RNLAF Open Days, Leeuwarden AFB

[Joe Kurr]

On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st of June, Leeuwarden airbase in the Netherlands will host the annual RNLAF Open Days.

 

Like every year, entrance is free, and opening hours are from 08:00 until 17:00 on both days, with the flying program starting at 09:00.

 

For a complete list of participating aircraft, have a look at this page

 

I will be there on both days, and post pictures in this topic if I can find an open WiFi hotspot.

 

For those of you planning a trip to the airbase, here is a map of the showground:

 

 

If you want to go there on Thursday (main arrival day) keep in mind that there are no-go areas at both ends of the runway.

Entering the red zones on the pictures below can cost you 180 euros!

 

At the 06 end:

 

 

At the 24 end:

 

 

Hope to see some of you there!

[Ross-impress]

Yes, our Seaking helicopter from Koksyde airbase will be there too..Greetings to Jax and Sluze (the pilots)

 

Ross....

Edited June 16, 2008 by Ross

[Tenrai]

I live in Leeuwarden, would be heresy not to show up!

[Vekkinho]

Too bad it's that far from Croatia, I'd be glad to come if I had a chance!

[Case]

I'm planning to be there on Saturday.

[bandera]

We wait many photos and video from men, who will plan to visit this event. Unfortunately, it too hard to arrive here from Russia.

[Joe Kurr]

Today I heard that for the very first time ever, one of our KDC-10 tanker aircraft will do a solo display, with some very spectacular low passes at high speed.

 

Two aircraft have been added to the list yesterday, both from Germany, and both on static:

- An-2 Colt (D-FONL / DM-SKM)

- Seagull

 

There are also some cancellations:

- Due to technical issues, the PBY-5 Catalina and the DC-2 'Uiver' will stay at home

- Due to a crash today, only two of the four Harriers will attend to the show (all others are grounded until further notice).

[bandera]

...Harrier a crash today...

It is a pity, that such incident take place. Anybody know, what happened?

[Joe Kurr]

I'm off to photograph the arrivals, and staying on a camping near the airfield until Sunday.

 

Hope to see some of you at the show.

 

You can recognize me by my "Codemasters Campzone" T-shirt, or a dark-blue "Track4 IT Group" jack.

I will also be wearing a "Natural Point" cap.

[Case]

Some impressions of the airshow at the Dutch base in Leeuwarden

 

More pictures are at http://forum.51st.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=316

[Joe Kurr]

Back again after a nice weekend at Leeuwarden airbase.

 

We arrived on Thursday morning, and parked in the approach on the 24 end of the runway.

The police patrolled the area, but for the first time since 2004 there were no problems, and we were not sent away.

 

The show itself was nice, with some first-time appearances at a Dutch airshow, and also some aircraft which would be there for the very last time.

 

I took some 1776 pictures, so it'll take a little while to sort them all out.

 

Here are two already:

 

1. Greek F-4E Phantom on final approach on Thursday

 

 

2. Dutch F-16 Solo Display throws a flare

 

 

Expect more pictures in the coming days.

[Joe Kurr]

Small selection of the Thursday arrivals:

 

1. Antonov An-2 from Classic Wings

 

 

2. BAe Hawk T.1 from the RAF

 

 

3. Acromach Super S2S "Purple Violet"

 

 

4. USAF C-130E Hercules, all the way from Maxwell AFB, Alabama

 

 

5. F-16AM of the Norwegian Air Force, arriving for FWIT, was not taking part in the airshow.

 

 

Click here for more arrival pictures

 

Next: Friday, the first show day, including the static show.

[Ross-impress]

Nice to share the pictures Joe. You got pictures of the belgium Seaking Helicopter??

 

Ross..

[Joe Kurr]

Yes, I have loads of pictures of the Belgian Sea King, will post them tomorrow, as most of them are in the Saturday batch.

 

Here are the pics from Friday, starting off with the static show.

 

1. Dutch CH-47D Chinook with all maintenance hatches opened

 

 

2. Royal Navy Jetstream in front of one of the hangars

 

 

3. One of the two F-15Cs from Lakenheath AFB

 

 

4. A different view on the same aircraft

 

 

5. Mirage 2000B of the French Air Force

 

 

6. RAF Harrier GR.7

 

 

7. One of the two Turkish RF-4E Phantoms

 

[Joe Kurr]

And here's the flying display.

 

1. Bell UH-1 Huey flying by sideways

 

 

2. RNLAF AB-412SP 'Tweety' performing a SAR demo

 

 

3. RNLAF KDC-10 tanker doing a very low-level fly-by (no, this wasn't a touch and go!)

 

 

4. Dutch Heritage Flight, with a B-25 Mitchell, Hawker Hunter T-8C, and the F-16 Solo Display

 

 

5. The F-16 starting its display routine

 

 

6. NH-90 from the Agusta-Westland factory, with Dutch Navy markings

 

 

7. The Belgian F-16 Solo Display drops a couple of flares at the end of its routine

 

 

Tomorrow I will post the batch from Saturday, which includes pictures of the two major mishaps at the show.

 

Click here for more pictures of the Friday show

[Groove]

Damn i didnt had the time to visit this one. Will try to not miss the next one.

 

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!

[Kusch]

Thanks! :)