Koksijde 1990's
Airshow 1990 : 7 - 8 July 1990
The highlight of the static display was undoubtedly the huge USAF B-1B
bomber coming from Ellsworth AFB. The Portuguese Air Force had send
2 G-91 Gina's over to Koksijde for the last time before they were retired
in 1993, so very welcome visitors to the show. New on the storage compound
were the cocooned Mirage V's awaiting to be upgraded and sold to Chile.
Though there was one very colourful Mirage V in the static display:
BR15, to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of 42 Squadron (Mephisto). For
the flying display, the most well-known European display teams came
to Koksijde: Patrulla Aguila, Red Arrows, Patrouille de France and Frecce
Tricolori. There were 2 remarkable solo displays as well: an RAF Alconbury
A-10 and a RAF Coningsby Phantom FGR.2!
Airshow 1991 : 6 - 7 July 1991
For the second year in a row there was an Ellsworth AFB based B-1B
in the static display!! Some more USAF aircraft could be found in the
static display: a KC-135, a West Virginia Air National Guard C-130 and
2 RAF Woodbridge based A-10's. Prior to the airshow, the international
SAR-meet was being organised by the 40th Sqn. Most of the units stayed
during the weekend for the airshow so a nice line-up of SAR helicopters
could be made. Germany sent a former East Germany Mi-8T based in Brandenburg-Briest,
now used for SAR. Other special SAR helicopters were a Spanish AS.332B
Super Puma and a RAF Wessex HC.2.
Airshow 1992 : 4 - 5 July 1992
The airshow in 1992 will always be remembered as the US Navy airshow
in Koksijde. The USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) was cruising in the mediterranean
sea and one of each aircraft type came to the airshow. There was a VF-74
F-14B Tomcat, a VFA-81 F/A-18C Hornet, a VA-35 A-6E intruder, a VAQ-132
EA-6B Prowler and a VS-30 S-3B Viking! The USAFE came with 2 Upper Heyford
based F-111E's, one for static display, and the other one performed
an awesome demonstration!! The portugese Air Force presented their A-7
Corsair II on the ground as well as in the air. The RAF came to Koksijde
with their mighty Buccaneer for the very last time before being retired
in 1993.
Airshow 1993 : 3 - 4 July 1993
Because of the fall of the iron curtain, more and more Soviet countries
came to western European airshows. In 1993 we saw the invasion of the
Czech Air Force on Koksijde airshow. Not less than 9 Czech Air Force
planes were on the airshow and one Czech AN-12 came as support. One
Mig 29 Fulcrum, one SU-25 Frogfoot, one L-39 and a pair of Mi-24’s
participated in the flying display. Germany participated with a very
special HFB.320ECM Hansa Jet and a Mi-8T in a nice blue livery. The
Royal Air Force brought the mighty Victor for the last time to Koksijde.
This was the last type of the V-force still in use in the Royal Air
Force and the last Victor was retired in October 1993. And the Belgian
Air Force said goodbye to the Mirage V with a 4-ship demonstration.
Airshow 1994 : 2 - 3 July 1994
The Royal Netherlands Air Force showed off with their new SAR helicopter,
the AB-412SP that replaced the Alouette III. Now that most of the stored
F-104’s were gone, there was room for some extra 104’s.
The Italian Air Force brought 2 Cameri based F-104S-ASA for static display.
Patrouille Suisse flew at Koksijde for the last time with their 6 Hawker
Hunters before transferring to the F-5E Tiger. A team that came for
the first time to Koksijde was the Swedish Team 60 flying with 6 Saab
105’s. The Swedish Air Force also brought 3 Saab Viggens to Koksijde
as well as a Beech 200 and Saab 105 for static display. Another breathtaking
solo display was the display of a Spangdahlem based F-15C.
Airshow 1995 : 1 - 2 July 1995
The highlights of the static display were undoubtedly two Turkish F-4E’s
based at Eskisehir. A very rare solo display came from the French Navy
with a F-8A Crusader. On Saturday there was a surprise display of a
USAF F-117A Stealth fighter, based in Holloman. Unfortunately they did
not land at Koksijde and they did a display at Volkel airshow that day
as well.
Airshow 1996 : 6 - 7 July 1996
The Belgian Air Force Falcon 900B which was acquired in 1995 was presented
to the Belgian people for the first time. On Friday a Polish AN26 together
with 2 TS.11 Iskra’s arrived in Koksijde. One of the Iskra’s
continued to Bruntingthorpe in the UK. The landing at Koksijde was the
final touchdown of the aircraft as the airframe continued via the road
to the Brussels Air Museum. This year the Slovak Air Force came for
the first time to Koksijde. They came with 2 Mig 29’s and an AN26
support aircraft. One of the Mig 29’s displayed during the airshow.
Other highlights were a French Navy Etendard IV doing a solo display
as well as 2 Swedish Air Force Saab Drakens of which one was doing a
solo demonstration. No airshows without stunt teams, and this year there
was a very special team. Not less than the famous USAF Thunderbirds
performed at the Koksijde airshow for the first time. They operated
from the USAF base in Chiévres.
Airshow 1997 : 5 - 6 July 1997
Due to the bad runway surface no fighter jets could land at Koksijde
anymore. So the famous European airshow had lost part of its glory…
Fortunately there were still many other interesting things to see at
the airshow. In the static display we had a Mildenhall based MC-130P
and MH-53 both used for Special Operations. The Canadian Air Force sent
a CP-140 Aurora for the static display. In the flying display there
was a very special helicopter demonstration. One of the based Sea King’s
airlifted a bus, while an Ostend based MI-26 lifted a truck! Furthermore
the Italian Frecce Tricolori, the French Patrouille de France and the
British Red Arrows performed as well.
Airshow 1998 : 4 - 5 July 1998
After runway repairs in 1997, fighter jets could land again at Koksijde
for the annual airshow. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the F-16
in the Belgian Air Force, solo display aircraft FA67 was painted in
a stunning white scheme. The F-16 got the name “The White Falcon”
but the scheme only lasted for a couple of months as later that year
FA67 was being upgraded to MLU standard in SABCA thus losing its beautiful
paint scheme. To participate in the Nato Tigermeet, FA71 was painted
in a magnificent tiger scheme! It was being put in the static display
next to two Italian F-104S-ASA starfighters. To see an aircraft overview,
click here.
Navydays Zeebrugge 1999 : 17 - 18 July 1999
Every year the Belgian Naval base in Zeebrugge opens its doors to the
big public. Traditionally some helicopters are in a static display and
this year was no exception. There were 2 A.109’s in the static
display as well as a Belgian Navy Alouette III and a Belgian Seaking.
On several ships there were some helicopters on their helicopter deck.
There was a Portuguese Navy Lynx, a Canadian CH-124 Seaking, and a US
Navy SH-60B Seahawk. To see an aircraft overview, click
here.
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