Alfred Fartknocker:
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-85784 is more familiar these days painted up as the Memphis Belle. G-BEDI visits Soesterburg, NL in 1981 here, still in natural metal.
Alfred Fartknocker:
C-6 is a Dutch Fokker F-27M Troopship, and I'm sure we all enjoyed their spirited smoky displays of the period. It's with 334 Sqn here at Soesterberg, NL. It was sold off in 1997 and became C-GWXD, then J5-GIA. It seems to be stored in Africa somewhere.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Dutch F-104G Starfighter. D-8300 might live on at Oudemolen, l/n there in 2012. The leading edge of the 104 is so sharp that protective guards are fitted, thus all the red 'Remove before flight' streamers.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The E-model F-111 seems to have done most of the airshow appearances in Europe. Here the 20 TFW have sent F-111E 68-0068 "UH" to Soesterberg (EHSB) in 1981. Stored as FV212, it was l/n at AMARC in 2009 although likely shredded even earlier, in 2007.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The 601 TCW were based at Sembach in West Germany. This is one of their CH-53Cs, 70-1630 at Soesterberg, NL. Later modded to MH-53M, stored as HC0051, it joined the Navy as Bu.Aer 701630 and remained at AMARC as 2J0147. Scrapped in 2021!
Alfred Fartknocker:
This is how 'Sally-B' looked back in 1981. 44-85784 looks a bit different these days. This is at Soesterburg AB, Netherlands.
Alfred Fartknocker:
A-10A Thunderbolt, 77-0269 is placed on display, ready for the 1981 Air Show at Soesterburg AB in 1981. It was eventually scrapped at D-M AFB in 2016. It's wearing that European c/s called 'Charcoal Lizard'...it just looked black, except in strong sun.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Dutch AF Alouette III, H-67 is taking part in the Soesterburg Air Show in 1981. This SAR chopper was sold on to the Pakistan Navy in 1994.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This A-10A Warthog is seen at Soesterburg, NL in 1981. 77-0269 "WR" was with the 81 TFW at Woodbridge/ Bentwaters. It was scrapped at D-M AFB in 2016.
Alfred Fartknocker:
I got up early and got in before the Soesterburg Air Show opened in 1981. This F-111E, 68-0068 "UH" flew in from Upper Heyford. They seem to have had the job of showing off the Swinger at Airshows. I rarely saw an F model at a 'show.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Meteor was guarding Soesterburg AB in 1981. "I-147" is actually I- 187, an F.8. It's at Lelystad these days. It was built in The Netherlands by Fokker, under license from Glosters.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Dutch Hunter F.4, N-122, is seen preserved at Soesterburg in 1981. It's now with the big museum there, but stored and not seen since 2016.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Mirage F1 showed up for the Soesterburg Air Show in 1981. #231/ 12-YH was eventually preserved at Mont de Marsan, but l/n in 2014.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This F-4E showed up at Soesterberg for the Airshow there in 1981. 74-1045 "SP" flew up from Spangdahlen. As of 2021 it is stored at D-M AFB.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This F-5E is being pushed into its position in the static display at Soesterburg, Netherlands in 1981. 74-1532 is with the 527 TFTAS at RAF Alconbury.
Alfred Fartknocker:
The only unusual thing about this grainy pic, is that it shows Bitburg based F-15C, 80-0007 on its last flight. The pilot crashed it landing after this pass. Soesterburg AB, 12-9-81.
Alfred Fartknocker:
D-8300 in the static at Soesterburg airshow on 12-9-1981. Dutch F-104G Starfighter. D-8300 might live on at Oudemolen, l/n there in 2012.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Bitburg based F-15A 80-0007 "BT" lies on the grass at Soesterburg in the Netherlands after crashing during the airshow. The pilot has blown the canopy off, but stayed with it.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Alouette III A-366 at Soesterburg, NL just after the show in 1981.
Dutch Jopie:
67-6380 McDonnell RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II Japan Air Self-Defence Force - full colour sharkmouth and silhouette of an analogue film roll with 1961-2020 over the fuselage Hyakuri JASDF - Hyakuri Air Festival Phantom Farewell (01-12-2019)