Both the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Spyker Formula One team tested there strength 20th of April at the Full Throttle event on Volkel AB, where a F-16 raced the Spyker F1 race car.
As a recruitment event for the Air Force and to celebrate the birth of the Spyker Formula One team, this event was organized. Spyker and the Air Force are connected since the beginning of flight. In 1915 the Air Force used the Farman F22 build by Spyker. Nowadays Spyker hand builds exclusive sports cars.
The main race was (off course) held on the runway. The Spyker used the Main runway while the F-16 lined up on the parallel auxiliary runway. After the spectators counted down, and the go was given the Spyker was the first to take off, from the start position. What an amazing power. Although a slow starter, the F-16 took off with full AB and continued low level over the runway. Just a few seconds later, both crossed the finish line some 3 kilometers up the runway. It was a very close call but the F-16 won with just a few meters to spare!
After the race, the Spyker with Formula One driver Christijan Albers at the wheel, drove a few times with full speed over the runway, while the F-16 made a hot-refueling stop. (refueling at the edge of the runway with all systems running). After refueling it was time for the demo flight.
A-247, SA316
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
A-247, SA316
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J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
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J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
J-055, F-16
This year the demo is flown by a new pilot, Ralph ‘Sheik’ Aarts from 313 sqn. Today Ralph flew his first show with spectators.
After the show both ‘drivers’ joined the ‘vehicles’ for a photo shot. A champagne bottle was handed over to the winner Ralph (a tradition in car racing), but wasn’t opened to pay the respect to a Dutch soldier killed the same day while on mission in Afghanistan.
A great thanks goes out the RNLAF voorlichtings department and Spyker for making this possible.