Military Jets Photography: April 2016

2016 03 17 Spotting at EHGR and GLV V

In the South of The Netherlands you can find Gilze-Rijen AFB, home to 298, 300 and 301 squadron. 298 squadron flies the CH-47D and CH-47F Chinook, 300 squadron flies the AS.532U2 Cougar while 301 squadron is equiped with the AH-64D Apache.

AH-64D Netherlands Air Force Q-16, Q-18

AH-64D Netherlands Air Force Q-16

GLV V

Just north off Eindhoven airport there is a large military training area which is operated by the Royal Netherlands Army. The name of the military training area is Oirschotse Heide. The Oirschotse Heide is not only a training area for ground forces but is also used as a helicopter low flying area. This low flying area is named GLV V (Gebied Laag Vliegen 5 / Low Flying Area 5).

The GLV V is used by Royal Netherlands Air Force helicopters like the CH-47D and CH-47F Chinook, AH-64D Apache and AS.532U2 Cougar. Sometimes other helicopters can be seen at the GLV V, like in the past a US Army Black Hawk and a AW.139 of the Dutch National Police.

If you like to visit the GLV V please be aware of the fact that the GLV V is an active military training area. You can expect heavy military (offroad) vehicles and the use of training amunition. Near the entrances of the GLV V you'll find little signs with the rules.

CH-47F Netherlands Air Force D-890

CH-47D Netherlands Air Force D-663

CH-47F Netherlands Air Force D-890

CH-47D Netherlands Air Force D-663

2016 04 EART at EHEH

Simultaneous to the Frisian Flag exercise, European Air Refueling Training (EART) exercise is taking place at Eindhoven Air Base, the Netherlands. This enables the tanker crews to train to refuel different types of aircraft and enables the participants of Frisian Flag to refuel from a variety of tankers. The tankers also fly their missions twice a day in order to refuel the participating aircraft.
During the departure and returns of the tankers, a local C-130H took off, a French A340-211 made a quick visit to pick up some people and a German A319-133X landed to bring chancellor Angela Merkel.

KDC-10 Netherlands Air Force T-264

C-135FR French Air Force 93-CG/735

A340-211 French Air Force F-RAJA

F-16A Netherlands Air Force J-235
F27-300M Netherlands Air Force C-8

C-130H Netherlands Air Force G-781

A340-211 French Air Force F-RAJA

C-135FR French Air Force 93-CG/735

KDC-10 Netherlands Air Force T-264

A319-133X German Air Force 15+01

2016 04 18 Frisian Flag 16

From 11 till the 22nd of April the 2016 edition of the full scale exercise "Frisian Flag" is taking place and is organized by the 323 Tactical Training Evaluation and Standardization Squadron (TACTES) of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) based at Leeuwarden Air Base, The Netherlands. The exercise is conducted for two weeks in several designated areas over the North Sea to work out large complex missions with +/- 50 fighter jets, tankers and AWACS radar aircraft.
During this edition of the Frisian Flag eight different NATO allies participated in the exercise; The Netherlands, Poland, France, Finland, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom and the United States.
It is important that the pilots from all the different countries train together and to get used to each other during the missions. The exercise focuses on international coörporation, precision and the leadership skills from the participating NATO squadrons, to prepare the pilots for future coöperative operations within NATO.
In order to create a realistic enviroment, several scenarios are plotted and prepared by the air crews. Twice a day missions are prepared and flown by waves of 40+ aircraft from Leeuwarden Air Base situated in the north of The Netherlands and close to the North Sea training area's.
The aircrews have to prepare and execute specific scenario's vary from air interdiction missions preventing hortile air forces to enter a designated area to attacking specified ground targets coörperating with forward air controllers both on land or at sea. During these missions the mission leader has to plan and execute the mission against these targets while minimize loses.
In addition to the participating NATO members, United States Air Force (USAF) F-15’s from the California and Massachusetts Air National Guard (ANG) also participated in the exercise. After the exercise the F-15’s will stay in Europe to continue the USAF presence as part of the expeditionary force Atlantic Resolve.