|
Text: |
Michael E. Fader |
|
Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Michael E. Fader |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Wings-Aviation reports not the first time about Children's Day in Thailand, but this year 2024 or 2567 according to the Buddhist calendar used in Thailand, was a little different. The foundations for the difficulties with Children's Day were laid a year ago. Back then, Children's Day, which was to take place at RTAFB Don Muang near Bangkok, was moved to RTAFB Kampang Saen, around 100 kilometres away.
Don Muang IAP is the second international airport in Bangkok, so in the past the air shows had to be organised in a rather unusual way The air force demonstrations had to be combined into several time slots. During the breaks, the civilian aircraft could then take off and land until there was another time slot for the Royal Thai Air Force demonstrations. The airlines were increasingly displeased with these interruptions to the regular air traffic at the international airport. This led to demands that the Children's Day no longer be held at Don Muang for organisational reasons. For this reason, it was moved to RTAFB Kampang Saen in 2023. In 2024, the Air Force wanted to organise Children's Day at RTAFB Don Muang again.
However, the flight programme was no longer feasible in its previous form. The pressure from the airlines was too great, so a compromise was sought and found. The flight programme was drastically reduced and only one General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon and three Fairchild AU-23A Peacemakers were making single flights. There were no landings at all as this hindered normal air traffic. However, there was also the usual static display.
Of course, this was not an attractive programme for the team of authors, so we decided to visit the children's day at the RTAFB Takhli base, which is around 200 km from Bangkok As National Children's Day is held on the same day throughout Thailand, that means at all air force bases, it was quite easy to make this switch.
Static
The static exhibition was divided into two areas. The first area included museum aircraft that are no longer in service. On display here were an RFB Fantainer 400, North American OV-10C Bronco, IAI Arava, Aero L-39ZA Albatross and a Gates Learjet. With the exception of the OV-10C Bronco, all the aircraft were once in service with the 4 Wing at RTAFB Takhli.
The second part of the static display included the three aircraft types currently stationed at RTAFB Takhli. A KAI T-50Th Golden Eagle of 401 Squadron, a Diamond DA-42MMP of 402 Squadron and a General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon of 403 Squadron. A big surprise was a Diamond DA-42 Dominator drone of the 302 Squadron of the 3rd Wing that was shown. The Diamond DA-42 Dominator was only introduced to the RTAF in September 2023. So far, the RTAF is said to have only three aircraft.
RFB Fantainer 400(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
North American OV-10C Bronco (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Gates Leartjet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
KAI T-50Th Golden Eagle (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
IAI 201 Arava (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Diamond DA-42 Dominator (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Diamond DA-42 Dominator (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Diamond DA-42 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16A Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
The Flightprogramm
Anyone expecting an air show of European or international standard was disappointed. Three General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcons, a KAI T.50 Golden Eagle and a Diamond DA-42 were made ready for take-off. As the National Children's Day was taking place throughout Thailand, some of the aircraft had to fly over to other airports. Afterwards the aircraft came back and showed their skills over the base. However, these were normal fighter pilots who were not able or not allowed to fly a show programme, so only a few overflights were actually made. The biggest difference was the fact that the aircraft flew directly over the audience, a practice that would be unthinkable in Europe.
Another difference to Europe is the fact that people don't crowd the flight line. It is simply too hot. The spectators only come to the barrier when the machines roll past, otherwise they sit under trees or under the machines on display. The heat is also taken into account in other ways. The first flyovers take place at 8.00 am and the last at 1.00 pm. After that, the event is over and the spectators quickly go home.
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
The Flightline (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
The Flightline (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamis F-16B Fighting Falcon (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Diamond DA-42 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Children
The aim is to give children the opportunity to have fun and raise awareness of their important role in the country's development. There is a Thai proverb that says: "Children are the future of the nation, if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous." Therefore, many games and competitions take place on the base. The children were given a kind of "passport" on which their visits to several stations were documented. At the stations, the children were able to make or paint aeroplanes, get free food, take photos and find out about the RTAF's equipment. This also included weapons and ammunition of all kinds. The children were given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the air force in a fun way. Particularly popular were the pilots who went to the children before each flight to sign autographs or pose for photos.
All in all, the goal was achieved on this January day 2024 and the children were able to gain an impression of the air force. Like many others, we left the base shortly after midday.
