Legendary Moments in Military Aviation

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Tiger Meet 2003 NTM Cambrai France features stunning artwork on the participating jets

The 39th annual meeting of the NATO Tiger Association was held at Cambria BA103 in Northern France from the 2nd of June through to the 8th and hosted by EC 01.012. As the hosts, they applied one of the best-ever Tiger schemes to Mirage 2000C 83/12-YL featuring the Tigers Eyes. Other NTM aircraft carried some distinctive markings. Sadly, the USAFE's 494th FS were missing along with Italien Airforce 155 Gruppo's F-104s and the RNLAF 313 Squadrons F-16, who did send two aircraft to join the excellent final days airshow.
The airshow produced some classic aircraft types, with the Republic of Singapore airforce's 150 squadrons sending a pair of A-4s from the training detachment at Cazaux. The specially marked Alpha jet marked the 30th anniversary of the Jaguars in French service, who themselves, both an A and E model, carried Tiger fins. And a nice rare airshow appearance of Italian airforce Tornado F-3 and who can forget the 'Tiger SA442M Gazelle' that arrived Saturday morning from the 3RHC.

See below to see these and other participating NTM 03 and airshow aircraft.

83/12-YL Mirage 2000C EC01. 012Armée de l'air. The host's exceptionally marked flagship aircraft.

See this paint scheme up close at the airshow where it was a static exhibit:-

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/09/nato-tiger-meet-airshow-2003-cambria.html

83/12-YL Mirage 2000C EC01.012 Armée de l'Air, recovering at Cambria NTM 2003.

38 Super Etendard 11F French Navy.

43+96 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF

77/330-AX Mirage 2000-5F EC05.330 Armée de l'Air

FA93 F-16AM 31sm BAF.

15250 Alpha Jet Força Aerea Portuguesa.

93-0696 F-16D 192 Filo Turkish Air Force

93-0696 F-16D 192filo TUAF from Balikesir AB.

45+54 Tornado ECR JBG32 German Air Force

46+54 Tornado ECR JBG32 GAF.

45+57 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF

43+96 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF returns from a COMOA operation for which "Cambrésis 03" was one of the major themes.

46+51 Tornado ECR JBG32 German Air Force

46+51 Tornado ECR JBG32 GAF.

Tiger tails and it's great to see the return of Turkish Air Force jets.

FA122 F-16AM 31sm BAF taxies for a DACT mission formed the second part of "Cambrésis 03".

292 F16AM 338skv RNorAF.

285 F-16AM 338skv RNorAF.

T.19B-20/35-38 CN235EA02 Ala35 Spaf

508/5-OT Mirage2000B EC02.005. Many were visiting non-NTM Mirage 2000's, probably associated with the second element of the exercise DACT.

38 Super Etendard 11F FN. It is one of my personal best-marked NTM 03 aircraft.

525 12-KN Mirage 2000D Armée de l'air.

20/5-OF Mirage 2000C EC02.005 Armée de l'air and another DACT visitor.

528/12-YQ Mirage 2000B EC0.012 Armée de l'air.

119/12-KD Mirage 2000C EC02.012 Armée de l'air.

15250 Alpha Jet A Esq 301, Força Aerea Pertuguesa.

15226 Alpha Jet A Esq 301, Força Aerea Pertuguesa.

43+96 TornadoIDS AG51 GAF.

0839 MiL-17 332LtDVr CzechAF.

2461/IH AS532UL EET06. 330 Armée de l'air.

90/12-YS Mirage 2000C EC01.012 Armée de l'air.

38 Super Etendard 11F FN taxing past some of the 2003 Tigers to start another mission.

After the closure of Friday's spotters day, we disbursed to the runway approach area to witness the last missions of NTM 2003. Saturday morning, we were back to enjoy the arrivals for the NTM airshow on Sunday; unfortunately, the beautiful weather broke, leaving a very overcast sky for the Sunday airshow.

In part two, I look back at the NTM 2003 Airshow.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/09/nato-tiger-meet-airshow-2003-cambria.html

For a full list of participants, see below:-

Tiger Meet static
FA93, FA122		F-16AM		31sm      
37+26		        F-4F		JG71      
43+96		        Tornado IDS	AG51      
46+54		        Tornado ECR	JBG32     
15250		        Alpha Jet A	Esq301    
91-0352/SP	        F-16CJ		52nd FW   
91-0406/SP	        F-16CJ		23rd FS   
E47/7-PJ	        Alpha Jet E	EC01.007  
2461/IH		        AS532UL		EET06.330?
77/330-AX	        Mirage2000-5F	EC05.330  
83/12-YL	        Mirage 2000C	EC01.012  
3964/BYB	        SA342M		3RHC      
35, 38		        Sup Etendard	11F       

