Trip to Soesterberg AFB

Kaasjager. · by **Kaasjager.** » 08 Nov 2008, 15:09

Hey fellow F-16.net'ers. Recently my school (aviation engineering college) got a F-16. But it was pretty much a hollow shell. So me, some fellow students and teachers went to Soesterberg AFB. The RNLAF F-16 disassembly crew is stationed there and we could get parts out of the disassembled F-16's there. Here are some photo's i made there.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 08 Nov 2008, 16:09

Surprised you could get that close, and with a camera no less.

Gotta admit, the tail-art is b-e-a-utiful, the Europeans sure know how to make a Viper pretty

Kaasjager. · by **Kaasjager.** » 08 Nov 2008, 16:34

Got that close? Lol to a F-16 that will go to a museum and disassembled F-16's? But yeah I guess the RNLAF isn't as anal about security as the USAF.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 08 Nov 2008, 16:48

whoa whoa, I didn't see anything about it going to any museum, just saying that it was surprising...By no way do I mean to say that European Air Forces are lax on security, but I was unaware of the disposition of this particular Viper.

I've never had an opportunity to peek inside a Viper, so I didn't realize that the gun had been removed until I looked closer.

I do believe that NATO membership allows some sensitive things to be included in the aircraft.

And the USAF is not 'anal' about anything, the word you're looking for is 'security conscious.'

Kaasjager. · by **Kaasjager.** » 08 Nov 2008, 17:06

ptplauthor wrote:whoa whoa, I didn't see anything about it going to any museum, just saying that it was surprising...By no way do I mean to say that European Air Forces are lax on security, but I was unaware of the disposition of this particular Viper.

Haha, you should read the description of the pictures :wink:

ptplauthor wrote:And the USAF is not 'anal' about anything, the word you're looking for is 'security conscious.'

In other words. They are anal. :lol:

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 08 Nov 2008, 17:26

sorry, computer problems--didn't see the third pic--my sincerest apologies.

the RNLAF would be anal, too if they were the direct victims of a terrorist attack, not to mention safeguarding Western Europe from the Reds for nearly fifty years.

I don't know what you personally think of Americans, but rest assured, I am not one of the arrogant stereotypical bullheaded Americans people hear about all the time. Being on this forum, and to a lesser extent--prior to joining--I understand the concept of Operational Security.

Honestly, they are great pics, :thumb:

what kind of camera did you use?

Kaasjager. · by **Kaasjager.** » 08 Nov 2008, 18:14

ptplauthor wrote:sorry, computer problems--didn't see the third pic--my sincerest apologies.

No problem mate.

ptplauthor wrote:the RNLAF would be anal, too if they were the direct victims of a terrorist attack, not to mention safeguarding Western Europe from the Reds for nearly fifty years.

Uhm, you think we never had to deal with terrorism? The US isn't the first country ever to have a terrorist attack, the British for example had loads with the IRA. And you do know the Netherlands is in Western Europe and we stood next to you guys safeguarding Europe and our own home country? I thank the US for standing by us, but please don't try and say it was you guys alone because that would be an insult for the 3 generations of people here that joined our military and stood guard together with you.

ptplauthor wrote:I don't know what you personally think of Americans, but rest assured, I am not one of the arrogant stereotypical bullheaded Americans people hear about all the time. Being on this forum, and to a lesser extent--prior to joining--I understand the concept of Operational Security.

I like Americans just as much as all other people, I never base my opinion based on race or country but rather on the person. And I understand OPSEC too, you would never catch me posting a pic of the radar system or any other OPSEC item.

ptplauthor wrote:Honestly, they are great pics, what kind of camera did you use?

Thanks

I use a Casio EX-Z100 10.1Mp camera. Just a simple point and shoot camera but still capable of great shots.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 08 Nov 2008, 18:24

never used a Cas' I'm partial to the Canon EOS (my unc's a professional photog, and so I gets a lotta practice.

Is the funky tailfin for the Squadron commander like on our Navy birds?

Glad to hear you won't be screwing both our nations' fighter-drivers over, there are some things that prolly could be learned by some nogoodniks if they knew where to look...we just gotta play our cards close to the vest.

Very cool that you were able to get that close, the closest I've ever gotten to a Viper was when I was at the fence gawking at a finger-four takeoff for a flyover over Lambeau.

Kaasjager. · by **Kaasjager.** » 08 Nov 2008, 18:36

ptplauthor wrote:never used a Cas' I'm partial to the Canon EOS (my unc's a professional photog, and so I gets a lotta practice.

The EOS is a bit out of my reach financially, the Casio cost me around 300 USD

ptplauthor wrote:Is the funky tailfin for the Squadron commander like on our Navy birds

Dutch viper drives don't get their own bird only the crewdawgs get their own planes. If the pilot is lucky a crewchief will let him put his name on the bird. But i'll probably cost him several bottles of liquor. :lol:

No the special tales are just applied on birds that are scheduled to go to a airshow or exercise. Or they just think of a cool tail, get it approved and put it on the next bird that goes to the paint shop.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 08 Nov 2008, 18:42

Yeah the EOS is waaaaaaaaay to expensive for someone like me who's outta work, but I get to play with my uncle's nonetheless.

The Navy puts the special tail art on the Squadron commander's bird but its up to the squadron to determine what the artwork is--and it is prolly removed during a war-scenario

Here's am example of what an F-14 squad-leader bird looks like... halfway down the page

http://www.wingweb.co.uk/aircraft/The_G ... omcat.html

Airfan · by **Airfan** » 09 Nov 2008, 00:10

A bit away of the topic - what do you use for painting the tails that can be so easily removed? We plan doing this to one of our jets.

vipermagic · by **vipermagic** » 05 Jan 2009, 18:41

Just real paint...

the f-16`s are painted with regular airplane paint, but don`t give `em a wax coating....it gives a bit of a big radar blimp

but don`t you guys have your owm paintshop? the RNLAF does...

Kaasjager, nice photo`s

I think i`ve got exacly the same hahaha and my goodness, it was cold that day...my nuts almost froze off....

TC · by TC » 10 Jan 2009, 23:32

Great pics! Soesterberg would've been an awesome assignment! I once asked Pops why we didn't go there. He replied, "Because everyone else and their grandmother on F-15s wanted to go to CR too!" :lol:

We closed too many of the wrong USAFE bases, and left open some that should've closed (Spang, anyone?).

F16NDI · by **F16NDI** » 11 Jan 2009, 02:10

TC, Don't get me started on Spang I spent four yrs there and loved it went back in 2006 TDY with my Reserve unit and hardly recognize the place

TC · by TC » 11 Jan 2009, 03:36

Glad the jet we picked up at Spang early last year was pre-loaded, and pre-fueled. Apart from a couple of bottles of wine I bought there, I was definitely ready to just pull up to the flightline, and pull chocks! I love Ramstein, but Spang's an armpit.