Starfighter
Wrecks&Relics (2011-today)
October 1, 2022 | Frank & Gijs & Hans
This gallery features pictures of aircraft that have been disposed of or preserved in one way or another; the airframes depicted here (gate-guards, monuments, eye-catchers, etc.) are photographed in the years 2011 onward. Airframes pictured in earlier years are in a separate gallery. Note that some of the aircraft portrayed here are no longer present at the given location.
W&R portrayed in the USA are dealt with in a separate gallery (also in this album “Preserved Aircraft”).
Eindhoven (NL) , July 1993 (Arrivals for Open Days)
November 6, 2020 | Hans
A wide variety of aircraft types presented itself during the 1993 Eindhoven Open Days ( see report elsewhere on the site).
On the 1st and 2nd of July the landing-area was already crowded with aircraft-spotters and photographers (Hans included) . … Read More
Best Hit Weapons Meet 1972, Larissa, Greece
June 30, 2020 | Hans & Frank 8
BEST HIT was a NATO competition in which the air forces of Italy, Greece and Turkey took part ( together with a joint “guest-team” assembled from USAFE´s 401 Tactical Fighter Wing ,Torrejon, Spain and U.S. Navy squadrons VA-15 and VA-87 , while on deployment to the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea) Read More
Tactical Weapons Meet 1976, Twente AB
May 23, 2019 | Hans & Frank 1
The 1976 TWM (Tactical Weapons Meet) was the 12th edition of central Europe’s tactical attack competion. It was was held at Twente AB (NL) from 28 April till 15 May , visited by Frank on the 7th and by Hans on the 10th of May. TWM was a contest between teams of 2ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force) and 4ATAF. The team from 2ATAF consisted of NF-5As of 316 squadron KLu of Gilze-Rijen AB, Mirages of 1 sqn BAFBierset, Starfighters of 1/31 JaBo Luftwaffe from Nörvenich and Phantoms of 31 sqn RAFG. 4ATAF consisted of 1/32 JaBo Luftwaffe, 1 CAG Canada, 22TFS/36TFW USAF and 23TFS/52TFW USAF from Spangdahlem (flying F-4D’s ). The French AF had sent a guest team, 3/13 Escadre from Colmar, equipped with Mirage 5Fs.The chase planes were NF-5Bs of Twente.
Spotting at Eindhoven (NL)
October 27, 2017 | Hans & Frank
Eindhoven was the city where the authors both grew up and became “real” aircraft-spotters at the nearby air base. They made many pictures there throughout the years often under difficult circumstances ! This gallery contains a selection of these “blood, sweat and tears”-pics taken at Eindhoven (NL). The Eindhoven based Thunderstreaks are not in this gallery, but all in one seperate album. Note that in the 60/70ties Eindhoven AB also had a Base-Flight with Lockheed T-33’s,Harvards etc. You will find some pictures of these aircraft in this gallery.
A few images taken in more recent years are incorporated as well. Eindhoven now houses the transport fleet of the RNethAF (pics are in gallery named “KLu aircraft”).
Kleine Brogel (B) Open Day / Tiger Meet, June 1978
March 12, 2014 | Frank & Gijs & Hans
The 1978 Tiger Meet was held at Kleine Brogel AB (Belgium) from 19-26 June. Participating were the air arms of 10 different countries including Norway, Greece and Portugal. On 23 June KB was open to the public and on Saturday 24 June the 31 squadron ‘Tiger’ area was open to the public. We all three visited the event.
Air Force Armament Museum, Florida November 2013
February 8, 2014 | Frank
The Air Force Armament Museum in Florida exhibits aviation warfare armament (bombs, rockets, missiles), as well as the platforms that are being used to fire resp. drop them. In this report we of course focus on the latter: on the aircraft that the museum displays.
Wrecks, Relics & Monuments, USA, 2012/2013
December 24, 2013 | Frank
This gallery holds a number of aircraft that are used as relics, monuments and gate guards which Frank encountered during trips through the USA in 2012 and 2013.
Tactical Weapons Meet, September 1972, Florennes (Belgium)
October 12, 2013 | Hans & Frank
In the old days NATO organized several exercises; TWM (Tactical Weapons Meet) was a competition between 2ATAF and 4ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force). In 1972 it was held for the 10th time and participants at Florennes in Belgium were Canadian AF Starfighters (Judge Team), Belgian AF Starfighters) (2nd Wing , Florennes), French AF Mirages (Guest Team, Esc.11/3, Nancy-Ochey) ,W.German AF Starfighters (JBG31, Nörvenich and JBG33, Büchel), R.Neth.AF(311/312 sq., Volkel, Starfighters), Royal Air Force Germany (14/17/31 sq.,Brüggen with Phantoms) and USAF in Europe ( 36TFW, Bitburg and 81TFW, Bentwaters, Phantoms).
Ailes Anciennes Toulouse, September 2013
October 1, 2013 | Frank
The Musee Aeronautique Ailes Anciennes is in the French city of Toulouse and has over 50 aircraft on display. The planes vary in the shape they are: some are fully restored and painted in original colours, while others seem to have been standing in the outside for over 50 years. Frank visited the “Ancient Wings” Museum early september 2013.
