Entry is free as the event is entirely funded out of the Netherlands defence budget. This small but influential and busy Air Force sees the Open Days as a way to thank the public for their support and as a major recruitment opportunity. This results in huge crowds and great exposure for the Air Force's many elements.
The main Open Days event rotates yearly through three main operational RNLAF bases, Volkel Air Base in the SW, Leeuwarden Air Base in the North and Gilze in the South, giving each base the chance to 'star' in the flying display and, more importantly, with the ground exhibitions. Gilze-Rijen is home to the Defence Helicopter Command (DHC), with its 301 Sqn AH-64D Apaches, 298 Sqn CH-47D Chinooks, 300 Sqn AS.532U-2 Cougars and Alouette IIIs all stationed here. With its helicopters, the DHC supports the entire Defence organisation, among others the Air Mobile Brigade, the Marine Corps, the Special Forces and Special Security Brigade of the Royal Marechaussee. It also provides support for UN and NATO operations in out-of-area deployment theatres.
Unsurprisingly, the rotory winged residents played a major role on the ground and in the air displays, with a large Air Power demonstration involving eight F-16s attacking the airfield, followed by role demos by four Apaches, two Chinooks and six Cougars, plus ground troops and smokey pyros. On the ground the Air Force 'Village' had demonstrations of Apache weapons loading and a Cougar engine change. This area in the static was very reminiscent of a trade show-like exhibition and included a mock-up of the RNLAF's probable new fighter, the F-35, of which the Dutch hold a large stake in the development. Time will tell whether we see F-35s in a future Air Power demonstration!
301 Squadron also have the world's only solo Apache display team, and the display AH-64D has recently received a special scheme. The display is without doubt one of the best helo demonstrations in the world, made all the more exciting by the liberal spraying of flares during the loops. Saturday saw the bonus of a flypast in formation with the RNLAF F-16AM!
Elsewhere the static display contained some nice foreign participation, with Poland providing a Su-22 and MiG-29, Hungary and the Czech AF a Gripen each, a very welcome RAF VC-10 from 101 Sqn joined two RAF Tornadoes from 12 and 13 Sqns on the cross runway static line-up.
The flying display varied each day, especially with the RAF participation, as the Red Arrows and the Typhoon displays were Friday only. Other teams there for both days included the Turkish Stars and a first for the Netherlands, La Patrulla Aspa. This Spanish Army team made up entirely of instructors flies with standard Eurocopter EC120B Colibri helicopters painted in a colourful stylised Spanish Flag scheme.
Another highlight was the C-17A West Coast Demonstration Team's impressive display from the 452nd AW, March AFB, CA. Gilze-Rijen also boasted no less than three F-16 demos, with the home team's 'Orange Lion' joined by the Belgian and Danish AF F-16AM displays, all providing their own personal touches. There were also two JAS-39C Gripen demos, from the Hungarian and Czech Republic Air Forces. Unusual items in the flying display included A Finnish AF NH-90TTH, a Slovak Air Force L-39ZAM Albatros and a Dutch Coast Guard Dornier Do 228-212.
Unfortunately Friday's weather deteriorated as the day progressed, with a low cloud base that curtailed the Patrouille de France display. A technical problem also forced the Spanish AF F/A-18A to abort its display at start-up, although they brought the spare from the static display later in the day to perform successfully on Saturday.
Minor niggles aside, and, as ever, who can control the weather? The annual open days are always well organised and friendly events. The Dutch public, much like in the UK, are very 'air minded' and enthusiastic about their Air Force, and the general consensus on various airshow forums was that the RNLAF provided a varied display with great flying, a good mix of aircraft and some interesting static displays.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR. The show moves onto Leeuwarden AB for 2011.2010-07-02 - T.Kool
Nice photos.
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