NATO Tiger Meet 2020 Beja AB

[Al dunn]

Anyone heard any info about a spotters day at Beja for the 2020 Tiger Meet

Dates are Sunday 10th May until Friday 22nd May

https://www.natotigers.org/tiger-meets/2020

[Supra]

If it's a single day, then Friday 15th would be favourite?..but there's no pattern to the TM organisation! That prevents booking flights & hotels during the cheaper season before the Locals wise-up & jack the room-rates. Although Beja has its own Civil Airport area it would seem flights from the UK are destined to be into Faro? A minimum of 100miles/1hr-50 minutes south of Beja Airbase using Toll-roads.
Having traversed Google-earth I don't see any access to the approaches close to the runway thresholds. When I previously enquired elsewhere about outside viewing at Beja, I was told that it made Mont-de-Marsan look good!
Given the 01/19 r/w headings, twin runways & probable spotters location to the east of the runways it could be hard work light-wise unless the weather is like M-d-M was! Need some decent 'official' details soon before I make an early call to sack this one on the basis of a likely negative outcome.

[Van Bullitt]

Beja approach is no problem at the civil (ghost town!) Terminal end either side of the approach. Haven't tried anywhere else there.

Cheers
Paul

[IMarsh]

Has there been any further information regarding a "spotters day"? Just wondering as this time last year we already had the details for Mont-de-Marsan.

[Al dunn]

Just been released by Beja AB. The Tiger Meet spotters day will be held on the 17th May 2020

http://www.passarodeferro.com/2020/01/t ... 0.html?m=1

As is well known, the mythical Tiger Meet exercise, which brings together flight squads with a feline as a symbol, will take place between 10 and 22 May 2020, in Beja.

The 17th of May will be the opening day of the Base to the public. During the Tiger Meet, several parallel activities will take place in the city.

The information was disclosed at the presentation session of the exercise at the Municipality of Beja, by Cor. Carlos Lourenço of the Portuguese Air Force, together with the commander of Air Base nº11, Cor. Paulo Costa.

The exercise, organized by Squadron 301 - Jaguars, will bring together in the Lower Alentejo about 3000 soldiers, 100 aircraft from 20 squadrons, from 14 countries (12 from NATO plus Switzerland and Austria). It will be the largest air exercise in Europe in 2020.


Special painting of Alpha Jet 15250 from Squadron 301 in 2002

The last Tiger Meet in Beja took place in 2002, coinciding with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Air Force. The Jaguars were still flying the Alpha Jet. This will therefore be the first time that Squadron 301 receives the Tiger Meet, equipped with the F-16 MLU.

However, the Jaguars have twice won the Silver Tiger trophy, which distinguishes the best squad of the year, flying the F-16 (2011 and 2019). With the late Fiat G.91, they won the coveted trophy twice more (1980 and 1985).


"Silver Tiger" Trophy

There should also be two spotters day, on days to be defined.

[raameagle]

I disagree Al. The text indicates that the base will be open to the public on the 17th and the 'end' line states that two spotters days, dates to be defined will also be arranged.

Regards

Mark

[slogen51]

17 May is on a Sunday

I might still go on that day as probably will be a lot cheaper than a flying day

See what pans out in due course

( 17 May is also the concluding day of the Berlin ILA this year)

[Supra]

Have to agree with 'rameagle' above, but thanks to 'Al dunn' for posting the info'. What chance the Public Day Sun 17th May has some flying content? I am more inclined to think it'll be a Fiesta event! (other Ford cars welcome )
Of the 2 x weekday 'Spotters' events, ideally one day would be close enough to the 17th to warrant being around for the Sunday too?
Irrespective of the event costs 'slogen51' you may find hotel & flight costs are cheaper weekdays?.... Those Spotter dates would be mighty useful!

[ehusmann]

Last Tigermeet at Beja (in 2002) also saw an open day during the weekend. Saturday 6 July that time. That one featured full flying including even a B-1 (of a pair that came just to visit for the weekend). Not trying to suggest that will happen again though

Although Beja has its own Civil Airport area it would seem flights from the UK are destined to be into Faro? A minimum of 100miles/1hr-50 minutes south of Beja Airbase using Toll-roads.

Yes Beja has a civil terminal, but no flights. Fly into Faro or Lisbon, distance is about the same. With Lisbon providing much more opportunities to do other spotting of course.

[eagle driver]

Scramble reporting several dates quoted as possible for the spotters days , currently this is what has supposed to have been mentioned by the Portugese
13/05 ,14/05 18/05, 20/05 with 15/05 being mentioned by a separate source. perm 2 from 5.

[Gary]

During NTM2020 exercise we have planned two "Spotters Day" on 14th and 20th of May.

Those events are dedicated to photography lovers and military aviation enthusiasts and will have a limit of 1500 participants per day.

