads in its Arctic Tiger black & white tiger scheme.
The Spanish air force was represented by two units, Ala 15 from Zaragoza with their EF-18A & B Hornets, with yellow and black striped tanks and 142 Esc, the 2006 hosts from Albacete. One of the 142 Esc Mirage F-1Ms was marked with very colourful tail artwork depicting a tiger attacking a hapless shark. Participating for the first time at the NATO Tiger Meet was 211 Sqn, based at Caslav in the Czech Republic, with the airforce’s newly delivered Saab JAS-39 Gripen.
Photographic opportunities were numerous along the main apron, with an area also provided alongside the taxiway, which was also opposite the rotation point of most aircraft; however the long grass between the taxiway and runway did present a problem by obscuring the aircraft on the runway during their take off runs. This minor point did not spoil the day and the organisers are to be congratulated for arranging such a relaxed, yet well planned event.