Every year Leeuwarden AB in the Northern part of the Netherlands is home to the combined NATO exercise, Frisian Flag. This year two USAF F-15 ANG units joint amongst Dutch, German, Belgium, French, English and Portuguese units. In two week’s time, the aircraft flew two sorties a day over the North sea West of Denmark.
The exercise took place from 27 March till 7 April. Thousands of aircraft enthusiasts gathered during this time to see the two wave take-offs and landings. Aviation Group Leeuwarden and the Dutch Air Force again this year organized great facilities for the spotters, with parking next to the Runway at Marssum, toilets and even a burger stand.
The weather was challenging during the exercise, but there were some excellent days, giving superb photo opportunities.
First wave
The photo’s were made April 5 during the first wave of the day. Most of the joining aircraft were participating this day. Start towards Marssum on the 05 and landing from Jelsum on 23.
J-063, F-16
J-016, F-16
-, F-16
15115, F-16
ZA459 / 025, Tornado
ZG779 / 136, Tornado
653 / 3-AU, Mirage 2000
617 / 3-IS , Mirage 2000
668 / 3-IG, Mirage 2000
J-009, F-16
FA-128, F-16
FA-70, F-16
-, EF2000
J-144 , F-16
J-135, F-16
83-0012 / JZ, F-15
J-005, F-16
-, EF2000
31+30, EF2000
31+31, EF2000
31+31, EF2000
-, F-16
J-011, F-16
J-136, F-16
-, F-16
J-063, F-16
J-016, F-16
J-009, F-16
J-516, F-16
FB-24, F-16
FA-124, F-16
-, Tornado
ZA554 / 046, Tornado
ZA459 / 025, Tornado
ZA447 / 019, Tornado
ZG779 / 136, Tornado
-, EF2000
30+98, EF2000
31+36, EF2000
31+40, EF2000
J-066, F-16
FA-116, F-16AM
FA-118, F-16
FA-128, F-16
FA-70, F-16
J-632, F-16
J-135, F-16
-, F-15
81-0039 / JZ, F-15
85-0096, F-15
83-0036 / JZ, F-15
86-0162, F-15
30+52, EF2000
31+39, EF2000
653 / 3-AU, Mirage 2000
617 / 3-IS, Mirage 2000
668 / 3-IG, Mirage 2000
15104, F-16AM
15110, F-16
15115, F-16
15105, F-16
83-0012 / JZ, F-15
83-0041 / JZ, F-15
85-0102 / JZ, F-15
85-0102 / JZ, F-15
85-0102 / JZ, F-15
86-0148, F-15
83-0012 / JZ, F-15
G-FRAU, Falcon 20
Second wave
The second wave started towards Marssum again, but unlike most of the days during the exercise they also landed from the Marssum side.
FA-70 , F-16
671 / 3-XK, Mirage 2000
J-063 , F-16
J-136, F-16
31+30, EF2000
J-065, F-16
J-009, F-16
J-066, F-16
J-066 , F-16
J-509, F-16
J-135, F-16
J-144, F-16
J-516, F-16
85-0102 / JZ, F-15
86-0161, F-15
86-0162, F-15
ZG779 / 136, Tornado
ZA459 / 025, Tornado
FA-124 , F-16
J-065, F-16
-, Tornado
ZG779 / 136, Tornado
ZG779 / 136, Tornado
ZA459 / 025, Tornado
31+36, EF2000
31+40, EF2000
31+39, EF2000
30+98, EF2000
15110, F-16
15104, F-16
15101, F-16
15105, F-16
J-632, F-16
J-516, F-16
J-135, F-16
J-144, F-16
30+52, EF2000
30+52, EF2000
31+30, EF2000
FA-116, F-16
-, F-15
FA-70, F-16
FA-70, F-16
FA-118, F-16
FA-121, F-16
-, Mirage 2000
85-0102 / JZ, F-15
86-0161, F-15
86-0162, F-15
81-0039 / JZ, F-15
653 / 3-AU, Mirage 2000
671 / 3-XK, Mirage 2000
668 / 3-IG, Mirage 2000
617 / 3-IS , Mirage 2000
J-011, F-16
J-016, F-16
J-009, F-16
-, F-16
FB-24, F-16
FA-124, F-16
J-005, F-16
J-630, F-16
-, F-15
J-063, F-16
J-066, F-16
J-066, F-16
J-509, F-16
83-0036 / JZ, F-15
83-0041 / JZ, F-15
83-0041 / JZ, F-15
J-136, F-16
G-FRAU, Falcon 20
G-FRAU, Falcon 20
A week before, on March 29, these shots were made, in bad weather conditions.
