27th September 2024: F16 Farewell - Volkel airbase
The 27th of September 2024 the RNLAF organised a large (national) F16 farewell ceremony. This day a total of 8 F16's of 312sq flew their final official RNLAF operational mission. 312sq will transfer to the F35 like its sister Volkel based 313sq. On base a large (VIP) area was reserved; next to the F16 flightline. A livestream could be followed online and was displayed in the VIP area tent following all ceremonies and stories. The 8 F16's were accompanied by a Belgian F16B with RNLAF photographer Cristian Schrik in the beackseat (at this moment the RNLAF had no dual seats in its inventory anymore). This formation would make fly bys on all F16 related locations in the Netherlands.
Special F16 Farewell tail depicting all F16 squadrons, 45 years service and all operational combat theatres.
Unfortunately due to the (authentic Dutch) weather some locations were cancelled - disappointing many crowds onsite those locations. All over Holland people gathered on these loactions. Especially on Volkel airbase the crowds outside the base were huge - resulting in traffic jams, accidents and closed motorways.
The formation was visible on ADSB; the F16's together would form the sentence 'Final Viper Flight 312 Sons Of Bonzo' (Sons of Bonzo is the 312sq nickname).
As can be seen on the right the formation had to cancel several locations in the North/ West due to very bad weather moving in from the West. The formation arrived in light rainy weather - as can be seen on the photographs below.
During the day 2 pairs of 313sq F35's flew sorties, in the morning they even performed a cool dogfight overhead the airbase. Well at least the F16 successor doesn't make less noise! Although we're gonna miss seeing the large afterburner flame...
