Koksijde Air Show 1993

Last but not least, we rolled into Koksijde with its bars and restaurants, all selling Moule and Frites with any variation of sauce and beers with Alcohol levels "staggeringly" high. We quickly found the Duvel (Devil) at a whopping nine per cent.

Some time ago, while having a beer with a great Dutch guy, Fred, we talked about the Koksijde airshow. He said it marked the start of the European summer holidays, the first weekend in July or thereabouts. I agree with him, as every trip I made there had the feeling of people having a great time, and the weather was so relaxing and enjoyable.
   

My favourite position for photography was on that little lane called the "Burgweg", great for taxiing shots and landings and take-offs on runway 29 and Corn Crakes in the Nettles with their frog-like call.

The Koksijde airshow is a whole weekend event. Hence, the  80th anniversary of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht at Eindhoven airbase across the border in the Netherlands actually clashed with the Saturday at Koksijde, so after leaving Eindhoven, we drove to Koksijde for the Saturday evening party.
We had a great day at the Sunday airshow, seeing many friends and the Monday departures.

 Because of the proximity, both airbases shared some display aircraft. 

Let's move on to the photos (all on Fuji Velvia slide film).

A-7P was assigned to 302/304 Attack Squadrons of the PoAF at Monte Real in the Centro Region of Portugal, or 137 kilometres North of Lisbon.

5536 A-7P prepares for take-off for Monte Real airbase 

5534 A-7P lines up for take-off alongside 5536.

E25 7-PK Jaguar E EC2/7 FAF.

E22 7-PI Jaguar E EC2/7 FAF.

E15 7-PF Jaguar E EC2/7 FAF, landing back at Koksijde.

43+73 Tornado MFG-1 GN

43+73 Tornado MFG-1 GN, burners on.

At the end of its display 43+73, Tornado made a low approach to runway 11 before landing back on 29.

9013 SU-25K 30 BILP Special colours CzechAF.

9207 MiG29A 11 SLP CzechAF prepares for its demonstration. 

9207 MiG-29A 11SLP CzechAF.

Koksijde was just incredible. A 300mm lens gave you a full frame on the runway.

5414 and 9207 MiG29A's 11 SLP prepare to depart from Koksijde.

0004 L-39MS 2 LETKA CzechAF.

1407 TU-134AK CzechAF prepares to leave Koksijde airbase ahead of the Czech fast jets.  

4011 and 0103 Mil 24D's 51VRP CzechAF.

0103 Mil 24D 51 VRP CzechAF.

CH-05 C-130H 21 Sm BAF.

FA-10 and FA-53 349 Sm BAF.

Taken over the fence close to Langeleedstraat.

37+34 F-4F JBG35 GAF.

Again taken close to  Langeleedstraat.

37+34 F-4F JBG35 GAF. Preparing to enter runway 29.

37+34 F-4F JBG35 lands back at Koksijde.

37+44 F-4F JBG35 taxis from its weekend static appearance.

37+34 F-4F departs for home.

511 2-FH Mirage 2000B EC2/2 FAF.

BR13 Mirage 5BR 42 Sm BAF.

BR23 Mirage 5BR 42 Sm BAF.

BR22 Mirage 5BR 42 Sm BAF.

BR14 Mirage 5BR 42Sm BAF.

This had to be one of the best viewings of this iconic aircraft; I visited Bierset airbase for their demise, but sadly, on that latter occasion, the weather disappointed.

Mission on before returning to their home base.

16+25 HFB.320ECM JBG32 GAF.

16+25 HFB.320ECM JBG32 GAF, departing on Monday morning.

XV260 Nimrod MR.2P (CXX) 120 Sqn Special marks RAF, departing Koksijde airbase for RAF Kinloss Scotland.

What an iconic-looking aircraft.

XX230 Hawk T.1A 92 Sqn RA is seen departing for home. 

XX281/O Hawk T.1A RAF.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

J-193 and J-624 F-16As 311Sqn of the RNlAF in their 1993 unique colours of the F-16 solo demonstration team.

FA-10 and FA-53 F-16As 349Sm BAF both participating as the BAF F-16 solo display
 team.