86-0155, F-15
80-0058, F-15
FA-121, F-16
FA-124, F-16
Log 5 April 2017
Aircraft noted during the 2 waves flown on that day.
| Serial |
Aircraft |
Unit/Notes |
| J-005 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-009 | F-16AM | 313 sqn |
| J-011 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-016 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-063 | F-16AM | 313 sqn |
| J-065 | F-16BM | 322 sqn, 2nd wave only |
| J-066 | F-16BM | 322 sqn “Orange Jumper” |
| J-135 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| J-136 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-144 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| J-509 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| J-516 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| J-630 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-632 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| FA-70 | F-16AM | 10w, 75 years 349 |
| FA-116 | F-16AM | 10w |
| FA-118 | F-16AM | 10w |
| FA-121 | F-16AM | 2w, 2nd wave only |
| FA-124 | F-16AM | 10w |
| FA-128 | F-16AM | 2w |
| FB-24 | F-16BM | 10w |
| 30+52 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 30+98 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 31+30 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 31+31 | EF2000 | TLG31, “Spirit of Oswald Boelcke" c/s |
| 31+36 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 31+39 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 31+40 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| ZA459 / 025 | Tornado GR4 | 31 sq |
| ZA447 / 019 | Tornado GR4 | 31 sq |
| ZA554 / 046 | Tornado GR4 | 31 sq |
| ZG779 / 136 | Tornado GR4 | 31 sq |
| 653 / 3-AU | Mirage 2000D | ETD02.007 |
| 668 / 3-IG | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003 |
| 617 / 3-IS | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003 |
| 671 / 3-XK | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003, 2nd wave only |
| 15101 | F-16AM | Esq201/301, 2nd wave only |
| 15104 | F-16AM | Esq201/301 |
| 15105 | F-16AM | Esq201/301 |
| 15110 | F-16AM | Esq201/301 |
| 15115 | F-16AM | Esq201/301 |
| 81-0039 / JZ | F-15C | 122nd FS LA ANG |
| 83-0012 / JZ | F-15C | 122nd FS LA ANG |
| 83-0036 / JZ | F-15C | 122nd FS LA ANG |
| 83-0041 / JZ | F-15C | 122nd FS LA ANG |
| 85-0096 | F-15C | 159th FS FL ANG |
| 85-0102 / JZ | F-15C | 122nd FS LA ANG , “159 FW” mks |
| 86-0148 | F-15C | 159th FS FL ANG |
| 86-0161 | F-15C | 159th FS FL ANG , 2nd wave only |
| 86-0162 | F-15C | 159th FS FL ANG |
| G-FRAU | Falcon 20 | Gobham |
Also present, but not flying on the 5th. These aircraft were noted a week earlier on March 29.
| Serial |
Aircraft |
Unit/Notes |
| J-002 | F-16AM | 322 sqn |
| J-020 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-642 | F-16AM | 312/313 sqn |
| 31+34 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| 31+29 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| ZA369 / 003 | Tornado GR4A | |
| 677 / 133-JT | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003 |
| 80-0058 | F-15D | 159th FS FL ANG |
| 86-0155 | F-15C | 159th FS FL ANG |
Also present, or joining but not seen. The tanker support operated from Eindhoven AB in the South of the country.
| Serial |
Aircraft |
Unit/Notes |
| ZA472/031 | Tornado GR4A | |
| 31+33 | EF2000 | TLG31 |
| | |
| T-264 | KDC-10 | 334 sqn, Eindhoven |
| T-235 | KDC-10 | 334 sqn, Eindhoven |
| 10+24 | A310-304MRTT | FBS BMVg, Eindhoven |
| 470 / 31-CA | C-135FR | GRV02.091, Eindhoven |
| MM62228/14-03 | KC-767A | 8° Gruppo, Eindhoven |