KLu Open Day: Gilze Rijen, 2005

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Europe & Cold War Database
KLu Open Day: Gilze Rijen, 2005
By Stefan Kuhn
Apr 13, 2005, 22:49

This-year's annual KLU Open Day was held on the 16 and 17 June 2005 at Gilze Rijen airbase. The base is normally home to the AH-64Ds of 301 Squadron, RNAF. The air-show attracted 375.000 visitors, most of them coming on the sunny Saturday, while Friday was hampered by some bad weather.

One of the highlights this year was the active participation of the Egypt airforce, which is a very rare participant at European air-shows. They flew-in a Gamhuria 181 Mk.8 aircraft to Gilze Rijen: this was delivered by an Egyptian Airforce C-130, on Thursday, and picked up later on Monday after the show.

According to the very friendly Egyptian personnel the aircraft itself was no longer in active service and had been retired in 2004. It had been used for basic training of cadets at Egyptian Airforce Academy. The Grob 115EG has replaced the Garnhuria in active service today.

Rarely - if ever - seen outside Egypt: an Egyptian Airforce Garnhuria 181 Mk.8. (All photos by Stefan Kuhn)

Another attraction was the attendance of an upgraded F-4E Phantom off the Greek Air Force. The aircraft came from the 339 MAPK "Ajax", based at Andravida airbase.

Another attraction was the attendance of an upgraded F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 of the Greek Airforce. The aircraft came from the 339 MAPK (Ajax) based at Andravida airbase.

Additional F-4s were attending the show as well: apart from the "normal" German Luftwaffe F-4F from FLZ F-4, at Rheine, two Turkish Air Force RF-4Es were there as well, both from Filo 113, at Eskisehir.

Fortunately more F-4s were attending the show. Apart from the normal German Airforce F-4F from FLZ F-4 at Rheine two Turkish Airforce RF-4E attended the show. Both were from 113 filo at Eskisehir.

The flying program was also interesting. The Royal Air Force Red Arrows team performed their usual great show...

Red Arrows in their classic final fly-past.

....and the Royal Netherlands Air Force showed a great F-16-solo display, including the release of flares.

The flying program was also interesting. The Royal Airforce Red Arrows performed their usual great show and the Royal Netherland Airforce showed a great F-16 solo display including the release of flares.

The Gilze-Rijen-based AH-64s, however, never wanted to become second, so they did an at least as interesting solo-display of their mount, including rolls, loops and flares.

The Gilze-Rijen based AH-64 however did not want to become second, so they als did a really interesting solo display of the AH-64D - including rolls, loops and also flares.

The KLu F-16 and AH-64 eventually joined into a formation for a final pass.

Other highlights included the always spectacular airpower demo of the KLu, including an air-to-air refuelling demonstration with a KDC-10-30 and an F-16AM. Lots of smoke, loud explosions and lots of helicopters and F-16s always fascinate the crowd!

Solo displays by a RAF Harrier, RAF Tornado F.Mk.3, Swiss Air Force F/A-18C, RNAF PC-7 and Austrian Air Force J-35OE Draken, nicely contrasted with displays of warbirds, including the Royal Air Force "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight" - with two Spitfires and a Lancaster bomber.

RAF Harrier GR.Mk.7 finishing its solo-display in front of the public.

RAF Tornado F.Mk.3 put up a spirited - and quite a loud - display.

At least as rarely seen on the European continent was the appearance of the British Army "Blue Eagles" helicopter display team.

Blue Eagles Display team

In summary: a very interesting show, to full satisfaction of so many visitors!