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Author Topic: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)  (Read 10734 times)

Offline Ramon

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RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« on: February 11, 2008, 05:56:58 PM »
Hello guys,

This year are the annual open door days of the RNLAF planned at the
Leeuwarden base, the base which had the Blue Angels in 2006. This
year no Blue Angels, and hopefully a little bit more interesting like last
year at Volkel. Below a short list of what is confirmed, and the rumours.

Rumours:
?? - US Navy Asset (NO Aircraft confirmed)
Static - F-35 Lightning II (Mock-up?!?!?!)

Confirmed:
Flying - RNLAF Solo F-16 Display (Netherlands)
Flying - RNLAF Solo Pc-7 Display (Netherlands)
Flying - Mirage 2000C Solo Display(France)
Flying - EF-18+ Hornet Solo Display (Spain)

The EF-18+ from Spain, is already among my highlights.
If there will be new news, I will post it overhere.

Regards, Ramon  ;D
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Webmaster

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2008, 11:13:04 PM »
Ah good, the fun starts again! But Ramon, you already forgot one!

Confirmed:
Moving & Static - MILAVIA Webmaster (Netherlands)
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Niels Hillebrand
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Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2008, 11:13:53 AM »
Hello guys,

Some very nice additions in my opinion to the list.
From the BBMF are three aircrafts confirmed:
Flying - The beautifull - Lancaster PA474 (U.K.)
Flying - The Spitfire Mk ?? (U.K.)
Flying - And always nice to see and hear, a Hurricane Mk ?? (U.K.)

The official website of the open door days will be online
somewhere mid March. So hopefully more surprises.
Fingers crossed for the Frecce Tricolori  ::)

Regards, Ramon
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2008, 02:56:30 PM »
F-35, if present, will definately be that ugly mock-up, which is impossible to photograph anyway because they'll use it to show the cockpit (which probably looks no way close to a real F-35 cockpit by the time they're coming off the production line)

Well, what can I say. I like the BBMF and its aircraft, however the more warbirds the more valuable display time is lost. They take so much time to get in the air, get ready for display, each fly-by takes longer, and then it takes ages for them to land.

Talking about warbirds/classics, they may not be on the list yet, but it's likely the aircraft from the Historic Flight & other Dutch foundations will attend again:

- B-25 Mitchell
- Hawker Hunter
- Fokker Four
- Spitfire IX
- DC-2 'Uiver'
- AT-16 Harvards
- PBY Catalina
- P-51 Mustang
- Beaver
- Piper Cubs
- Saab Safir

Luckily some of these will fly together. Like the BBMF. But then you also have the Extra 300(s) and Yak-52s, altogether it's just a little too much 'break time' for me. I wish they can put them together in one block, let's say around lunch time, instead of scattered between jet display. Then I can go and visit the static and have some lunch. Unfortunately the organization will actually try to mix them with jets, because they just know they're boring and want the crowd to be kept entertained.

Ah well, it's free, so I shouldn't be complaining anyway. I'm quite happy about that Mirage 2000C solo, seen it a couple of times, but I'm still lacking my own proper photographs of it.
  • Interests: Su-15, Su-27, Tu-22, Tornado, RNLAF
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Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2008, 03:59:26 PM »
F-35, if present, will definately be that ugly mock-up, which is impossible to photograph anyway because they'll use it to show the cockpit (which probably looks no way close to a real F-35 cockpit by the time they're coming off the production line)

Well, what can I say. I like the BBMF and its aircraft, however the more warbirds the more valuable display time is lost. They take so much time to get in the air, get ready for display, each fly-by takes longer, and then it takes ages for them to land.

