At the fence: Leeuwarden Air Base [Weapons Instructor Course]

At the moment the Weapons Instructor Course is taking place at Leeuwarden Air Base. Pilots from Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands train to become weapons experts in their F-35 Lightning II jets. 

EOS 5DsR, EF 100-400mm f/3.5-5.6L II USM, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

I was able to make it to the first phase of the exercise. Denmark deployed five F-35's to Leeuwarden. F-35's from Volkel and based F-35's from Leeuwarden also participated, as did a single MQ-9. On this day, the MQ-9 was the first to take off, followed by the Danish and Dutch F-35's.

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, f/8

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

I brought my GFX 100S II and EOS 5DsR to Leeuwarden. It was a sunny day and the flying was good, what more do you want?

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/6.4

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/9

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/9

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, f/8

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/5.6

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/6.4

Click on images to enlarge. 

At the fence: Leeuwarden Air Base [Ramstein Flag]

Vliegbasis Leeuwarden, or Leeuwarden Air Base, is currently one of the three Main Operating Bases of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht or Royal Netherlands Air Force. As of now Leeuwarden houses 306 squadron flying MQ-9B Reaper unmanned aircraft and 322 squadron operating F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft. 

Visiting 313 Squadron F-35A F-037 taxies towards the runway.

Leeuwarden was host to exercise Ramstein Flag recently. During Ramstein Flag, units from Sweden, Finland, Germany, France and the United States also operated from Leeuwarden. Reason enough for me to pay the base a visit.

Luftwaffe EF-2000 31+45 coming in to land.

EF-2000 30+88 inbound for landing.

A Swedish Air Force JAS-39D Gripen inbound.

The French sent their Rafales, like Rafale B 359. 

USAFE sent some of their F-35's from Lakenheath.

The Fins flew four F/A-18C's from Leeuwarden today.

Last but not least, F-35A F-013 from based 322 Squadron.