On 20th of May we also have planned a special event called "Tiger Safari" for a total of 120 participants, upon prior registration. 

The program and rules for each "Spotter Day" will be publicized on the registrations open day, 2nd of May.

https://www.ntm2020.pt/

[A380_sully]

Okay, so guesses for what a Tiger Safari is...........?????

[phantom6]

Close up and personal?

[eagle driver]

The registration day is 2nd of MARCH not May as posted above.

[A380_sully]

Teaser Video released -

https://youtu.be/6t2l51YqGpY

Roll on the speculation of the 16 participating nation and 22 Nato Tiger Squadrons meeting up.....

[A380_sully]

Teaser Video released -

https://youtu.be/6t2l51YqGpY

Roll on the speculation of the 16 participating nation and 22 Nato Tiger Squadrons meeting up.....

Already appears to be listed on the website:
https://www.ntm2020.pt/p-665-

Hats off sir!

[Supra]

1 JET TRAINER SQUADRON ESCADRON DE CHASE ET D’EXPÉRIMENTATION 1/30 (Excuse Capitals, it's copy-pasted) Have I been afflicted with some kind of stupidity? Are there really F-16MLU at Mont-de-M as listed?

[MRTT]

Mistake on their part! Should be Mirage 2000Ds.

[slogen51]

Bl00dy hell I can't wait!

[Al dunn]

Translated from

https://www.publico.pt/2020/02/19/local ... qbxwPeDytc


The figures reveal the scale of the military air festival that next May will make Beja a place of pilgrimage for military aviation lovers and enthusiasts. The 2020 Nato Tiger Meet will concentrate at Air Base No. 11, more than 100 aircraft and about 3000 military personnel from 16 allied countries, says the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) in a statement.

FAP admits that on the day of the air festival, on 17 May, which marks the 68th anniversary of the Air Force, “about 100,000 people” may be present inside and on the outskirts of BA nº 11 to watch the evolution of most sophisticated military aviation devices.


Air Force claims that watches are pieces of art and makes direct adjustment of 54 thousand euros
Air Force claims that watches are pieces of art and makes direct adjustment of 54 thousand euros
“It is one of the largest international exercises ever carried out in Portugal”, highlights the FAP statement, highlighting the presence of 22 flight squadrons, from various nations, which have a “Tiger” as a symbol. Since its creation, FAP has carried out the Tiger Meet exercise in the years 1987, 1996 and 2002, the latter two in Beja.

In the events held then, the bombs of military aviation added up to many thousands of horsepower shaving the spectators' heads, awakened by the evolution of the German and Italian Tornadoes, the French Mirages, the F-16s of several countries including Portugal. The Americans introduced the A / OA-10 Thunderbolt II, the invisible Lockheed 117 Nighthawk aircraft, the B-52 bomber, and the slender, noisy, gray bomber B-1, reminiscent of a bird of prey: “A bisarma” as the biggest viewer characterized him at the time. This year, the number of aircraft is higher, as well as its "performance".

A series of initiatives will be associated with the event with the name “Tiger Pegadas”: The festival's organization will work in partnership with the Food Bank and mint 10,000 euro coins, allusive to the festival, to sell them at a unit cost of three euros. Donating 20,000 euros to a social institution is the ultimate goal. The “social footprint” will also contribute 301 euros to 10 institutions involved in the collection or treatment of animals.

Environmental concerns dominate the organization of the event. During the festival, the exercise “Plastic Free Zone” will be declared, which excludes the use of materials manufactured using plastic.

Air Force and Navy to take 30 tons of merchandise to Flores
Air Force and Navy to take 30 tons of merchandise to Flores
The ecological footprint is completed by a campaign to plant cork oaks and holm oaks inside the Air Base, where there are already several stands of these trees, a task that will count on the participation of pilots and other military personnel, the PUBLIC learned.

The NATO Tiger Association was created in 1961, with the aim of promoting cooperation and solidarity between NATO Air Forces, highlights the FAP. In July 1961, the first meeting / exercise was held in Woodbridge, England, with an English RAF and a French squadron. Since that date, Tiger Meet has been held annually with the presence of flight stations that have a “Tiger” as a symbol. At present, the association has 24 associated police stations, from 18 countries.

In 1978, Squadron 301 “Jaguares” started to represent Portugal in that year's Tiger Meet held in Belgium. This squadron won the “Silver Tiger”, the trophy that recognizes the best flight squadron in each exercise, in four editions: 1980, 1985, 2011 and 2019. In 2020, the dispute will take place in Portuguese territory.


In addition to an Air Festival, there will be a static exhibition area, with planes painted with colors and “Tiger” emblems and special stands related to the aviation area.


The Tiger Meet opening ceremony is scheduled for May 10th. On the 17th of May the air festival takes place with the presence of several military aircraft and acrobatic patrols. The closing ceremony will take place on the 21st of May