After an absence of two year the Royal Netherlands Air Force Days are back. This two day event, at 14 and 15 July was held at Volkel Air Base and attracting some 430.000 visitors. A nice variety of aircraft were present at the Static and Air show, with the Air Power demo highlighting the flying program. Especially for this event, two Dutch F-35s flew over from the US, with the latest, F-008, being on Dutch soil for the first time.
Photo in this report were taken on both days.
Static
The static was positioned on the parallel runway, making excellent photo opportunities. Highlight were both classic Saabs, which also took part in the flying program. Three F-35s were present, an Italian airframe and the two Dutch aircraft, of which F-001 featured the special tone-down 70 years 323 - Diana tail.
Other treats included two Greek F-4E Phantoms, one showing a custom “338 goes Pholkel” tail. Special colors from Spain and Belgium, and the static test F-16A airframe J-229 in prototype colors was on the static again. Also great to see, the museum piece, TF-104 and the English brought a special forces Puma HC2.
C.16-76 / 14-34, EF2000
C.16-73 / 14-31, EF2000
C.16-73 / 14-31, EF2000
C.16-72 / 14-30, EF2000
MM7345 / 37-45, F-2000
FA-124, F-16
FA-124, F-16
9237, JAS39
ET-612, F-16
01507, F-4
01507, F-4
71758, F-4
FB-24, F-16
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
G-KAXF, Hunter
XX187 / 187, Hawk
NX139LE, L-39
J-229, F-16
J-229, F-16
J-3084, F-5
-, F-5
J-3082, F-5
675, F-16
J-016, F-16
44+29, Tornado
MM7361 / 32-11, F-35
MM7361 / 32-11, F-35
N590D, O-2
D-5803, TF-104
ZJ957, Puma
F-001, F-35
F-001, F-35
F-001, F-35
F-001, F-35
F-008, F-35
EC-340, A330
LX-N90454, E-3
D-FONL, An-2
PH-PXZ, AW139
J-055, F-16
J-635, F-16
Q-24, AH-64
05-5142, C-17
G-273, C-130
PH-JAT, P-51
TB885 / 3W-V, Spitfire
-, Hawk
ST-02, SF260
Another special visitor was the Airbus A330MRTT still in primer. This aircraft will become the first Royal Netherlands Air Force KC-30A M-001, replacing the aging KDC-10. Up to 6 of these tankers are on order, which will be used by NATO and stationed at Eindhoven Air Base.
Airshow
Like the static, the airshow had a nice variety of aircraft and demo teams. The Italians brought the T-346 trainer and the great C-27J demo. Looping a cargo aircraft still is an impressive sight.
N-088, NH90
N-088, NH90
PH-KHV, Beech 18
-, CH-47
E-011, F-16
E-011, F-16
E-011, F-16
E-011, F-16
E-011, F-16
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
E129 / 6, Alpha Jet
E129 / 6, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
-, Alpha Jet
MM55213 / 61-06, T-346
MM55213 / 61-06, T-346
MM55213 / 61-06, T-346
MM55213 / 61-06, T-346
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
CSX62219 / RS-50, C-27
Saab classics
One of the highlights of this year was without a doubt the flying display of both Saab classics flown by the Swedish Historic Flight. The Saab Sk35 Dragen and Saab AJS37 Viggen are still able to present an impressive show. The power of the Viggen’s Volvo engine is amazing to see and hear!
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
SE-DXN, AJS37
On page two we show the impressive Airpower demo. Besides the F-35 joining in the simulated base attack, this year even more flares were used! Also the airshow continues with the JAS39, Typhoon, C-17, KDC-10 and “Dark Falcon” demo.