Event reports
Here you will find some info and photos from my trips, airshows and other kind of events I attend from time to time.
#7 SANICOLE AIRSHOW 2019
On September 2019, I attended the International Sanicole Airshow held on the small village of Leopoldsburg, in Belgium. Most of my work was Air to Air photography onboard a Skyvan, although on the sunday afternoon I visited the airshow itself for a crew party and barbecue. amongst all the subjects, I can highlight the USAF CV-22B Osprey, based at Milldenhall, the Panavia tornado from the TaktLwG 33 based at Büchel AB and the Danish C-130J-30. This was my 3rd Air to Air photomission and the most exciting one. The photos talk by themselves.
As a special mention, I would like to thank the Aviation-Photocrew, but specially my friends Eric and Giel for the opportunity given. You can find their work at https://www.aviation-photocrew.com/ You guys Rock!
The USAF CV-22B Osprey calling "HORNET81" posing on hover mode
An Austrian PC-7 also joined the skyvan twice. It seems that this guy really liked the formation.
The belgian Air Force was the biggest contributor for the airshow. FA-124 special D-Day markings seen here doing a high turn break behind the skyvan's door.
BAF 3 ship formation passing by the skyvan.
Senior Captain Stefan Darte, most known as "Vador" the BAF F-16 demo pilot, had some fun with the skyvan during departures day.
The AlphaJets are becoming a rare sight nowadays as they are close to retirement. Here you can see a french couple decorated with anniversary markings also during departures day.
FA-89 was flown by Vador during departures day.
The german Army NH90 was also a nice and welcomed visitor to the departures day photomission.
The Danish C-130J-30, another great catch and one of my aviation photography dreams that came true this year. This plane dropped 30 flares just for us! Congratulations to the crew that flew the plane like butter!
another angle of the RDAF C-130, this time posing on the righ side of the skyvan during a holding turn.
The Greek ZEUS demo Team also joined the skyvan a couple times. I really like how agressive the F-16 looks with the CFTs (Conformal Fuel Tanks)
The croatian Mi-171Sh "Hip" was an unexpected but really welcomed visitor for me.
Is not that common to see a civilian aerobatic team. "The Victors" is a Belgian demo team flying the Piper PA-28 Warrior III.
Another sunset shot of the CV-22B Osprey. This time with the nozzles set at 45 degrees.
This was the most unexpected visitor. after a fuel stop at Zwartberg, This 1937 Beech 17 Staggerwing joined the skyvan for 20 minutes!
So, between flights, and while on ground, we were kind of bussy with local traffic departing and arriving to Zwartberg. This C208B Grand Caravan departed for Sanicole Airshow on Saturday afternoon.
Another highlight was this 1938 Lockheed L-12A Electra Junior based at Zwartberg. This plane had a runway excursion on 2018, but fortunately was restored to flying condition again.
The "Pink Aviation Services" SC.7 Skyvan OE-FDK, our transport for that week.
My first NOTAR helicopter was this private-US registered MD-902 Explorer that came for some fuel to Zwartberg. Quite a funny guy!
One of the two T-28 Trojan that attended the Sanicole Airshow static was "NX377WW" painted in U.S. Navy colors.
And the second one was N1328B painted in the classic USAF training coatings.
The biggest surprise from the Airshow itself was the Croatian Mi-171Sh departing Leopoldsburg for Kleine-Brogel under a gorgeous light.
Finally, a privately owned T-6 Harvard were also present on the static.
#6 June 1st National Parade
On June 1st Seville hosted the military parade after 13 years held in Madrid. All the units from the Army, Navy and Air force Participated in the event, which was presided by the King Felipe VI. The day after we saw the departure of the Agosta-class S-74 "Tramontana" submarine and the Segura-class M-35 "Duero" Minehunter, that joined the national party days before.
