Volkel 8-7-2019 (F-35 test flight)

[Zonan]

Hello,
I went to Volkel for a day of F-16 power and had some nice surprises today.
First one was that the F-35 (which was stuck here since the air show 3 weeks ago) was going to perform a test flight.
Second was that the QRA (2 24/7 combat ready F-16s) were flying a training mission.

1. First, FLANKER3 and 4 departed
J-017 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

2.
J-021 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

3.
J-021 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

4. When the FLANKERS were back, AG01 and 02 (QRA) departed and thereafter the BULLDOG01 and 02 as well.
J-021 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

5. BULLDOG01 and 02 came back in some nice light conditions.
J-020 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

6.
J-368 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

7. QRA returned later.
J-642 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

8.
J-642 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

9.
J-008 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

10. Then BULLDOG01 and 02 came taxxiing in together with F-35 ARCHER01.
J-368, J-635 and F-001 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

11.
F-001 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

12.
F-001 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

13.
F-001 by Zonan Adolfse, on Flickr

Regards, Zonan

[mattes]

Sehr schön, Danke.

[vanti]

Wow, tolle Bilder. Da wollte ich auch immer noch mal hin. Herrscht dort viel Flugbetrieb und lohnt es sich da auf gerade wohl hinzufahren?

[Zonan]

It's like rolling a dice: sometimes you see 15 F-16s and sometimes you see 4.

They regularly fly in 2 waves a day, one from 9:00 until about 11:00 and the second departs around 13:30 and lands 15:30. Waves can vary from 2 F-16s up to 8 or even 10. Sometimes they fly several small waves.
This day I saw 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 (and the F-35 and QRA, which are never to be expected).
The previous time I was here I saw 6 and then 8.
Most of the time some will do some touch and go's as well.

[Rolf]

Impressive! Thanks!

[vanti]

Thanks Zonan