Talking about warbirds/classics, they may not be on the list yet, but it's likely the aircraft from the Historic Flight & other Dutch foundations will attend again:

- B-25 Mitchell
- Hawker Hunter
- Fokker Four
- Spitfire IX
- DC-2 'Uiver'
- AT-16 Harvards
- PBY Catalina
- P-51 Mustang
- Beaver
- Piper Cubs
- Saab Safir

Luckily some of these will fly together. Like the BBMF. But then you also have the Extra 300(s) and Yak-52s, altogether it's just a little too much 'break time' for me. I wish they can put them together in one block, let's say around lunch time, instead of scattered between jet display. Then I can go and visit the static and have some lunch. Unfortunately the organization will actually try to mix them with jets, because they just know they're boring and want the crowd to be kept entertained.

Ah well, it's free, so I shouldn't be complaining anyway. I'm quite happy about that Mirage 2000C solo, seen it a couple of times, but I'm still lacking my own proper photographs of it.

Hey Niels,

Almost completely agree with your points, the F-35 is indeed most lickely a mock-up.
So no point in photographing that one. And the warbirds are very personal, a flying
B-25 / Hawker Hunter / Spitfire & Mustang have to be on a airshow in my opinion. I
always photograph them as much as the jets. Only are the steep and tight G turns
probaply not performed by these oldtimers. These golden Oldies have to be put in
a certain part of the day to show the history of military aviation. And indeed not
scattered all over the place.

All the other aircrafts like the Fokker Four, Saab Safir, Extra 300 and YAK-52's do
not belong on a open door day in my humble opinion. The Dutch AirForce is showing
what they have done with our tax money, and trying to get people to work for the
airforce. And a Yak and Extra 300 are not in the airforce inventory, or do not appeal
that much people, than a Spanisch Hornet with full afterburner  ;)

It is indeed free, so the confirmed FAF Mirage 2000C, BAF and RNLAF F-16, Spanisch
F/A-18 Hornet and most lickely the Frecce Tricolori are making it worth the trip.

Regards, Ramon.
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2008, 11:23:10 PM »
Hello all,

Today again some more updates, I will only mention the flyers:

Belgium:
- SAR Seaking Solo
- F-16AM Solo

Netherlands:
- F-16AM Solo
- AirPower Demo

France:
- Mirage 2000C Solo

Italy:
- Frecce Tricolori

Historic:
- UK: Lancaster, B-17 Flying Fortress, Hurricane, Spitfire,
- Netherlands: Douglas DC-2 and Catalina PBY 5A

Rumours are still there that 2 "larger" and 2 "smaller" display
teams will be present. With the Frecce already as one of the big ones.

Regards, Ramon  :)
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2008, 02:04:04 PM »
Hello all,

And today again some additions.
Still waiting on one more larger display team.

Turkey:
Static - 2x F-4E Phantom (173 NCU)

Denmark:
Static - 2x F-16AM Fighting Falcon (730 Sq)

Jordan:
Flying - 4x Extra 300 - RJ Falcons

Regards, Ramon
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2008, 02:56:41 PM »
Hello all,

Today a very nice addition to the display
team list. And some more minor additions.

Poland:
Flying - Team Iskra  ;D

Germany:
Static - Eurofighter

NATO:
Static - E-3A Sentry

Regards, Ramon
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2008, 05:22:58 PM »
Hello all,

And also today some very nice additions.  :D

Sloveniƫ:
Static - Pilatus Porter PC-6
Flying - Pilatus PC-9

USAF:
Static - Hercules C-130H USAF (Maxwell AFB, Alabama)

Regards, Ramon
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

Offline Ramon

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Re: RNLAF Open Days 2008 (Leeuwarden AB)
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2008, 03:22:57 PM »
Hello all,

And here we go again  ;)
Some very nice additions...

Greece:
Static - F-4E Phantom

Hungary:
Static - Mig-29UB

Ireland:
Static - Pilatus PC-9M

Denmark:
Static - Saab T-17

And the B-17 "Sally-B" is sadly removed from the list,
due the fact it has trouble with one of the engines.
(Already replaced two engines, and everytime failure)

Regards, Ramon
  • Interests: A-10, F-14, F-105, B-58 and warbirds

 



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