#5 DIFAS 2019 static display arrivals
Also for the armed forces day, a static display of materials was opened to the public at the "Plaza de España" and Maria Luisa park. This static show included four helicopters from the Spanish Army and Air Force. On this day we also visited the spanish newest ship, the P-45 "Audaz" who arrived the day before to the port.
#4 Tactical Demonstration over the River
During the last week of May, Seville held the privilege of being the elected city for the 2019 Armed Forces day parade, which took place on June 1st.
The activities organised the week before included a static display of materials from different units at Seville's most recognizable place, the "Plaza de España", a military parade, and the most stricking, a tactical demonstration over the Guadalquivir river. This demonstration showed how the armed forces would act in case of a ship hijacking and how to rescue hostages. On this demonstration, which took place during the 30 and 31 of May in the afternoon, we saw in action, Helicopters, SpecOps troops, snipers, navy troops and combat fighters.
#3 European Air Refuelling Training 2019 Media Day
On April 4th I attended the European Air Refuelling Training Exercise at Eindhoven Air Base, Netherlands. The European Air Transport Command, a Joint force of European countries Transport units, organised a Media Day to show us how they work in cooperation, and train the Air refuelling capabilities at the same time the Frisian Flag was taking place at Leeuwardeen.
The countries involved in this commands are, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy, plus a invited foreign country every year. On the 2019 edition, Germany sent an Airbus A310MRTT, France a C-135FR, United Kingdom an A330 Voyager KC.3, United States, through his US Air Force in Europe a KC-135R, and the Netherlands the mighty KDC-10. After an extensive Briefing on the EATC-HQ at Eindhoven, and some talks with some countries spokesmans, we were transfered by bus to the airport military terminal, for a real flight onboard a tanker during an air refuelling mission. The Royal Netherlands Air Force served us a delicious picnic to eat onboard the aircraft. While we waited for the check-in, we spent some time playing table football, which by the way was a spanish invent!
Now it's time to board the plane, we got a Military ticket with our aircraft, in my case the German A310, callsign COBO43. as we get on the bus to reach the aircraft, the Dutch KDC-10 is ready for taxi.
We arrive to the German tanker. on the left side is parked the French C-135FR, and just behind him the American KC-135R from Mildenhall AB, in the UK. We have to board
quickly because we are a bit delayed on time. As soon as we take seat, the crew closes the doors and the engines starts roaring. We are ready to go up!
After a rocket takeoff, and with the fasten seatbelts sign off, I enjoyed a walk around the cabin. The german crew was so kindly to let me taking pictures of all the rear
compartments of the aircraft, and even opened for me some doors and panels to get a better view of them.
As we set heading to our designated AAR track, close to the Danish Airspace, and just about 30 mins after takeoff, the first couple of German Typhoons entered in contact with us.
But things never go as planned, and we entered on a turbulence zone with a ton of clouds. the typhoons, dissapeared for a couple seconds before appearing again, we had to be quick taking photos to let others do the same on the small A310 which was configured as combi after conversion from a former civilian Lufthansa. (D-AIDB)
Refueling complete, the 2 Typhoons are fully ready to go back to the simulated combat zone, but the weather is even worse, and the clouds cover everything around the aircraft. We were expected to make some formation flights with other tankers to train the formation capabilities of the crews, usually made to do those formations with small fighters only.
Then after almost 3h in the air, the captain annunces that we are returning back to base, or as it's said on the military slang, R-T-B .
On the approach to Eindhoven, we performed a low pass over a low flying zone located at the north of the airfield, a right base, and full stop landing. we taxied back to our parking spot and left the plane, not without taking some shots of the tankers parked on our left side. Sadly, due to some technical problems, the American KC-135 couldn't take off for his mission. This is understandable keeping in mind that the KC-135 is more than 50 years old! A true aviation legend!
Now is time to get back to the terminal, we were the last ones to land, and people is awaiting for us at the waiting area. We say goodbye to all the crews, and left the base back to the hotel. It was an epic day!
