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| The Lightning on approach to runway 24R. |
F-35A turning towards final runway 24R. |
Arrival at initial before executing the break. |
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| Turning into the circuit for a low approach. |
F-16AM turning towards final runway 24R. |
In the circuit for landing runway 06L.
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On short final runway 24R.
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Rear view of the F-35A Lightning II.
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Last low approach before returning 'home'. |
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On short final runway 24R.
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Rear view of the F-16BM Fighting Falcon. |
Mission 'Belevingsvluchten' completed. 'wheels up' and return to
base. |
| Date: |
Program: |
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| May 19th |
The first KDC-10 flew to Edwards AFB. |
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May 20th
|
The second KDC-10 departed Eindhoven to Edwards AFB. |
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| May 21st |
Both F-35s and KDC-10s completed their ferry flight from Edwards AFB to NAS Patuxent River. |
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| May 22nd |
'Rest' day at Pax River while completing necessary checks
and preparations for Atlantic crossing. |
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May 23rd
|
Both F-35As (F-001 and F-002) together with both KDC-10s left NAS Patuxent
River 45 minutes later then originally planned to start their
Atlantic crossing. The arrival was planned at 20.00 but became
21.00
Late afternoon the sole Dutch Gulfstream IV landed at Leeuwarden
with the minister of defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Around 19.00 the aircraft
with the minister and RNLAF commander Lt.Gen. Sander Schnitger departed
towards Scotland to meet the fighter / tanker formation and
escort them to Leeuwarden. A little later also two F-16s took-off to be part of
the welcoming committee / escort. After a photo shoot over the
Wadden eilanden the Gulfstream and Lightning IIs
joined into a formation and performing a fly-past at Leeuwarden AB. The Gulfstream then
landed as well as one of the F-16s. The other F-16 joined F-001 as
wingman for the approach to Leeuwarden. With F-001 landing at
runway 05 becoming the first F-35A to land in The Netherlands
the F-16 continued is flight joining F-002 as wingman and
completing the same approach and landing procedure after which
it landed itself.
After landing F-001 waited for F-002 to taxi towards the ramp.
Before shutting down their engines one the ramp they received
the traditional water salute by the two fire crews. Both pilots,
Lt. Col.
Bert de Smit and Maj. Pascal Smaal were welcomed by minister
Hennis-Plasschaert, General
Schnitger, Col. Traas (base commander Leeuwarden). Except the
press also the residents of the surrounding villages were
invited to witness the arrival of the Lightning's.
Of the KDC-10s one landed at Leeuwarden to unload personnel and
support equipment and the other returning to home base
Eindhoven. At that time one of the Heavy Airlift Wing C-17A
Globemaster III was still enroute to the base with the rest of
the equipment needed to support the three week deployment. The
aircraft arrived during the night. |
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May 24th
|
This day was most likely day spend on completing checks and
preparations for the 'belevingsvluchten'. Late afternoon the
RNLAF communicated the 'Belevingsvluchten' planned for the 25th
were cancelled. |
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May 25th
|
The intended 'Belevingsvluchten' to take place during the
afternoon and early evening were cancelled and
rescheduled to the 26th based on the weather reports for both
days.
One F-35A made a local flight with F-16s, not related to the
'Belevingsvluchten' during the afternoon. |
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May 26th
|
The 'Belevingsvluchten' were held
at both Leeuwarden and Volkel Air Bases. F-35A 'F-002' conducted
both the afternoon and early evening mission at Volkel. The
Lightning II was followed by an F-16 (afternoon a F-16AM,
evening a F-16BM) of 322 Squadron based at Leeuwarden. The
patterns flown was according to the normal arrival and departure
procedures.
Around 14.45 the Lightning made an approach (long
final) to runway 24R performing a touch and go and then set up
to initial with a break entering the circuit for another
approach. The same approach and departure procedures were flown
from the opposite direction runway 06L. Then again runway 24R
was used with the F-35A landing. After being refueled it
departed with afterburner (AB) and returned to Leeuwarden. The
afterburner departure was requested by the people living in the
vicinity of Volkel so they could experience this noise as well.
The evening saw the same 'flying program' as the afternoon with
one change. The landing of the F-35A with subsequent afterburner
departure was replaced by a low approach after which the
aircraft departed back to Leeuwarden. |
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May 27th
|
The first results of the flights were published on the MoD
website.
The National Aerospace Laboratory
(NLR) provided a survey for the residents of the Air Bases while
at the same time
meassuring the sounds by using the data collected by the
equipment set up at nine locations near both bases.
The initial report, based in the flights conducted in the
afternoon, concluded that there were not many difference
experienced in the noise of both fighters. The NLR is wrapping
up its report including the results of the flights conducted in
the evening. |
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| May 28th - 29th |
Weekend. |
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| May 30th |
A mission has been flown by one F-35A in the afternoon. |
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| Jun 1st |
A media flight was conducted by a KDC-10 and F-35A 'F-002'. |
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June 2nd
|
The RNLAF planned a flight over The Netherlands (see map
below) in the afternoon with a F-35A and photoship F-16BM. The
flight to take place at 1.200 feet (400 meters) was cancelled
due to the low cloud base hampering the viewing from the ground.
In the morning both aircraft had conducted a mission and with
the cancellation of the tour they flew a also a mission in the
afternoon. Both Gilze-Rijen (home to the Defence Helicopter
Command) and Woensdrecht (home to the RNLAF basic pilot
training) saw the Lightnings performing an approach to the air
base. |
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| June 3rd |
Event at Leeuwarden for invited neighbors in the afternoon. |
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June 4th - 5th |
Weekend. |
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June 6th
|
The defence committe of the Dutch parliament (2e kamer)
visited Leeuwarden to be updated on the F-35A program. |
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June 7th
|
In the afternoon the flight over The Netherlands took place.
After the cancellation due to the weather on June 2nd the route
was revised (see maps below). F-35A 'F-001' flown by Lt. Col.
Bert de Smid was accompanied by a F-16BM photoship to photograph
the Lightning II over the Royal Netherlands Air Force bases and
important sites (RNLAF headquarters in Breda, National Military
Museum at Soesterberg) and other landmarks. |
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June 8th
|
In the morning the RNLAF rehearsed its Air Power Demo (APD)
which included one F-35A. Later afternoon the second rehearsal
was flown which saw both Lightnings taking part in the APD. |
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June 9th
|
With the day being the main arrival day for the Luchtmachtdagen (RNLAF Open House)
no flights by the resident 322 squadron (F-16) and the F-35s
were made. |
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June 10th and 11th
|
Both aircraft participated in the Air Power Demo. On
Saturday after landing the aircraft were placed on static
display (runway 27). A mock-up F-35 was placed on static
display. |
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| June 12th |
Weekend. |
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June 13th
|
This day was most likely day spend on completing checks and
preparations for the return flight to the USA. |
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June 14th
|
In the morning two KDC-10s took off from Schiphol airport
were they relocated a day before to support the crossing of the
Atlantic ocean. Both F-35s followed later to join the tankers.
The first destination was Bangor on the east coast of the USA.
Here the F-35 pilots were replaced by a new crew who flew the
aircraft on the final leg to Edwards AFB, California.
A Heavy Airlift Wing C-17A
Globemaster III arrived at Leeuwarden to transport the equipment
back to Edwards AFB. |
