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  Children’s Day 2017 at Don Muang International Airport
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Text:

Chakrit Samithinan

Pictures:

Chakrit Samithinan
   

This year, the demonstration of current aircrafts of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) on Children’s Day took place on Saturday, 14th January 2017 at every air base of the RTAF in Thailand.  The writer attended the demonstrations held at Wing 6 which is directly opposite the second international commercial airport at Don Muang. There was a static display of both present and historic RTAF aircrafts. For the first time on show was the Airbus A-340-500 which the RTAF recently purchased from THAI Airways International. Interestingly, the three Sukhoi Superjets were nowhere to be seen. The aerial demonstration began with a single low pass by an F-16A which originated from Wing 1 in Korat and returned there  immediately thereafter. This was followed by a noisy take-off of a Gripen fighter which proceeded to give a somewhat tame solo demonstration. As the demo pilot was doing his first public display, it was understandable that he would not show any risky aerobatics. Then, the public was witnessing a single fly-past of three Fairchild AU-23 Peacemakers (derived from the Pilatus PC-6 Porter) who were streaming the colors of the Thai flag.

In diesem Jahr fand die Veranstaltung der thailaendischen Luftwaffe zum Tag des Kindes am Samstag, 14. Januar 2017 auf allen Stützpunkten der Luftwaffe in Thailand statt. The Verfasser diese Berichtes besuchte die Vorfuehrungen, die bei Wing 6 auf der anderen Seite des International Flughafens von Don Muang, stattfanden. Der Statik Park zeigte die modernen aber auch die historischen Flugzeuge der Royal Thai Air Force. Zum ersten Mal zeigte sich der von THAI Airways gekaufte Airbus A-340-500. Interessanterweise war aber keiner  der von Russland kuerzlich gekauften Sukhoi Superjets zu sehen. Die Flugvorführungen begann mit einem tiefen und schnellen einmaligen Vorbeiflug einer F-16A, die von Wing 1 (Korat) nach Bangkok flog und gleich wieder den Rückflug antrat. Danach startete die Gripen mit viel Laerm und Rauch, um dann aber eine eher zahme Demonstration dieses neuesten Fighter Jets zum Besten zu geben. Da der Pilot zum ersten Mal eine öffentliche Demonstration flog ist es verständlich, dass er kein Risiko eingehen wollte. Danach folgte der Vorbeiflug von drei Fairchild AU-23 Peacemakers (Pilatus PC-6), die mit Rauch die drei Farben der thailändischen Flagge an den Himmel zogen.

   

The new Airbus A-340-500 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Basler BT-67 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Lockheed C-130H-3 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

   

In the shadow of the C-130 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab 340 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

North Americvan- T-28D Trojan (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

   

North American F-86F Sabre  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Lockheed T-33A T-Bird (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

   

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This was followed by a mock aerial combat between two F-16A and a single F-5E. The last major performance in the morning came from two L-39 aircraft who staged repeated mock bombing attacks on a fictitious target within the airport perimeter. The flying program was interrupted several times in order to give the civilian passenger aircrafts operating in and out of Don Muang International Airport the chance to resume their landing and take-off activities. Unknown to the thousands of people who visited the premises of Wing 6 for these demonstrations, a solo Gripen giving a Children’s Day display at Wing 56 in Hatyai (South Thailand) crashed during its performance and the pilot did unfortunately not survive the crash. It was for this reason that the aerial demonstration program planned in Bangkok for the early afternoon was cancelled as a sign of respect to the fallen pilot. The reason for the crash of the Gripen is not yet known and will not be announced for another month or two. However, the Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang, went on record the next day that this accident, as regrettable as it is, will be no hindrance to future demonstrations taking place in order to show the capability and readiness of the Royal Thai Air Force to the public.

Die nächste Vorfuehrung sah einen “Luftkampf” zwischen zwei F-16A und einem “feindlichen” F-5E. Die letzte grössere Demonstration im Morgenprogramm wurde von zwei L-39 bestritten. Sie griffen merhmals fiktive Ziele auf dem Flughafen-Areal an. Das Flugprogramm wurde immer wieder unterbrochen, sodass die zivilen Verkehrsflugzeuge landen und starten konnten. Niemand, der die Vorfuehrungen bei Wing 6 in Don Muang verfolgte ahnte, dass ebenfalls am Morgen eine Gripen bei der Children’s Day Demonstration bei der Wing 56 in Hatyai abstürzte und der Pilot leider den Tod fand. Dies war auch der Grund, dass die für den Nachmittag vorgesehenen Vorführungen abgesagt wurden, um dem Piloten die letzte Ehre zu erweisen. Die Ursache fuer den tragischen Absturz ist noch nicht bekannt, und es wird anscheinend 1-2 Monate dauern, bis die Hintergruende bekannt gemacht werden. Allerdings gab der Kommandant der thailaendischen Luftwaffe, Air Chief Marshal Johm Rungswang, am nächsten Tag bekannt, dass er trotz diesem tragischen Unfall an weiteren Vorführungen der RTAF Flugzeuge festhalten werde um die Leistungsfähigkeit und Wehrbereitschaft der thailändischen Luftwaffe beim Volk zu demonstrieren.

   

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

   

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Northrop F-5E Tiger  (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

General Dynamics F-16A Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

General Dynamics F-16A Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 

Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Saab JAS 39C Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

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last update 8. February 2017

Written 1. February 2017

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