The Aviation Magazine No:46 September-October 2016 | Page 56

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has a biennial Open Day air show that is free to attend.
The Open Days event rotates between three air bases of the RNLAF: Gilze-Rijen Air Base, Volkel
Air Base, and for this year it was held at Leeuwarden AB.
For 2016 the event can be summarized in a few words: awful weather, interesting air display despite the weather, and the debut of the F-35 Lightning II, in the RNLAF markings.
There were several NATO coalition partners invited as static as well as performers. Unfortunately,
on Thursday (the practice day) before the two day even Friday and Saturday, two Patrouille Suisse
F-5E Tigers collided in the air. One crashed into a nearby canal the pilot managed eject, while the
other one managed to land despite damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The Swiss Air Force did not
partake in any further activity not even as a static.
Luckily for the crowds the Belgian Red Devils in their (4) SF260 Marchetti, the Turkish Stars with (8)
NF-5A/B, Red Arrows with (9) BAE Hawk T1, Black Cats Helicopter display Team with their (2)
Lynx, and Patrouille de France with their Alphajets were able to perform in multi-aircraft displays.
There were other impressive displays by the Czech AFs JAS-39 Gripen as well as the Mi-35 Hind,
the MiG-29 from Poland, Eurofighter from Spain, Belgian F-16AN Solo Display and a several aircraft from the RNLAF.
The much anticipated F-35 was escorted by nine F-16s in a demo. Old warbirds that participated
included a Dutch and a Brit Spitfire as well as a Dutch P-51 Mustang.
The statics were rather spare this year. Over all the event was satisfactory considering the bad
weather and the accident, we highly recommend the event to all especially to those who like to attend free open days at air bases.