Out and about in 2017 large post

[mikee115]

Evening all,

Away from my local haunts in East Anglia I managed to get away to a few exercises and air shows including Red Flag and RIAT.

Towards the end of January I made the trip across the pond to Las Vegas and Nellis AFB to see the participants in Red Flag 17-1. It was a great opportunity to see some of the newest aircraft in the US inventory participate in this exercise.

A-10 23rd FG Green Flag 17-03 (8) by Mike, on Flickr

EA-18G Growler VAQ-138 Red flag 17-1 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

LET159 Draken International Red Flag 17-1 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

F-35 388th FW Red Flag 17-1 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

F-16C WI ANG 176th FS Red Flag 17-1 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

A-10 66th WPS Red Flag 17-1 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

F-22 1st FW Red Flag 17-1 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

F-15 banking Nellis by Mike, on Flickr

Aggressor F-16 Red Flag 17-1 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Typhoon FGR4 Red Flag 17-1 (15) by Mike, on Flickr

F35 388th FW Red Flag 17-1 25th January (10) by Mike, on Flickr

RAAF C130J-30 37 Sqn Red Flag 17-1 26th January (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Aggressor F-16 Red Flag 17-1 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

A4 Skyhawk Draken International Red Flag 17-1 25th January (3) by Mike, on Flickr

EA-18G Growler VAQ-138 Red Flag 17-1 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

41 Sqn Typhoon and HL F-35s Red Flag Nellis by Mike, on Flickr

F22 and EA-18G run in and break Red Flag 17-1 25th January (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Red Flag 17-1 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Sentinel Red Flag 17-1 25th January (3) by Mike, on Flickr

KC135 927 ARW Red Flag 17-1 26th January by Mike, on Flickr

F35s landing at Nellis Red Flag 17-1 by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Typhoon and USAF A10 Red Flag 17-1 by Mike, on Flickr

Red Flag 17-1 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

After that it was time for the annual trip across to Leeuwarden for Frisian Flag. As always there was an abundance of F-16s but added to that were ANG F-15Cs, RAF Tornados, Adla Mirage 2000s and Luftwaffe EF2000s.

Belgian Air Component F16 Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Mirage 2000D adla Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Luftwaffe EF2000 Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

J632 Royal Netherlands Air Force F16 Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Luftwaffe EF2000 Frisian Flag 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF GR4 Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

ANG F-15Cs Frisian Flag 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

I was away for the weekend of the May time Duxford show but went down the day before to see some of the aircraft rehearse their displays.

Adla Rafale Duxford 26th May 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Adla Rafale Duxford 26th May 2017 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

B-17 Sally B Duxford 26th May 2017 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

With the three in service USAF bombers being present at RAF Fairford in June it was too much of an opportunity to miss. Sadly I could only make it for the media day on the Monday before i departed for Tiger meet at BAN Landivisau.

RAF Fairford BALTOPS and Sabre Strike media day (5) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Fairford BALTOPS and Sabre Strike media day (13) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Fairford BALTOPS and Sabre Strike media day (17) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Fairford BALTOPS and Sabre Strike media day (29) by Mike, on Flickr

Tiger Meet was, as always, a great day with fantastic access on the large Marine air base. I visited BAN Lanveoc the day before the TM spotters day and saw various Marine helicopters including a few old Alouette IIIs.

Alouette III French Marine Lanveoc June 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

BAN Landivisau

Rafale Ms BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

F-16 KLu BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale M Aeronavale BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (8) by Mike, on Flickr

E-2 Hawkeye Aeronavale BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

EF2000 AMI BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale M pair Aeronavale BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale B AdlA BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian Tiger TM 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

SAAB105 Austrian Air Force BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale M Aeronavale BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (11) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale A AdlA BAN Landivisiau Tiger Meet 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Tiger Tigre Tigre 2017 BAN Landivisiau by Mike, on Flickr

Tiger Rafale M 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale M Tiger crew BAN Landivisiau 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

Tiger awaiting Tiger Rafale by Mike, on Flickr

Four days at RIAT. One of the best shows in a few years.

