Queen's day 2004

The 30th of April is a national day to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix. Every year, the Royal Family pay a visit to a village and/or a city. This year, the Queen and her family visited Warffum and Groningen. Several helicopters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force were used to transport the Royal Family. The Royal Family arrived early in the morning at Groningen Airport Eelde with a Fokker F-70, the PH-KBX. At the airport, four Alouette III's (1 spare) and one Cougar of the Tactical Helicopter Group of the Royal Netherlands Air Force were waiting their for the family for further transportation to Warffum.

Instead of 22 people running behind a football, three SE.3160 Alouette III's and one AS.532U-2 Cougar could be seen at the soccerfield of Warffum. The A-301 is seen here, on the background you can see the A-292. Clearly vissible are the orange tinted cockpit windows.

SE.3160 Alouette III, A-247, is assigned to 300 Squadron and is seen here with (temporary) extra boarding stairs and orange tinted cokpit windows. The Alouette III's are still in use for transportation of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and other members of the Royal Family.

Alouette III, A-292, also carries extra boarding stairs. but it was the only one in Warffum whithout the orange tinted cockpit windows.

SE.3160 Alouette III, A-301, actually flew in Her Majesty Queen Beatrix

AS.532U-2 Cougar, S-433, also from 300 Squadron, is seen here on a soccer field.