On Friday 17 and Saturday the 18th of June the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu) held their annual open house. For 2005 the show was held at Gilze Rijen Air Force Base due to reconstuction of the runway at Leeuwarden.

Gilze Rijen is home to 301 Squadron equipped with the AH-64D Apache. 301 Squadron was finally home complete after being involved with a deployment of 12 Apaches to Iraq in support of the Dutch Stabilization for Iraq (SFIR) troops in Al-Moethanna and a deployment with 6 Apaches to Afghanistan in support of International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF). Sadly during the latter an Apache was lost in an non fatal accident. During the the deployments most of the available AH-64's where outside the Netherlands so it was good to see that many Apaches being present on the Air Show!

In the future Gilze Rijen will also provide a home to 298 Squadron and 300 Squadron. The building plans are ready to start the construction of the new hangars to house the Chinooks and Cougars as the units move from Soesterberg to Gilze Rijen in 2006. This moves will make Gilze Rijen the largest base on numbers with all helicopters belonging to the KLu being stationed here.

Michael would like to thank Major R. de Jong and his team from the Gilze Rijen Public Affairs Office for their hospitality and providing the press facilities on both days.