Koksijde International Air Show Belgium 1993

Leaving Eindhoven, we rolled into the Belgian seaside town of Koksijde, with its bars and restaurants, all selling moules 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 alcohol level.

While having a beer with a great Dutch guy named Fred, we discussed the Koksijde airshow. He said it marked the start of the European summer holidays, usually the first weekend in July. I agree with him, as every trip I made there had an authentic holiday atmosphere, and the weather was so relaxing and enjoyable, well, most years.
   

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

The Koksijde airshow was a whole weekend event. Hence, the 80th anniversary of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht at Eindhoven airbase, across the border in the Netherlands, actually clashed with 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 enjoying the Monday departures.

  Due to their 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 PortAF 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 Czech AF.

9207 MiG-29A 11 SLP Czech AF 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 MiG-29A 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 from the fence near 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, the weather disappointed on that latter occasion.

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!

Royal Netherlands Air Force celebrates 80 Years at Eindhoven AB.

Eindhoven! Back then, the city's residents enjoyed partying, and we had to join in on the festivities. We had arrived for the airshow arrivals day, blessed with a cloudless sky. The good times continued late into the night, or was it the morning?
The following day, we returned to our motorway embankment close to the runway threshold for the Saturday, July 3 1993 airshow, with thumping heads and dry mouths. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, thanks to the great weather and aircraft displays; even the local Police officers on their big white motorbikes were friendly to the crowd.

Once again, let's get on with the planes, of which there were some very nice examples.

03 MiG-23MF, HungAF participated in the flying program, and number 15 MiG-23UB was on display.

5 F-8E 12F FN. Arriving for the static display. What a formidable-looking aircraft. I only wish I wrote F-8E more often, which reminds me I must look for those Landivisiau images.
 I believe it's a Swift flying over the nose cone.

WJ981/EN Canberra T.1 360 Sqn RAF.

The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, a song of the moment from the band known as the KLF, seemed fitting for this celebrated aircraft.

"Sorry if you have never heard of the band the KLF."

I diversify.

A 29/11-MB and A2/11-MB, Jaguar A's, EC-2-11 FAF.
Seen arriving at Eindhoven for pairs landing from their home base of Toul Rosières BA136.

A29/11-MB carries the individual marks for the 'Vosges Fighter Squadron' operational with the Jaguar from 1973 to 1993.
The 'Vosges' aircraft at Toul carried mixed codes from 11-MA to 11-MZ.

2506 AN-26 2 Letecká Základna (2nd Air Base Wing) was then visiting from its base at Malacky.

0443 L-39C of team  Biele Albatrosy "White Albatrosses" formed in 1991 by the Czechoslovakian air force.
In January 1993, Czechoslovakia was divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the team became Slovakian, as seen here, arriving from the Vojenská Letecká Akadémia at Košice airbase along with 0101, 0102, 0111, 0112, 4355, and 4357.

J-136 F-16 of 316 Squadron arrived at Eindhoven from its temporary operating base at Gilze-Rijen. They had been awaiting construction works at their new home base of Eindhoven, where they formally flew the last NF-5 Freedom Fighters in KLu service.
Sadly, in April 1994, just months after this transparency was established, they were disbanded.

J-369 F-16B 316Sqn KLu supports a full-colour badge.

J-884 F-16B 314 Sqn KLu.

J-368 F-16B 314Sqn. This was the last unit to convert to the F-16, commencing in 1990, and its final disbandment occurred on July 6, 1995.

J-202 F-16A 322Sqn (Polly Grey) KLU.

BR 17 Mirage 5BR 3 Wing BAF.

84-0812/HO F-117A 49FW/415FS USAF, seen on Eindhoven's approach from Gilze- Rijen, where it was part of the eight "Coronet Havoc" F-117s on deployment for the 1993 European exercise Central Enterprise.

84-0812/HO F-117A 49FW/415FS USAF, this aircraft was arriving for the static park. 

85-0836/HO F-117A 49FW/415FS USAF arrives for a low approach and returns to Gilze-Rijen.

85-0836/HO F-117A 49FW/415FS USAF delights Eindhoven's base staff as it performs a low approach.

509 2-FF Mirage 2000B EC2/2 FAF returns after completing its display.

J215 F-16A 322 Sqn Klu is wearing 50 years' distinctive marks.

C-5 F-27 300M Troopship 334 Sqn Klu.

C-1 F-27-100 Friendship 334Sqn KLu.

303 P-3C-11 MARPAT. 

87-0250 F-16C  'RS' 512FS USAFE.

87-0242  F-16C 'RS' 512FS Marked 86FW USAFE.

40+32 Alpha Jet A JBG-43 GAF.

8077 SU-25K 50 BILP CzechAF was part of the flying display, and 9013 was displayed in the static park.

   C-1 F-27-100 Friendship 334Sqn Klu seen departing from Eindhoven.

XX230 Hawk T.1 RAF.

XX281/O Hawk T.1 RAF.

MM6714/9-50 F-104ASA 10 Gruppo AMI.

MM6822/9-41 F-104ASA 10 Gruppo AMI is arriving at Eindhoven for the 80th anniversary of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht 1993.

Hunter F.58 de la "Patrouille de Suisse".
J-4027 leads J-4020 and J-4023, followed by J-4022, J4032, and J-4025.

J-4027 Hunter F.58 "Patrouille de Suisse"
A true classic!

CH-05 C-130H 20 Sm BAF.

0004 L.39MS 2 LSP Czech AF returns from its flying demonstration, 0005 was in the static display. Both aircraft arrived from their base at Cáslav.

   

9207 MiG.29A 11 SLP (11Fighter Regiment) "Tiger marks" Czech AF, 5414 from Žatec airbase seen here flying while 5414 was in the static. Both aircraft were transferred to Poland as 92 and 54, respectively.

 I am signing off with my thanks to the RNLAF for years of enjoyment from one of Europe's best display teams, as seen here at their home base in Eindhoven on that celebrated occasion.

C-10 F-27-300M 334 Sqn Klu.

C-10 F-27-300M powers through its display routine.

C-10 F-27-300M Klu, over but not out.

There you have it!
It was a great show once again, courtesy of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht.
Happy 80th!

We were off to the Koksijde airshow in Belgium.