All reports

Frisian Flag 2019

Frisian Flag 2019

Running from monday 1st to friday 12th of April 2019, Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands was host to the annual Frisian Flag exercise again. Hosting unit is Leeuwarden's 322 Tactess Squadron which took over the role as organisers from the 323 Tactess Squadron due to their transition to the F-35…
EART 2018

EART 2018

From April 9th to April 20th Eindhoven Airbase is host to the 5th edition of the European Air-to-Air Refueling Training (EART). The idea to centralize a combined exercise with Frisian Flag was born in 2013 when Air-to-Air refueling assets flew from their home base. In 2015 we visited the second…
RNLAF F-35A Lightning II deploys to the Netherlands

RNLAF F-35A Lightning II deploys to the Netherlands

Back in January 2015, in a debate with local residents from Volkel Air Base, Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced her commitment to send a F-35 Lightning II to the Netherlands for so called noise perception flights. One year of planning later the flights took place at the end of…
RNlAF F-16's for sale

RNlAF F-16's for sale

April 13th gave a rare opportunity to take a ride in the time machine and wander around Volkel airbase, The Netherlands, like it used to be in the '80's and early'90's. At the former 306 Sqn ramp (Safari-park), which has not been used for many years now, 19x F-16 were placed in line for about 200…
Frisian Flag 2016

Frisian Flag 2016

From April 11th - 22nd Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands was host to the annual Frisian Flag exercise. Organised by 322 Squadron, but with support from various units within the RNLAF, and seven participating nations it is the largest NATO exercise in Western Europe this year. Touchdown Aviation…
Dutch Blaze 2011

Dutch Blaze 2011

After the successful first exercise last year, RNLAF exercise Dutch Blaze was held again from June 20th – July 1st 2011. Although the name remained the same, the exercise had reduced in size and participants and had a different character than last years exercise. A couple of things remained the same…
Dutch Blaze 2010

Dutch Blaze 2010

To prepare RNLAF helicopter crew for their future ISAF deployment in Afghanistan, exercise Dutch Blaze was held at different area's in the Netherlands from June 28th till July 9th. Participants were AS532 Cougars from 300 squadron and CH-47D Chinooks from 298 squadron. Touchdown Aviation saw the…
Soesterberg, a finale in style

Soesterberg, a finale in style

On November 12th Soesterberg airbase ceased its function as military airbase. With the gates closing for good on December 31st this will end a period of 95 years of military aviation. Founded in 1910 the airbase was the oldest airfield in Europe and the second oldest in the world. On July 1st 1913…
Luchtmachtdagen 2004

Luchtmachtdagen 2004

Four years after my first Air Show at Volkel Air Base have past before the Air Base was assigned to organise the Open Days of the Royal Netherlands Air force again. In 2000 the show was held in September due to the war in Kosovo, this year it was in June as common. The weekend of June 18-19th was…