Top 10 of 2021
Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2021 11:57 am
At the end of the year lets do a short review aviation wise with a top 10. Like everybody I hoped 2021 would be a pandemic free or at least more normal year, but although for a few months things relaxed a bit planned trips to the US, the UK and some other European countries didn't materialized (as there where no payed assignments and I am not gonna pay large amounts of money and get swabbed for PCR tests prior, during and after trips and maybe get quarantined for just a hobby). Unfortunately we don't have bases like Mildenhall or Lakenheath with loads of interesting visitors all year around over here, but nonetheless enjoyed some nice days near the fence of serveral other bases:
1.
Several times Volkel Air Base in the southern part of The Netherlands was visited to photograph the last Dutch F-16's operated by 312 Squadron. Here J-062, one of the few carrying full color markings, is taking off from RWY24R.
2.
After Leeuwarden stopped flying the F-16 in June (replaced by the F-35A) their last Falcons transferred to Volkel. One of them was this F-16BM from 'Kantoor Testvliegen', a testbed for many years. Here it is seen lining up on the ORP near RWY24 during one of its very last flights.
3.
During summer Fliegerhorst Wittmund was visited twice to photograph the A-4 Skyhawks from contractor Top Aces. Between February 2022 and 2024 Wittmund will be closed for infrastrucural changed at this Northern Germany base and it is rumoured that after that it will be no longer possible to photograph near the fence just south of the runway near the ATC tower (which will be moved south of the runway as well). Here there only TA-4J from Top Aces just landed at runway 08 after an almost two hour mission in August. At Wittmund Top Aces fly with 6 A-4N's, 1 TA-4J and 6 Alpha Jets.
4.
Ofcourse also the EF-2000's from the Wittmund based TLG71 "Richthofen" where photographed. During the closure of the base the Eurofighters will be based at Laage in the East.
5.
In September I spend alsmost two weeks in Italy to enjoy their lovely weather, pizza's and pasta's and maybe a wine or beer or two ;-) But this also gave me the opportunity to visit Payerne in Switzerland enroute as well (last time was in the 90's when they still flew the MIrage III's from there). Main goal was to photograph at least one of their F-5's before they will be retired as well in a few years (they still operated about 24) and thank god I succeeded.
6.
Swiss Hornets always look factory fresh and well maintained as if they received 'em last last month. Nonetheless the Swiss received their 26 F/A-18C's and 8 F/A-18D's between 1996 and 1999 and this year a contract was signed with Lockheed Martin to replace the Hornet with 36 F-35A Lightning II's. Here J-5003 catches the little bit of sunshine I saw the first day carrying Sidewinder and AMRAAM missles and its speedbrake deployed.
7
Leewarden was visited several times as well during the Weapons Instructor Course, a 6-months training course held at Leeuwarden for the best and most experienced pilots to become weapon instructors. While the weather ruined several photo opportunities I was glad I was able to catch the Spangdahlem F-16's from the 480th F.S. which operated from Leeuwarden for just a few days in September.
8.
At Eindhoven Air Base the 2nd and last Dutch KDC-10 was retired after more than 25 years of service. The two Dutch tanker/transport aircraft are replaced by more modern and cost efficient NATO A-330 MRTT's but will soldier on for years to come in the US with contractor Omega Air. Here T-235 is seen returning to its apron on Eindhoven after its official farewell flight on October the 7th.
9.
Nice visitor on Eindhoven was this Canadian "Moose", a.k.a. C-17A. It left on October the 18th catching the last bit of sunshine before clouds rolled in (again! :-( ) and flew to France.
10.
An unexpected visitor showed up at Eindhoven on October the 12th as well. Suddenly this special colored German C-160, called 'Retro Brummel', visited the European Air Transport Command for the very last time before retirement as well. Thank god the Transall from LTG63 could be photographed on the apron catching some sun, although the rain gave some nice prop blur effect during departure as well.
Hope you liked it, more on www.final-approach.nl
Wish you happy holidays and a great new year!
Regards, Edwin Schimmel
1.
Several times Volkel Air Base in the southern part of The Netherlands was visited to photograph the last Dutch F-16's operated by 312 Squadron. Here J-062, one of the few carrying full color markings, is taking off from RWY24R.
2.
After Leeuwarden stopped flying the F-16 in June (replaced by the F-35A) their last Falcons transferred to Volkel. One of them was this F-16BM from 'Kantoor Testvliegen', a testbed for many years. Here it is seen lining up on the ORP near RWY24 during one of its very last flights.
3.
During summer Fliegerhorst Wittmund was visited twice to photograph the A-4 Skyhawks from contractor Top Aces. Between February 2022 and 2024 Wittmund will be closed for infrastrucural changed at this Northern Germany base and it is rumoured that after that it will be no longer possible to photograph near the fence just south of the runway near the ATC tower (which will be moved south of the runway as well). Here there only TA-4J from Top Aces just landed at runway 08 after an almost two hour mission in August. At Wittmund Top Aces fly with 6 A-4N's, 1 TA-4J and 6 Alpha Jets.
4.
Ofcourse also the EF-2000's from the Wittmund based TLG71 "Richthofen" where photographed. During the closure of the base the Eurofighters will be based at Laage in the East.
5.
In September I spend alsmost two weeks in Italy to enjoy their lovely weather, pizza's and pasta's and maybe a wine or beer or two ;-) But this also gave me the opportunity to visit Payerne in Switzerland enroute as well (last time was in the 90's when they still flew the MIrage III's from there). Main goal was to photograph at least one of their F-5's before they will be retired as well in a few years (they still operated about 24) and thank god I succeeded.
6.
Swiss Hornets always look factory fresh and well maintained as if they received 'em last last month. Nonetheless the Swiss received their 26 F/A-18C's and 8 F/A-18D's between 1996 and 1999 and this year a contract was signed with Lockheed Martin to replace the Hornet with 36 F-35A Lightning II's. Here J-5003 catches the little bit of sunshine I saw the first day carrying Sidewinder and AMRAAM missles and its speedbrake deployed.
7
Leewarden was visited several times as well during the Weapons Instructor Course, a 6-months training course held at Leeuwarden for the best and most experienced pilots to become weapon instructors. While the weather ruined several photo opportunities I was glad I was able to catch the Spangdahlem F-16's from the 480th F.S. which operated from Leeuwarden for just a few days in September.
8.
At Eindhoven Air Base the 2nd and last Dutch KDC-10 was retired after more than 25 years of service. The two Dutch tanker/transport aircraft are replaced by more modern and cost efficient NATO A-330 MRTT's but will soldier on for years to come in the US with contractor Omega Air. Here T-235 is seen returning to its apron on Eindhoven after its official farewell flight on October the 7th.
9.
Nice visitor on Eindhoven was this Canadian "Moose", a.k.a. C-17A. It left on October the 18th catching the last bit of sunshine before clouds rolled in (again! :-( ) and flew to France.
10.
An unexpected visitor showed up at Eindhoven on October the 12th as well. Suddenly this special colored German C-160, called 'Retro Brummel', visited the European Air Transport Command for the very last time before retirement as well. Thank god the Transall from LTG63 could be photographed on the apron catching some sun, although the rain gave some nice prop blur effect during departure as well.
Hope you liked it, more on www.final-approach.nl
Wish you happy holidays and a great new year!
Regards, Edwin Schimmel
