Leeuwarden Air Base hosted the major international exercise Frisian Flag 2019 from 1 to 12 April. Some 50 (fighter) aircraft trained large and complex international missions from the airbase.
American, Polish and Dutch pilots fly the F-16. Germans participate with the Eurofighter, French with the Mirage and Swiss with the F-18 Hornet (departed 9 April). From United Kingdom a Gobham Dassault Falcon 20, is used to interfere with the communication with the fighters. This makes their operations extra difficult. In addition, a number of air defense systems should help to make the scenarios as realistic as possible.
Airspace
The exercise takes place not only in the Dutch airspace, but also in that of Germany and Denmark. This requires close cooperation between the airspace control authorities of the three countries. Combat control is in the hands of the Dutch and German Control and Reporting Centre (CRC). An Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) reconnaissance aircraft from Geilenkirchen also contributes to this.
Air-to-air refuelling
Frisian Flag is in combination with the tanker exercise ‘EART’. Germany, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States supplied tanker aircraft. They were temporarily stationed at Eindhoven Air Base.
EF2000 31+33 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 31+41 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 31+45 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 31+46 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000T 31+28 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000T 31+28 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 TLG 31 German Air Force 
F-16AM J-001 nn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-008 313sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-017 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-020 322sqn and J-063 313sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-020 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-061 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-063 313sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-135 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-144 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-146 312sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-197 311sqn/315sqn and J-512 nn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-201 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-362 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-512 nn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-624 nn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-631 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-646 nn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM J-871 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16AM Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16BM J-065 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
F-16BM J-065 322sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force 
Spotters Frisian Flag 2019, Leeuwarden AB Netherlands 
F-16C 4051 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16C 4053 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16C 4054 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16C 4061 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16C 4073 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16D 4076 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16D 4076 31.Blt Polish Air Force 
F-16CM 90-0831 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 91-0349 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 91-0405 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 91-0406 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 91-0409 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 91-0410 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 96-0081 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
F-16CM 96-0082 179FS/148FW Minnesota ANG 
Mirage 2000D and F-16 
Mirage 2000D 680/3-XM and 635/3-AS EC03.003 French Air Force 
Mirage 2000D 635/3-AS EC03.003 French Air Force 
Mirage 2000D 635/3-AS EC03.003 French Air Force 
Mirage 2000D 677/3-JT EC02.003 French Air Force 
Mirage 2000D 680,3-XM EC03.003 French Air Force 
Dassault Falcon 20DC G-FRAJ Cobham 
Dassault Falcon 20DC G-FRAJ Cobham 
EF2000 30+74 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 30+82 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 30+98 TLG 31 German Air Force 
EF2000 31+05 TLG 31 German Air Force 
Dassault Falcon 20DC G-FRAJ Cobham
Before we made this photo session, the Swiss F/A-18 Hornets had left.
All photos Rob Vogelaar www.zap16.com
