Tradionally May-4th is remembrance day in The Netherlands. Every year that day, at noon, a missing man formation is flown over the memorial at Soesterberg to honor those that have fallen for our freedom! 2 years ago, with the introduction of the F-35, a first time mixed formation was flown by 2 F-16's and 2 F-35's. Last year it was all F-35's and so would be this year. With Leeuwarden temporarilly closed for works, 322 squadron is now also based at Volkel. And it was 322 squadron that had the lead and honors for this missing man formation. With the F-35 numbers increasing and the F-16 numbers decreasing, I opted to go to Volkel airbase instead in the hopes I would get some still sleek and beautifull F-16's, as well as some new F-35's in the end of the day.
1) 312sqn (the last remaining F-16 squadron) was the first to launch 2x2 F-16's. Here's "Bonzo1" passing the boundary.
2) Followed by "Bonzo2"
3) Close up "Epic01" (J-514)
4) Followed by "Epic02"
5) Then at 11:40lt finally the F-35's started coming out. "Polly1" banking hard right for the photographers.
6) Correcting again by banking hard left
7) "Polly2"
8) "Polly3"
9) "Polly4", the first F-35A from the local 313sqn sporting it's Tiger emblem. Although, it may be short lived as it's due to be replaced by the crown and crest style emblem just as the ones above of 322 sqn.
All in all an enjoyable morning with 8 airframes in the sky (which is pretty good these days)!