Main Static
FA116			F-16A		nb (31sm)        
ST45		        SF260D		5sm              
37+81		        F-4F		JG74             
45+18		        Tornado IDS	AG51     
46+31		        Tornado ECR	JBG32    
MM7230/36-11	        Tornado ADV	12°gr    
MM7233/36-23	        Tornado ADV	12°gr    
J-058	        	F-16AM		315sq            
J-369	        	F-16BM		315sq            
292		        F-16AM		338skv           
15226		        Alpha Jet A	Esq301   
927		        A-4SU		150sq/SingaporeAF
933		        TA-4SU		150sq/SingaporeAF
0839		        Mi-17		332LtDVr         
0812		        Mi-24V		331LtBVr         
93-0696		        F-16D		191filo          
XW198, XW226	        Puma HC1	230sq    
J-5023		        F-18C		nb               
207/BF		        D140E		SAVV21.535       
472/312-JQ, 502/312-UU	EMB312F		DV05.312
43/330-AA		Mirage2000-5F	EC05.330
F-BGXC			L-4H		ex 43-30155

Hangar (near static)
SA162			H-34A		stored	outside
496			Mirage 3E	stored	outside
108/12-YD, 111/12-YO	Mirage 2000C	EC01.012
114/12-YK		Mirage 2000C	EC01.012
630/3-XD		Mirage 2000D	EC03.003
670/3-IQ		Mirage 2000D	EC01.003	outside

Hangar (near flightline)
85/12-KE		Mirage 2000C	EC02.012
95/12-KM		Mirage 2000C	EC02.012	outside
117/12-KC, 120/12-KU	Mirage 2000C	EC02.012
526/12-KO		Mirage 2000B	EC02.012

Static shelter (near flightline)
46+49			Tornado ECR	JBG32

Flightlines
FA114, FA136		F-16AM		nb (31sm)        
MT48		        CM170		33sm             
RS03		        Sea King Mk48	40sm     
38+73		        F-4F		FLZ              
44+88		        Tornado IDS	AG51     
J-016, J-063	        F-16AM		322sq            
MM54506/61-54	        MB339A		213°gr           
C.14-18/14-12	        Mirage F1M	Ala14    
C.14-45/14-26	        Mirage F1M	Ala14    
T.19B-20/35-38	        CN235EA02	Ala35    
0703		        Mi-24V		331LtBVr         
J-5013		        F-18C		nb               
J-5234		        F-18D		nb               
E67/314-TB	        Alpha Jet E	EAC00.314
E76/8-MR	        Alpha Jet E	ETO01.008
E146/7-PW	        Alpha Jet E	EC01.007 
18/300-CA	        Cap232		EPAA20.300       
R52/61-MX, R96/61-ZN	C-160R		ET00.061
A160/7-HS		Jaguar A	EC01.007
E32/7-HW	        Jaguar E	EC01.007
20/5-OF		        Mirage 2000C	EC02.005
508/5-OT	        Mirage 2000B	EC02.005
147/XS		        TBM700		nb                  
94/315-XK, 96/315-XM	TB30	        EPAA00.315          
105/4, 117/3		TB30	        EPAA00.315          
4020/BYC	        SA342M	        3RHC                
F-AZCI		        UC-61K	        ex RAF KK380        
F-AZFN		        AD-4N	        ex 125716/22-DG     
F-AZGE/P	        MD312	        c/n 158, Vietnam c/s
F-AZKM		        OV-10B	        ex Germany 99+24    
F-AZKN		        MS733	        c/n 165             
F-AZOO		        Vampire FB6	ex Swiss J-1127
F-AZOP		        Vampire FB6	ex Swiss J-1192
F-BDXM		        MS506L		not ex mil             
F-BLYU		        N1101		c/n 18, ex FAF         
ES-YLF, ES-YLI, ES-YLP	L-39C		Breitling
ES-YLR, ES-YLS		L-39C		Breitling

The Patrouille de France with the following Alpha Jets:
E94/F-TERH/0	E120/F-TERG/1	E75/F-TERW/2
E41/F-TERA/3	E117/F-TERI/4	E134/F-TERM/5
E122/F-TERD/6	E135/F-TERX/7	E169/F-TERQ/8
E163/F-TERB/9

The Royal Jordanian Falcons with the following Extra 300s:
JY-RND, JY-RNE, JY-RNG, JY-RNL + one more.

