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Post by karladrage on Oct 28, 2011 5:54:01 GMT 12
Hi guys, Hope you're all well?! Been a bit busy this week (though did manage a day out at Heathrow on Monday!) so haven't had a chance to share anything else with you before now. As Adzze said he liked the F-5, I thought I'd make that the subject of my next photo post. I grew up about 15 miles from RAF Alconbury, home of (amongst others) the F-5Es of the 527th TFTAS, so I have a strong affinity to the type myself. These first few pictures were all taken in Switzerland in 2006 and 2007. For those of you unfamiliar with Swiss airfields, some of them are quite incredible! Not only does Meiringen, for instance, sit in the bottom of a high-sided valley, it also has no fences surrounding it and a public road actually runs straight across the runway! The airfields have restaurants that members of the public can use, and it's quite cool to sit down and enjoy lunch with members of the Patrouille Suisse sitting opposite! Enough waffle, here's the piccies:                  VFC-13 'Saints' Aggressors from NAS Fallon next time! ;D |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 28, 2011 6:44:49 GMT 12
Stunning! I've got to ask - have you got any photos of Skyhawks?
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Post by adzze on Oct 28, 2011 7:00:43 GMT 12
Hey nice! Thanks a lot! That's some sleek cold war goodness right there...  |
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Post by jonesy on Oct 28, 2011 7:31:34 GMT 12
Agree there! Thats some great pics. Hey wasnt it the F-5 that was touted as a replacement for the A-4's at some stage? or was that the F-20?
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Post by fyl on Oct 28, 2011 8:52:27 GMT 12
Ditto...great pics....love the two B&W ones...
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Post by jonesy on Oct 28, 2011 9:01:29 GMT 12
Oh yeah-whats with the drop tanks painted with orange Dazzle? Nice low-viz aircraft colour just ruined with that....Not much stealth goin on there...  |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 28, 2011 9:12:24 GMT 12
Agree there! Thats some great pics. Hey wasnt it the F-5 that was touted as a replacement for the A-4's at some stage? or was that the F-20? The F-5 was a contender for the Canberra replacement when we got A-4s and the F-20 was looked at when we were looking to replace the A-4s in the mid 80's. Instead we upgraded them. |
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Post by jonesy on Oct 28, 2011 9:32:54 GMT 12
Oh thats right. Those F-20s never really seemed to prove too popular did they?
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Post by mumbles on Oct 28, 2011 10:25:27 GMT 12
Oh thats right. Those F-20s never really seemed to prove too popular did they? Potentially a great aircraft, but somewhat hamstrung by the US Government not wanting to support a direct competitor to the F-16, and not procuring any for the US forces (its last great chance for success was the contract to re-equip the Continental US Air Defense squadrons when the F-106 came up for replacement. A version of the F-16 was chosen instead). There were orders from overseas customers, but like other projects they faded away when a lack of support from the country of origin became apparent. |
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Post by michaelh on Oct 28, 2011 10:30:02 GMT 12
Where are the Heathrow shots?! |
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Post by Calum on Oct 28, 2011 13:22:41 GMT 12
great photos
Jonesy - the orange tanks are IIRC for DACT.
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Post by jonesy on Oct 28, 2011 14:40:38 GMT 12
great photos Jonesy - the orange tanks are IIRC for DACT. Say what? Just too many initials there for my liking....or is that young peoples text talk? |
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Post by nuuumannn on Oct 29, 2011 0:38:25 GMT 12
"Dissimilar Air Combat Training"
Beautiful pictures. Saw the Patrouille Suisse at Fairford a few times; they are very slick.
A subject for a keen modeller. RNZAF F-5s would have been the business. I've heard through the grapevine that there isn't much that could out manoeuvre an F-5; Skyhawkdon, you could probably advise how they went against our Skyhawks on exercises in Asian countries that operated them.
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Oct 29, 2011 6:49:22 GMT 12
What fantastic photos - thanks very much for posting those mate.
Encore ;D
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Post by karladrage on Oct 31, 2011 9:30:43 GMT 12
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 31, 2011 11:37:41 GMT 12
"Dissimilar Air Combat Training" Beautiful pictures. Saw the Patrouille Suisse at Fairford a few times; they are very slick. A subject for a keen modeller. RNZAF F-5s would have been the business. I've heard through the grapevine that there isn't much that could out manoeuvre an F-5; Skyhawkdon, you could probably advise how they went against our Skyhawks on exercises in Asian countries that operated them. I think our A-4s did pretty well against F-5s up in Asia, particularly post Kahu. F-5s certainly feature a lot in the HUD footage I've got - getting shot down! A clean A-4 was pretty hard to beat at low level. I recall Singapore's upgraded F-5s were a pretty tough apponent the last time we met in 2001 - similar avionics and weapon system capability to the Kahu Skyhawk and a good pilot training system. |
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Post by Calum on Oct 31, 2011 15:04:32 GMT 12
Wow, the Adversary shots are stunning
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Post by nuuumannn on Nov 2, 2011 14:00:10 GMT 12
Interesting, thanks Don. I've also heard that the Kiwi A-4 drivers' training in close in manoeuvring was something to be feared. Over in UK Land, because many of their close support a/c were not fitted with radar (Jaguar, Harrier, both now no longer in service), combat manoeuvring, especially at low level to avoid terrain was a finely honed skill and the pilots of the single seaters of these types became very adept at avoiding being shot down. I take it the Kiwi A-4 drivers were the same before the Kahu upgrade?
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Post by karladrage on Nov 6, 2011 20:38:09 GMT 12
Thanks again guys! Here's a final batch to conclude my F-5 collection. The only Spanish Air Force example I've ever shot! Seen here during a COMAO exercise Kleine Brogel in 2007.  The Turkish AF sent a pair of NF-5Bs to RIAT 2007. That's still the only time I've shot 'operational' schemed examples of the type from that nation.   On the ramp with the Turkish Stars after their Friday performance at Al Ain 2011  Airborne with them in the transit between Dubai and Abu Dhabi the next day  Deep blue skies on the ramp at Al Ain  The Saturday performance at Al Ain    Performing at Waddington International Airshow 2010  That's it. Hope you enjoyed some of them at least! |
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Post by jonesy on Nov 6, 2011 20:50:05 GMT 12
They're great shots indeed! Really impressed with the clarity in those shots mate, you should be pretty happy with those.
Are F-5's your particular area of interest or is that just for this thread?
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