Hopping on its last legs at the time, RAF Tornado ZA472 was a very welcome participant of exercise Frisian Flag 2017 at Leeuwarden. The aircraft is devoid of markings, bar code 031 which was given to the entire Tornado fleet for easier identification. It is seen here taking off for home after the exercise had finished.

Arriving after completing yet another series of touch and goes was this JASDF C-1A. A great base to photograph at.

C-1 402Hikotai just lifting off to start it's air display

A Golden Hour arrival of a pair of Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s at the tanker. The picture was made during Operation Unified Protector (OUP), a NATO-led operation to protect Libyan civilians against the civil war. A picture of 031 was only possible in nearly 100% backlight. The Tonka is carrying three Dual Mode Seeker (DMS) Brimstone missiles underneath the fuselage, as well as a Litening III RD targeting pod. The aircraft just dropped some Paveway IVs during its mission as these station were empty.

Stored in its original US Navy markings. Delivered to the US Navy as SNB-2C 67212 in 1944, later converted to an SNB-3 then to an SNB-5 around 1953. Redesignated as a UC-45J in 1962. To the US Department of Agriculture as N40092 in 1974 and stored at Douglas-Bisbee,AZ. Cancelled in 1977. To Coolidge AZ by 1990 then to the Confederate Air Force at Mesa in 1996. Had tail section and engines fitted by 2019.

Returning as a 'two ship' runway 05