Airshows

COOL VIDEO SHOWS ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE F-35s “GOING BALLISTIC” AFTER TAKE-OFF

The video was taken during RNlAF Open Days 2016 airshow, held at Leeuwarden Air Base Jun. 10-11, 2016

Brought to my attention by Melanie Belz, a reader of The Aviation Geek Club, the gorgeous footage in this post shows two Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force, RNlAF) F-35As (actually the first two Dutch F-35A aircraft, AN-1 (F-001) and AN-2 (F-002)) going vertical immediately after take-off.

Noteworthy the video was taken during RNlAF Open Days 2016 airshow, held at Leeuwarden Air Base Jun. 10-11, 2016.

This event marked the first European airshow to debut the F-35A Lightning II.

However the F-35’s visit to the Netherlands was not limited to RNlAF Open Days 2016.

Since landing at Leeuwarden Air Base on May 23, 2016 in fact, the jets have conducted successful aerial and ground environmental noise tests, and performed a scenic flight for selected media over the North Sea range. In addition, hundreds of local community members, officials, and RNLAF personnel have had the opportunity to visit Leeuwarden to see the jet up close, learn more about the program from program experts, and even “fly”the cockpit demonstrator.

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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