Thunderbirds RIAT 13th July 2017 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Conteau Delta RIAT 15th July 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Inside the cockpit B52H RIAT 16th July 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

RIAT 2017 view from the RCAF CC-177 by Mike, on Flickr

AMI A200 Tornado RIAT 16th July 2017 (17) by Mike, on Flickr

Ukrainian AF SU-27UB RIAT 16th July 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

RCAF CC-177 RIAT 16th July 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

RIAT static 16th July 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

JASDF KC767 RIAT 16th July 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

RCAF CH-47 RIAT 16th July 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

USAF B-2A flypast RIAT 16th July 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

USAF F-22 Raptor RIAT 16th July 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

EdA FA-18 RIAT 16th July 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Ukrainian SU27 RIAT 16th July 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Ukranian AF SU27 RIAT 16th July 2017 (27) by Mike, on Flickr

Midnight Hawks departing RIAT 17th July 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

F-4 Phantom departing RIAT 17th July 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Pinky departing RIAT 17th July 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

F-15C departing RIAT 17th July 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

F-15E departing RIAT 17th July 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

I can never miss an opportunity to see a USN aircraft carrier.

USS George H W Bush Stokes bay 29th July 2017 (20) by Mike, on Flickr

USS George H W Bush Stokes bay 29th July 2017 (22) by Mike, on Flickr

My final trip of the year was to AXALP. What an amazing experience. Climbing up to the top on day one and then being flown up in a Super Puma on day two. I also visited many of the other Swiss Air Force bases on my way too and from AXALP.

PC6 Alpnach 10th October 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

F18 Meiringen 10th October 2017 (8) by Mike, on Flickr

PC7 Meiringen 10th October 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma and Hornet Meiringen 10th October 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

F18 Meiringen 10th October 2017 (19) by Mike, on Flickr

F5 and the moon AXALP 11th October 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma AXALP 11th October 2017 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Hornet passes AXALP 11th October 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

F5 AXALP 11th October 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Flaring F18 by Mike, on Flickr

PC21 display AXALP 11th October 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

EC635 SAR display AXALP 11th October 2017 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

PS AXALP 11th October 2017 (10) by Mike, on Flickr

F18 Meiringen 12th October 2017 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

Meiringen helicopter lineup 12th Ocotber 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma taxi to AXALP 12th October 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma taxi to AXALP 12th October 2017 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

EC635 Meiringen 12th October 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma taxi to AXALP 12th October 2017 (12) by Mike, on Flickr

EC635 photo chopper AXALP 12th October 2017 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Hornets flares pass AXALP 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

5 by Mike, on Flickr

F5 Tiger II live fire AXALP 12th Ocotber 2017 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

PC21 AXALP 12th October 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma flares AXALP 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma display AXALP 12th October 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

Shockwave Hornet AXALP 2017 by Mike, on Flickr

PdS Mountain mirror by Mike, on Flickr

PdS melting snow (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Pds Low level by Mike, on Flickr

Super Puma mountain landing AXALP 12th October 2017 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Swiss Hornet Meiringen 13th October 2017 (16) by Mike, on Flickr

Thanks for looking. Wish you all a happy new year and a great aviation 2018.

Follow the links below for more photos and reports.

Thanks again
Mike

[CGM]

Absolutely superb Mike. Thanks for sharing.

Scott

[Frank the Dog]

Some absolute stunners in there, thanks very much for sharing, top quality

[grumpy616]

Stunning set of pictures, thanks for posting.

[F3]

An embarrassment of goodies there. Feel like I've eaten a whole selection box. However my fave has got to be the Tomb departure. Can almost feel the walls vibrate.

[mikee115]

Thanks for all the comments. Hopefully 2018 will be as good.

[alain BArtier]

Beautifull. Thanj to sharing !

[Rotörhead]

Nice variety, looks like a good year!

[mikee115]

Thanks Olicat and alain.