FighterControl

Hi all,

Last week, from 25 July until Saturday 31 I made a trip through Europe. Being fully vaccinated, checked all the countries I would visit and their COVID measures, we were safe to go. Drove with the car through 8 different and haven't been asked about the COVID QR code once.

So, let's start.

25-07
We started our trip from South West Netherlands, with stops at Ramstein, Illesheim and Ansbach, to sleep in the city Neuburg am Donau.
A 8 hour drive, we arrived around diner time in Neuburg. \
Logs:
Ramstein: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/71/158626
Illesheim: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/74/157220
Ansbach: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/74/158627

1.) Shot from Illesheim CH47 US Army by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

26-07
Next up was Neuburg and Donauworth. We checked the morning wave of Neuburg depart, and arrived around 1130LT at Donauworth before heading over to Zagreb.
Logs:
Neuburg: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/74/157198
Donauworth: https://scramble.nl/community/messagebo ... 3?start=60

2.) Nice to see this F4 in some good shape.
F4 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

3.) The QRA Euffies were the first ones to go up.
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

4.)
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

5.) And some time later, 3 locals went up for a training mission.
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

6.)
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

7.)
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

8.) After the QRA returned, we went on to Donauworth.
EF2000 German air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

9.) It was very silent at Donauworth, maybe because of the holiday time. Anyway, this NH90 was posing nice.
NH90 German Army by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

10.) But, even better in my opinion, was this Ukraine Police H145 returning from a test/acceptence flight.
H145 Ukraine Police by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

Around 1200LT we departed Donauworth for the long drive to Zagreb, Croatia. We stopped at Ljubljana and Zagreb-Lucko to check if we could see something, not good for shots, but some nummers were noted.
Logs:
Ljubljana: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/158628
Zagreb Lucko: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/158649

2100LT we arrived in our hotel, 5 minutes from the airport.

27-07
Tuesday was the day were the whole trip started with: catching Croatian Migs. With only 7 operational, 2 on a constant QRA alert, we knew luck was needed. Before arriving I arranged a kind of spotters pass to take place next to the fence without getting send away. (Outside the airport, Zagreb is known for being un-spotter friendly)
So, we checked out the flightline of the military part at Zagreb and no Mig21s were outside around 0800LT. We went to the spot anyway. Around 0930, the QRA shelters were opened and we heard fighters starting up. Few minutes later, 2 Migs were taxiing ahead of us. Trip succesful. 8)
Log:
Zagreb - Pleso: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/155266

11.)MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

12.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

13.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

14.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

15.)MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

16.) After some more than 45 minutes, the pair returned, with both doing a low approach first.
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

17.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

18.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

19.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

At 1130LT we decided to check out if there was some more activity on the platform, but there wasn't. Luckily for us, another Mig21 was just being towed inside the large hangar, so +1. After this, we decided to start our road move to Aviano.

20.)
MIG21 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

21.)
MI8 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

22.)
AN32 Croatian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

We made a stop at Krki, the military air base where most of the stuff from the Slovenian air Force is based. It was very quiet and only some hangars open.
Log: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/158650
Around 1700LT we arrived in the neighborhood of Aviano and we saw on ADSB they were still flying. So, between 1700 and 1900 16 AV F16's were seen in the approach.


28-07
So, we started early, and at 0800LT the first 6 F16's were airborne already. In the end we stayed until 1400, so we could check in early at our hotel and visit Venice (recommended)
Log:
Aviano: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/156084

23.) Shot from the 27th, with the sun already on the other side of the runway
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

24.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

25.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

26.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

27.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

28.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

29.) Cool to catch the family model of the 555th, including 3 tanks.
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

30.) The new have-glas scheme stands out nice in the sun, and the famous back drop helps as well.
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

31.)
F16 USAF by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

The next day, Rivolto was on te planning. Originally we would visit Istrana, but they are closed until January 2022. With the hopes of catching some AMX, of we went and found a nice place in the landing.
Log:
Rivolto: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/158674

32.) Some MB339's of the Frecce were doing various things in the morning, from a 1 ship demo to a 3 ship. As there was no wind, they al landed on the opposite side of the Ef2000s and AMX.
MB339 Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

33.)
EF2000 Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

34.)
MB339 Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

35.) After more than 100 minutes, the 5 returned. Long missions for these boys.
EF2000 Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

36.)
EF2000 Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

37.)
AMX Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

38.)
AMX Italian air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

Around 1200LT we left Rivolto for the long drive to Payerne, where we arrived around 2100.

Final day of the trip was spend at Payerne. With Emmen and Meiringen closed for the holiday season, we hopen Payerne wouldn't disappoint. And it didn't! First 2 F18s went up around 0815, returned some 50 minutes later. After some while another wave started up, with no les than 6 Hornets going out. Besides the Hornets, some trainers and helicopters were also seen.
Log:
Payerne: https://scramble.nl/community/messageboard/45/156525

39.) Seen from the viewing area of Payerne, with some nice gaps in the fence for photography.
PC7 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

40.) The first 2 of the day, just after a big rain shower past the airport.
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

41.) Almost al pictures are made from the new general aviation terminal, which has a viewing deck. Very nice place to spend the day, nice seats and cover for the rain.
PC7 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

42.) This hunter can be seen from the viewing deck.
Hunter Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

43.)
PC12 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

44.)
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

45.)
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

46.) Not often seen outside Switzerland are the D models.
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

47.)
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

48.) Runway switch for the afternoon wave, and switching again for the landing.
F18 Swiss air Forcee by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

49.)
AS332 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

50.) A huge shower was approaching the airfield, so al aircraft in the air returned quickly.
PC6 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

51.)
PC7 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

52.)
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr

53.)
F18 Swiss air Force by Jos Leendertse, on Flickr


And that's it! Some 4000 kilometers were driven for all these shots.
Thanks for watching.

All the best,
Jos

Those Migs are great. Thanks for posting.

Wow what a trip and great photos.
Just one correction though, number 43 is a PC-9.

Great set

Fantastic trip and log. Some great shots ,seeing the Swiss in the alps is on my to do list. I have to add the Croatian migs do look good.

Great set of images

Fanatstic looking trip and some excellent images to go with it! Do like those Croatian Mig21`s

Great set, seems like a worthwhile trip. Visited Zagreb in 2018 on the 5th of August, a day when the 21's are most certainly flying due to the annual flypassed over Knin (also saw 3 Israëli F-16's participating from Zagreb). Very nice to be able to see Mig.21's flying obviously. Although I was perfectly able to photograph I was very cautious; how did you arrange a 'spotting permit'? Thanks and regards. Bart

Looks like a cracking trip Jos seen the photo's on Scramble, but those Croatian Mig's though WOW

Dougie:)

Superb set

A great set, thanks for posting them.

Great set, you had an excellent trip clearly, the Migs are tops for me.

Great set Jos,like the Croatian Migs and nice to see some AMX' S.
Thanks for posting Mike

Super, Super, Super!
What an excellent parade of quality shots from what looks like a fabulous trip. Absolutely love the Croatian Migs and the well-kept Lw Phantom. Nice touch adding the log links. Many thanks for sharing your pics and logs

Hi Jos

Some trip and some set

Those Fishbeds are the stars for me

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Hi Jos,
What a great trip you had and thank you for the narrative.
The photo log is excellent but for me the Mig21s just stand out.

All the best
Andy

You had a successful trip, thank you for sharing your pictures here.

Thanks for all the kind words guys, appreciated!

Jos

Wow, excellent set, you had some trip there, thanks for sharing..

Wow , simples !