Shelter area
FA99, FA123		F-16AM		nb
(471)			Mirage 3E	stored
90/12-YS, 98/12-YH	Mirage 2000C	EC01.012
112/12-YC		Mirage 2000C	EC01.012

Elsewhere
5448/VR			AS355N		EH02.067
1854/F-ZBDN		Alouette 3	SecCiv
202/36-CB		E-3F		EDCA00.036	flying
(88)			Super Myst B2	preserved at gate
Aircraft seen on Friday June 6th during the
Tiger Meet Spotters Day:
FA76, FA91, FA119	F-16AM		nb 
45+57, 45+78		Tornado IDS	AG51
46+51, 46+55		Tornado ECR	JBG32
285			F-16AM		338skv
667			F-16AM		334skv
93-0689			F-16C		191filo
T-718			Lj35A		nb
R205/64-GE		C-160R		ET00.064
5/5-NI, 30/5-NQ		Mirage 2000C	EC01.005
102/12-KR, 119/12-KD	Mirage 2000C	EC02.012
520/5-OS		Mirage 2000B	EC02.005
528/12-YQ		Mirage 2000B	EC01.012
529/12-KY		Mirage 2000B	EC02.012
610/3-II, 634/3-IL	Mirage 2000D	EC01.003
105/XM			TBM700		nn

Happy days!

NATO Exercise Ample Train 1993 at RAF St Mawgan Cornwall.

The Ample Train Exercise 1993 was held at RAF St Mawgan in the United Kingdom. The participating jets deployed there on 23/5/1993.

Ample Train as an exercise was devised to improve the ability of NATO's airforces to work on and with each other's aircraft, with aircrews servicing another nation's aircraft.
Nine air arms, with two fast jets each, participated in the operations except the RAF, who participated with three Tornado GR1s. And if I remember correctly, it was a torrid time servicing them in the very damp conditions we all faced that week in May 1993.

We spent our days at the airfield and the nights in the small village of St Mawgan, staying at the Falcon Inn. Those nights turned into very late nights with great beer and food! Sorry, I digress, so here are the transparencies all captured on Kodachrome 64.

77-0113/CR F-15A 32nd Tactical Fighter Wing USAFE

77-0113/CR of the 32nd TFW USAFE from Soesteburg Airbase in the Netherlands.

77-0113 and 77-0097/CR F-15As from 32nd TFS USAFE

77-0113 and 77-0097 'CR' F-15As of the 32nd TFS USAFE.

F-104S ASA's MM6719/51-09 and MM6703/51-23 AMI/22 Gruppo 51Stormo.

Coming from Istrana Airbase.

MM6719/51-06 F-104S ASA AMI/22 Gruppo 51 Stormo.

MM6703/51-23 F-104S ASA AMI/22 Gruppo 51 Stormo.

MM6719/51-06 and MM6703/51-23 mission on.

FA-74 F-16AS FAB/31 Sqn 10 Wing.

FA-84 F-16AS FAB/31 Sqn 10 Wing.

Two F-16Ds arrived from the TurAF/Öncel filo 4/cuAJU at Mürted airbase. This was the first Turkish Air Force squadron to receive the F-16Cs and D's as the training squadron or Öncel. In 1999, it was later re-designated the 143rd Sqn.
Interestingly, in the same year as Ample Train 1993, the base became known as Akinci airbase; many years later, with its strategic position just Northeast of Ankara, it became the centre of the failed 2016 coup d'etat attempt.
Following the failed coup, Akinci was re-designated to its former name, Mürted.

86-0196 F-16D TurAF/Öncel Filo 4 cuAJU.

86-0195 F-16D TurAF/Öncel Filo 4 cuAJU.

J-616 F-16AS KLU/311Sqn.

J-622 F-16AS KLU/311Sqn.

201 Mirage 2000BG HAF/311 MPK, 141Pterix.

243 Mirage 2000EG HAF/331MPK, 141Pterix.

ZA475/JL Tornado GR.1 RAF 27 Sqn. Unfortunately, I did not photograph the other two aircraft, ZA474/JK and ZA491/JN, for technical reasons. I'm not sure of the reasons for them not flying, but locally, it was imagined to be the wet weather.

EF-18A Eda/Ala 15 recovers in that ever-changing weather.

C-15-33/15-20 EF-18A Eda/Ala 15.

FA-74 and FA84 F-16AS FAB/31Sqn, 10Wing, recover late afternoon.

37+77 and 37+92 F-4F's GAF/JG-74. They were returning from a morning mission, and the weather had just disintegrated; listening to the scanner communication with the GAF pilots whilst landing was a tad exasperated in those difficult circumstances.

37+92 F-4F GAF/JG-74.

C-15-35/15-22 EF-18A Eda/Ala 15.

Mirage 2000's 201/243 HAF 331MPK/141 Pterix run for the break.

"Great days in Cornwall!"

Friday, July 17, 2020

RNAS Yeovilton shrouded in mist and the immiment retirement of the Lynx HMA8.

The 2016 Yeovilton airshow celebrated the imminent retirement of the elegant Lynx HMA8SRU from service with the Navy. This post just covers some of the arrivals and departures with a few of those Lynx's captured during Mondays flying operation. The early morning weather on Monday helped give a different dimension to the images.