This edition of the Dutch Air Force Days will enter the history books as first ever public air show appearance of the F-35, formerly known as Joint Strike Fighter. A first for the Dutch a few weeks ahead of the RIAT where the Americans will show their F-35.
The Air Force Days were held 10 and 11 June, after a year absence, at Leeuwarden AB, located in the Northeast of the Netherlands.
Just a day before the show, two Patrouille Suisse F-5s collided during a practice run. One could land with a horizontal stabiliser missing and one crashed nearby the airfield. Both pilots survived, but obvious the Patrouille Suisse performance was cancelled pending the investigation.
Static
The static quantity was a little bit poor this year. Although there were some interesting visitors. The Polish F-16D and Italian T-364 trainers were a first. Also for the first time, the Belgian Army NH-90 (RN-07) was on display. Another Highlight was the appearance of Polly Grey, the legendary mascot of 322 squadron. The parrot found a nice spot on top of a (mockup) Spitfire gun.
J-066, F-16
3911, MiG-29
31+30, EF2000
30+87, EF2000
4085, F-16
J-624, F-16
4085, F-16
4085, F-16
J-002, F-16
E67 / 705-TB, Alpha Jet
E7 / 705-TU, Alpha Jet
G-KAXF, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
MM55144 / 61-02, T-346
MM55153 / 61-05, T-346
MM55153 / 61-05, T-346
MM55153 / 61-05, T-346
ZF139 / 139, Tucano
RN-07, NH90
MJ343 / 3W-P, Spitfire
MJ343 / 3W-P, Spitfire
MJ343 / 3W-P, Spitfire
J-511, F-16
PH-CGC, DO-228
020, C295
05-5140, C-17
LX-N90455, E-3
PH-PBA, DC-3
Air Show
The Royal Netherlands Air Force set an all time high, with over 280.000 people attending the two Air Force Days. Of course this had all to do with the star of the show. After this public appearance of the F-35, they would head back to the US for at least 3 years.
Air Power Demo
Before the show it was unclear what the role of the F-35s would be. It was long expected they would only be shown on the static. But fortunately the flew and even joined the simulated base attack, during the Air Power Demo.
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
G-988, C-130
G-988, C-130
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
J-513, F-16
J-201, F-16
J-628, F-16
J-631, F-16
J-065, F-16
J-643, F-16
J-008, F-16
J-006, F-16
J-021, F-16
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
J-513, F-16
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
-, F-16
-, F-16
F-001 / OT, F-35
-, F-16
-, F-16
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
G-988, C-130
Q-24, AH-64
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
T-264, KDC-10
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
D-892, CH-47
-, F-16
J-628, F-16
J-021, F-16
J-065, F-16
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-001 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
F-002 / OT, F-35
On Friday the Air Power Demo was also used to hold a ceremony handing over the command to a new commander for the Dutch Air Force. A unique event which normally doesn’t happen during these kinds of events.
Other demo’s
Of course no Patrouille Swiss, but others like the Red Arrows (only on Friday) and Frecce Tricolori performed there show. Turkish Stars stared with there NF-5s with modified color scheme.
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
71-3046, NF-5
71-3046, NF-5
71-3046, NF-5
71-3058, NF-5
71-3048, NF-5
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
Q-18, AH-64
PH-PBY, PBY-5
PH-PBY, PBY-5
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
C.16-36 / 14-03, EF2000
XX219, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
-, Hawk
XX322, Hawk
3371, Mi-35
3371, Mi-35
3371, Mi-35
3371, Mi-35
0921, MiG-29
0921, MiG-29
0921, MiG-29
0921, MiG-29
0921, MiG-29
0921, MiG-29
AB910 / SH-F, Spitfire
PH-OUQ, Spitfire
AB910 / SH-F, Spitfire
AB910 / SH-F, Spitfire
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
FA-123, F-16
-, MB339
-, MB339
-, MB339
MM54538 / 10, MB339
Other impressive demo’s included a Spanish EF2000, Czech Mi-35, Slovakian MiG-29 and Belgium’s F-16 solo display.