Althought not everything went as planned, we enjoyed an unique opportunity to see how our armed forces work on cooperation to keep us safe. Being able to witness a real Air to Air refuelling from onboard a tanker was a new and amazing experience for me, which I hope to repeat some day. I would like to thank every person who make this possible, the PAO, all the EATC and Eindhoven AB personnel, but especially to the Luftwaffe for their so kindly treatment which made our work even more easy, safe, and funny.
See you next year!
A preserved Fokker F-27 set as gate guardian at Eindhoven
A former Dutch Canadair NF-5A Freedom Fighter just in front of the EATC Building
Another preserved aircraft was this former Luftwaffe C-160D painted with the Dutch flag and commemorating 55 years of the LTG-63 foundation
Our lunch menu kindly offered by the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Our ride for that day waiting for us to board. This A310 was named Hermann Köhl, a german aviator, and is based at Köln Airport
A view of the forward galley in vintage style
view of the main passenger deck on the Combi A310. the main forward section was converted to cargo.
A rare sight on today's seats, although smoking is forbiden on aircrafts for years now, those old seats still have an ashtray on the right side
contact with the tanker!
Fill it up, please!
A wing view with the german cross vissible over the wing.
a Detail of the main gear of the A310-304 MRTT
The French C-135FR, a rare sight out of france resting on the tarmac
the American KC-135R being refuelled for the next day mission
The mighty Dutch KDC-10 coming back to parking after the morning mission
#2 Royal Saudi Air Force Coronet flight through Morón AB
On March 26th, The Royal Saudi Air Force visited Morón AB in southern Spain on a ferry flight from Nellis AFB, NV to King Faisal Air Base via Seymour Johnson AFB, NC and Morón. The 6 brand new F-15SA's attended the Red Flag exercise directly from the factory. Along with the Strike Eagles, GOLD01 and GOLD03 a KC-10A and a KC-135R respectively, arrived to the base, plus a National Airlines Boeing 747BCF and a Hillwood Airways B737BBJ which was previously owned by the U.S. DoD. Although the day was completely sunny, at the time of their arrival, a few clouds appeared and made even difficult our work. Of course the local traffics kept us busy while we waited for the saudis.
0631 RSAF F-15SA Strike Eagle
0633 RSAF F-15SA Strike Eagle
0632 RSAF F-15SA Strike Eagle
0631 RSAF F-15SA Strike Eagle
0632-0633 RSAF F-15SA Strike Eagles
63-8034 USAF KC-135R Stratotanker
63-8034 USAF KC-135R Stratotanker
86-0032 USAF KC-10A Extender
N919CA National Airlines B747-428(BCF)
N737AT Hillwood Airways B737-7HJ(BBJ)
168641 USMC MV-22B Osprey
169225 USMC KC-130J
#1 Airbus Seville Factory 10th anniversary Family Day event
To celebrate 10 years of the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Seville, the manufacturer hosted a family day event on February 23rd at Seville Airport.
Although the event was only for employees and their families, I was able to attend the "party"
During the static display, we enjoyed a walk over the flightline, full of aircrafts assembled here, (Actually C295s and A400Ms) from different countries like United Arab Emirates, Germany, or Turkey.
Also a special visitor came from Toulouse to attend the event. The Airbus A300 Beluga, which is a common visitor at the factory bringing all the components and parts to keep the production always running.
At around 12.00PM a small flying display was held at the Airport with 2 C295s, an A400M, an A330MRTT Tanker and an Eurofighter Typhoon. We saw some nice formation flights, some amazing breaks and a simulated Air to Air refuelling between the MRTT and the Eurofighter.
Shortly after, we continued walking around, visiting the hangars, and waiting for the people to leave, to get more shots of the statics.
Finally, we came to the Airbus Training Centre where I was able to fly an Airbus A400M by myself! Definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had! I would like to thank everybody involved for such a great day. See you next time!