E.25-28 79-28/12 CASA 101 Ala 79 AME.

Britain's Red Arrows with their Hawk T.1 jets taxiing for their display slot.

XV197/197 Hercules C1K LTW RAF prepares for departure.

VP981 Devon C.2 BoB Flight departing for RAF Conningsby.

MT-14 here and MT-30 CM.170R's 33Sm Special colours BAF, denoting their display status.

AT-19 and AT-33 Alpha Jet A's 9 Wing carried special marks for the 1993 display season.  

Happy days!

Coronet Bullet and Coronet Shooter 1990 deployments to Gilze-Rijen.

Back on the road, we were heading across the channel for the Netherlands in the Transit (White) van. It was 1990, and the European exercise Central Enterprise would involve 24 F15A/Bs from the 49TFW/7th TFS and 8th TFS from Holloman AFB, all temporarily based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. On top of that, the Koksijde airshow coincided not far away in Belgium.

Coronet Bullet aircraft arrived at Gilze-Rijen AB on the 12th of June 1990 with a couple of diversions to Soesterberg AB.

This first wave of F15A/B is arriving as Devon 11-16, 21-26, all tail-coloured blue from the 49TFW/7TFS 'HO.' Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
  

They consisted of F15A 77-0078,86(multi) 89,91,96,97,99,100,102,148,152, F15B 77-0159 'HO'. 

77-0078 'HO' F-15A (multi) seen touching down at Gilze-Rijen.

I had to include this slide as the guy with the jeans and hair could have been me then. I'm as bold as a Coot today; guess, as they say, you win some and lose some?

Coronet Shooter aircraft arrived on the 14th of June and departed on the 11th of July.

77-0088 'HO' F15A. The 8TFS planes all came calling Konag 51-16, 21-26.

They consisted of F15A's 76-0064, 77-0081, 88,89,114,118,119,120,142,144,149,151.

All aircraft were 49thTFW/8TFS "HO" (Yellow)

77-0148 F-15A 49 TFW/7 TFS 'HO' a Coronet Bullet aircraft.

The weather was not good during our week, but the jets kept coming as the missions continued.

76-0088 F-15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' was deployed in the Coronet Shooter exercise.

77-0119 F15A 'HO' 8TFS Coronet Shooter.

Airbrake up 77-0078 F-15A 'HO' 7TFS Blue.

Once again, the weather was dumping as 77-0102 F15A 'HO' 7TFSO lands.

Have you ever noticed how the weather lets you down right at that moment?

77-0086 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS (multi).

77-0148 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

Typical weather.

77-0151 F15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' Touchesdown at Gilze-Rijen, Those were the days so low, so close, and so gone...

Any trip in the Benelux Countries would always involve visiting the scrap yard/storage facility at Koksijde airbase close to the Belgian coast.

  

It was always a great place to visit, here Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK and Super Mystere B2 83 in its jungle camo.

Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK formally from the Cazaux French Air Force base.

FX-69 F-104G! Wing Belgian Air Force. Seen behind is the Mirage 5BA's of 3Wing BAF, all cocooned. The complete list consisted of  BA01, 04, 39, 46, 48, 50, 56, 57, 59 and 62.

There was another area on the Eastside that we could not visit for photography, which held a further fourteen F-104Gs, all ex-BAF and one Meteor NF-11 ex-FAF.

The Friday arrivals for the Koksijde airshow produced some lovely RAF Phantoms.

Here XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF.

XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF aborts its landing and goes around.

XV582 Phantom FG1 111Sqn RAF.

XV462/G Phantom FGR2 19 Sqn RAFG.

508/2-FE Mirage 2000B EC2/2 FAF.

188746 CF-18A Indian Sqn/1 CAD, CAF.

K-4024 NF-5B 316 Sqn RNAF.

81-0967 A-10A 510TFS/10TFW, there was a pair, the other aircraft being 80-0170.

L-06 PC-7 EMVO, RNAF, was an excellent aircraft in those years.

Finally and sadly missed CS-01 HS 748 21smd/15 wig BAF seen taxiing for departure.

Wow! I have many good memories.

Happy Days!