Scramble Magazine — August 2017

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Scramble 459

Because of our standardization we sometimes use type, unit

and serial presentations that may strongly differ from those

used by the manufacturer or user. It is therefore possible that

the information sent by you can deviate from the informa-

tion we publish.

Europe

Netherlands

Koninklijke Luchtmacht (AF)

Since 1 July 2017 four Leeuwarden based F-16AMs have

been assigned to the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force

(VJTF), a new intervention project from NATO as part of their

Responce Force (NRF). Purpose for the NRF is deployment,

where ever in the world between five and thirty days after

the call to go has been made by NATO. Next to four F-16s from

Leeuwarden, Volkel will be second in line for providing staff

and hardware in case needed. Next to the F-16s, the Dutch-

German Army collaboration, Navy Frigate + NH90-NFH,

Minesweeping vessle and one submarine are placed in the

NRF, awaiting their call for action.

PC-7
L-01 131EMVOsq ex Pilatus 583 jul17
L-07 Pilatus 131EMVOsq 544 jul17
L-11 Pilatus 131EMVOsq 610 jul17

On 19 July 2017 L-01 was re-delivered to the RNLAF and

131EMVOsq at Woensdrecht as first MLU-upgraded PC-7. This

trainer has spend some time in Switzerland with Pilatus as

she left Woensdrecht 5 May 2016. In between the glass cockpit

installation, upgrade certification and validation process

took place and passed all checkboxes. The following upgrade

candidates arrived on 7 July 2017, being L-07 and L-11. These

two will be the first to take the fastlane modification path

and will stay three months will Pilatus in Stans-Buochs prior

to re-delivery to the Netherlands Air Force. During their stay,

mainly for the testflying part, the airplanes will follow L-01

and will appear in the unmarked 131EMVOsq colours and use

their construction numbers as temporary registration. Prior

to their arrival at Woensdrecht, the normal L-xx registration

will return.

F-16AM

J-873 DMO/LWD ex DMO/Volkel Wing 6D-90 jul17

Another F-16AM found its way into Leeuwarden for tran-

sition towards Jordan. On 6 July 2017 tonedown 323sq mks

marked J-873 arrived for completion prior to the RJAF trans-

fer, later this year. At this moment the following six F-16s are

known to be readied for hand-over: J-145, J-199, J-208, J-870,

J-873 and J-884.

Defensie Helikopter Commando [AF]

NH90-NFH

N-324 860sq ex o/b F831 1324 jun17

N-325 o/b P841 860sq 1325 jul17

During the celebration of the Navy Days and the Veterans

Day flightpast on 24 June 2017 a third NH90 left De Kooy for

warmer areas. N-325 embarked OPV HNLMS Zeeland (P841)

for the Q2 Caribbean deployment in 2017. HNLMS Van Amstel

(F831) returned 16 June from the Q1 deployment in the West,

the on board NH90 N-324 returned 15 June 2017.

Belgium

Luchtcomponent/Composante Air/Air Component [AF]

The Belgian Air Force suffered minor problems following

their complete C-130H-fleet grounding in June and first

week of July 2017. Reason for the grounding was multiple

occurrences of flight control dissimilarities on a number of

C-130Hs. After evaluation by Lockheed Martin and SABCA

repairs were made and malfunctioning parts were replaced.

The only known problem in this period was a cancelled evac-

uation of Belgian residents from Congo as the Gabon based

C-130H was also affected by the grounding.

You might have missed it however the long-term park resi-

dents, the two former 20sq A310s are (finally) scrapped by

the time this Scramble reaches you. Since October 2009 both

white A310s have been parked near the SABENA hangars,

CA01 had a short revival back to airworthiness between

December 2009 and November 2010 when the hired A330 had

severe problems and since then most time was spend waiting

Military News & Updates

Nice study of NH90 N233 performing during the Heli Days in the harbour of Den Helder on 24 June 2017. A huge 100 year MLD anniversary sticker

is applied for the occasion. (Sander Meijering)