After two years of (Covid) absence, Frisian Flag was back at Leeuwarden Air Base. This year’s participants included Canadian CF-188 (F/A-18) from 425 squadron, Aviano based Vipers from the 510th FS, French Mirages and Rafales and Italian F-2000s and Tornado’s. Germany and the UK also participated, although flying from their home bases. A first this edition was the participation of the F-35.
The NATO exercise held in a two-week period (28 March - 8 April 2022), consists of two sorties a day exercising several attack and defend scenario’s.
Unfortunately, the weather conditions were bad, with the better days at the beginning of the first week. It even snowed on one day. The morning wave on Thursday in the second week was cancelled due to the heavy rain. Runway 05 was in use most of the time.
2nd Wave
As the weather cleared up in the afternoon, we start this report with the afternoon wave (First landing, followed by take-off). Unlike the 1st wave (shown below), only 2 CF-188s joined. The French Rafales and Italian Tornado’s joined only in the second wave.
89-2018 / AV, F-16
89-2047 / AV, F-16
-, F-16
88-0444 / AV, F-16
89-2030 / AV, F-16
MM7040 / 6-21, Tornado
MM7040 / 6-21, Tornado
MM7039 / 6-33, Tornado
MM7039 / 6-33, Tornado
J-368, F-16
J-144, F-16
J-144, F-16
J-509, F-16
-, F-16
J-008, F-16
J-146, F-16
J-146, F-16
-, Mirage 2000
685 / 3-XZ, Mirage 2000
685 / 3-XZ, Mirage 2000
677 / 3-JT, Mirage 2000
677 / 3-JT, Mirage 2000
629 / 3-XO, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
-, Rafale
88-0521 / AV, F-16
-, F-16
35, Rafale
32, Rafale
32, Rafale
89-2102 / AV, F-16
89-2102 / AV, F-16
89-2102 / AV, F-16
89-2026 / AV, F-16
88-0443 / AV, F-16
88-0443 / AV, F-16
F-011, F-35
F-011, F-35
F-020, F-35
F-020, F-35
F-020, F-35
188742, CF-188
188742, CF-188
188742, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
F-023, F-35
F-023, F-35
F-024, F-35
F-024, F-35
G-FRAW, Falcon 20
G-FRAW, Falcon 20
105 / XK, TBM-700
G-FRAW, Falcon 20
F-023, F-35
F-023, F-35
F-023, F-35
F-023, F-35
F-024, F-35
J-368, F-16
J-368, F-16
J-008, F-16
J-008, F-16
MM7040 / 6-21, Tornado
MM7039 / 6-33, Tornado
MM7039 / 6-33, Tornado
32, Rafale
MM7040 / 6-21, Tornado
MM7040 / 6-21, Tornado
35, Rafale
32, Rafale
88-0444 / AV, F-16
89-2030 / AV, F-16
89-2047 / AV, F-16
89-2018 / AV, F-16
F-011, F-35
F-020, F-35
685 / 3-XZ, Mirage 2000
677 / 3-JT, Mirage 2000
629 / 3-XO, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
629 / 3-XO, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
677 / 3-JT, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
89-2102 / AV, F-16
89-2026 / AV, F-16
88-0443 / AV, F-16
88-0521 / AV, F-16
188742, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
After all participants returned to the base a French TBM-700 arrived.
1st Wave
The morning wave included four CF-188s and two F-2000s from the Italian Air Force, the later not flying in the afternoon wave. Three visitors arrived during the morning, an Italian P180, USAF C-21 and a Finnish PC-12. The Fin unfortunately landed on the secondary (27) runway, so out of photo sight.
Another nice catch on the 29 March were the 2 Lakenheath F-35s from 495th FS. They stayed for the day, not participation in the 2nd wave.
F-020, F-35
F-024, F-35
89-2030 / AV, F-16
636 / 3-JV, Mirage 2000
629 / 3-XO, Mirage 2000
677 / 3-JT, Mirage 2000
630 / 3-XD, Mirage 2000
J-008, F-16
J-008, F-16
J-509, F-16
MM7320 / 51-02, F-2000
MM7356 / 51-06, F-2000
MM7356 / 51-06, F-2000
188742, CF-188
188756, CF-188
188769, CF-188
89-2018 / AV, F-16
84-0087, C-21
188756, CF-188
188756, CF-188
188769, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
188797, CF-188
88-0521 / AV, F-16
89-2026 / AV, F-16
19-5475 / LN, F-35
19-5475 / LN, F-35
19-5486 / LN, F-35
19-5486 / LN, F-35
89-2102 / AV, F-16
MM7320 / 51-02, F-2000
MM7320 / 51-02, F-2000
MM7356 / 51-06, F-2000
MM7356 / 51-06, F-2000
636 / 3-JV, Mirage 2000
MM62286, P180
MM62286, P180
89-2018 / AV, F-16
188742, CF-188
188742, CF-188
188756, CF-188
188769, CF-188
188797, CF-188
88-0521 / AV, F-16
89-2026 / AV, F-16
F-011, F-35
F-024, F-35
G-FRAW, Falcon 20
F-020, F-35
J-368, F-16
89-2102 / AV, F-16
89-2102 / AV, F-16
Draken provided a Falcon 20C ECM jammer, which participated in all waves.
Log
Aircraft participating or visiting on 29 March.
| Serial |
Aircraft |
Unit/Notes |
| 636/3-JV | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003 |
| 677/3-JT | Mirage 2000D | EC02.003 |
| 630/3-XD | Mirage 2000D | EC01.003 |
| 629/3-XO | Mirage 2000D | EC03.003 |
| 685/3-XZ | Mirage 2000D | EC01.003 |
| 35 | Rafale M | ETR03.004 |
| 32 | Rafale M | 11F |
| MM7320/51-02 | F-2000A | 132 Gruppo |
| MM7356/51-06 | F-2000A | 132 Gruppo |
| MM7040/6-21 | Tornado IDS | 6 Stormo GEA |
| MM7039/6-33 | Tornado IDS | 6 Stormo GEA |
| 188742 | CF-188 | 425 sq |
| 188756 | CF-188 | 425 sq |
| 188769 | CF-188 | 433 sq |
| 188797 | CF-188 | 425 sq |
| 88-0444/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 89-2030/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 89-2047/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 89-2018/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 88-0443/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 88-0521/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 89-2026/AV | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| 89-2102/AV * | F-16CM | 510th FS |
| F-011 | F-35A | 322 sqn |
| F-020 | F-35A | 322 sqn |
| F-023 | F-35A | 322 sqn |
| F-024 | F-35A | 313 sqn |
| J-008 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-146 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-144 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-509 | F-16AM | 312 sqn |
| J-368 | F-16BM | 312 sqn |
| G-FRAW | Falcon 20C | Draken |
| 84-0087 ** | C-21A | 76th AS |
| 19-5475/LN ** | F-35A | 495th FS |
| 19-5486/LN ** | F-35A | 495th FS |
| MM62286 ** | P180 | 93 Gruppo |
| PI-06 ** | PC-12 | TukiLLv |
| 105/XK ** | TBM-700A | ET00.043 |
* Have Glass c/s.
** Visitor.
Not seen on 29 March, but participating in the exercise on other days: F-16CM 88-0413, 89-2046, 89-2011 and 89-2057. CF-188 188787, Rafale M 6, and F-35A F-019.
Aviation Group Leeuwarden in collaboration with the Dutch Air Force again organized great spotting facilities, with parking, toilets and a burger stand next to the runway.