International Airshow Eelde 2005

Early in the morning, dark clouds were gathering over Groningen Airport Eelde on Saturday 27th August 2005. Fortunately, only a few raindrops felt down that day and sometimes the sun came behind the clouds. It was the first airshow at Groningen Airport Eelde since 1992 and it seems to be a successful event afterwards. A variety of participants (civil as well as military) and enough visitors that came to Eelde to watch the show. This prevented the organization from a financial disaster (which happened in the past). A lot of warbirds could been seen during the airshow. The highlight of the day (for most of the people) was the demonstration of the Breitling Jet Team. Other welcome participants were e.g. the Catalina, Sea Vixen, Hunter, Vampire, Sabre, Bearcat and the Tigercat. Compliments must be made to the organization and the volunteers for making this show possible! Let's hope that their will be another airshow in the future at Groningen Airport Eelde.

It almost looks threatening; dark clouds above the flightline at Eelde. On the photograph you can see a part of the flightline where team 'Fokker Four' with four Fokker S.11-1 Instructors and a couple of Harvards are waiting for the pilots. If you look closely, you can see two Mustangs behind the Harvards.

'Lifeliner Europa 4' is based on a helipad on the rooftop of the Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG). The MMT (Mobile Medical Team) operates this Eurocopter EC-135P2. They normally refuel at GA Eelde because there are no refueling facilities on the rooftop. The D-HSAN is seen here parked on the static, but the team was still on stand-by, so if their help was needed somewhere they would depart as soon as possible. The MMT normally operates with the helicopter from seven o'clock in the morning until seven o'clock in the evening, seven days a week (depending on the weather).

Three Mustangs were present during the airshow, one of them is this P-51D Mustang with serial G-HAEC (as USAAF 472218/WZ-I and named 'Big Beautiful Doll') is seen here returning to the flightline after it's display. The Mustang is owned and flown by Rob Davies.

The Old Flying Machine Company came to Groningen Airport Eelde with some of their aircraft. One of them was this P-51D-25-NA Mustang, flown by Nigel Lamb. This Mustang, serial G-BTCD (413704/B7-H 'Ferocious Frankie', USAAF, 374 FG) flew the display together with a Spitfire (the G-ASJV, that also belongs to the OFMC).

Another nice visitor at Eelde; The Fighter Collection owns this FG-1D Corsair 'KD345/A-130', registrated as G-FGID. Another aircraft from The Fighter Collection was present during the airshow; a F-8F-2P Bearcat (G-RUMM).

FWP-149, serial D-EIFE, belongs to the ' Seagull Formation' and is based at Hoogeveen. It is seen here after the display, on it's way to the pump for refueling.

AT-16ND Harvard, PH-MLM/B-71, belongs to the Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht, based at Gilze-Rijen AB.