25/04/2016
Two weeks of military spotter heaven around Leeuwarden airbase. An insight and a portrait.
For many years now the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) organises a large scale aerial exercise called ‘Frisian Flag’. NATO pilots and crews bring their aircraft and equipment to the airbase in the province of Friesland, home of the 322 squadron operating the F-16AM and –BM.
Since NATO forces comprises of a lot of different countries, using a variety of different aircraft and systems, a coalition force in conflicts will make them work together. Therefore it makes a lot of sense to train to work together with all these different systems, disciplines and machines.
Because of the airbase’s location Frisian Flag has become a very successful exercise featuring Fighting Falcons, Mirages, Eurofighters, Tornado’s, Hornets, Falcon 20’s, a Hercules… Past editions even saw the mighty Tomcat, and now for the second year because of the tensions between the West and Russia the USAF sent over some F-15C and-D Eagles over from Air National Guard units in the United States for what they call ‘Theatre Security Package’. The Americans combine their show of force in Europe with Frisian Flag because it gives a great extra training for the personnel.
For the hard core military aviation enthusiast like aircraft spotters, it’s heaven at the base because of the heavy activity going on daily, and because of aircraft they don’t get to see very often. For two weeks the areas around the fences are teeming with them trying to get their fix. In a ‘Frisian Flag Fever’ the Aviation Group Leeuwarden (AGL) and the RNLAF combined forces to coordinate the hundreds of spectators a day . There are many great spots to watch and document flying activity going on and some complaints have risen in previous editions like traffic jams, spotters going in to unauthorised farmlands and turning the barb wire of the fence to then stick the lenses through.
A strict policy has been maintained by AGL volunteers and enforced by Military Police, and facilities organised like porto potties, parking space in a farmland and a snack truck at both ends of the main runway.
But what is so special about this military exercise that so many plane crazies come over to Leeuwarden? For an insight on this ‘Frisian Flag Fever’ we’ve interviewed local spotter Django Bruinink.
Employed in a meat processing plant, 23 year old Django got in touch with the air force as a child since his father worked at Leeuwarden AB. He is now Commander at the Air Force detachment at the Vliehors range. Django loves military aviation and is doing something with it every day, checking movements of planes and taking photos of jets in his free time. It is an interest that just doesn’t go away.
But as far as aircraft spotting goes he likes to focus on photography, trying to get the most out of his options presented and get the best images possible. This peaks during busy times like the annual Frisian Flag exercise and when he goes to international air shows and the like.
“I think it’s a mighty happening to see the technological advanced aircraft in action. The brute force of the afterburners, the speed of them and the heavy manoeuvring… It gives me an adrenaline kick every time! It really is a cool hobby!”
His spotter heart beats quicker during high activity like Frisian Flag, but not only because of NATO’s heavy metal flying around, also because of the great atmosphere of people at the fences. “We all have the same hobby and spirits are high. Spotters come from all over Europe and everybody talks about it to one another. It’s a lot of fun during the quiet hours too because of that. I’ve spoken to spotters from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UK even from Switzerland. I’ve met up with a guy from Belgium in particular whom I’ve had regular contact with online. It’s great to then meet in person doing what we love. It really brings us together.”
