This year’s Air Tactical Operations Competition of the Royal Thai Air Force took place on December 14, 2018 at the Chandy Firing Range in Lopburi Province, Central Thailand. Representatives of the local press and selected guests were again invited by the RTAF to witness this unique event with transportation from Bangkok provided by the RTAF. This year’s event was presided over by the new Commander of RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Chaiyapruek Tishyasarin, whose appointment took place in October of this year. He will be the Commander- in-Chief for one year only due to his upcoming retirement from active duty in October 2019. Contrary to last year when the wind was so strong that the commander could not arrive by helicopter, C-in-C arrived in a brand new Sikorsky S-92 helicopter accompanied by another brand new S-92 craft.

The Chandy Firing Range (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Air Chief Marshal Chaiyapruek Tishyasarin (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

The Wing Commander  (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Air Chief Marshal Chaiyapruek Tishyasarin (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Participating in this year’s event were four F-16, two JAS-39 Gripen, two T-50, two L-39, two Eurocopter EC725, one Basler Bt-67, one C-130 Hercules and the Centennial F-16 aircraft. The activities were opened by the single Centennial Falcon which made a very low and close afterburner fly-past while dropping a generous amount of flares. Thereafter, two Eurocopter EC-725 from the Medical Evac Team arrived to demonstrate their equipment and to set up an evacuation tent. This was followed by a fly-by of a Basler BT-67 which carried out a water drop und as usual, there was a C-130 Hercules executing a cargo drop.

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

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

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

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

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

Air Defence (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Cargo drop from C-130 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Cargo drop from C-130 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Basler BT-67 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Basler BT-67 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Eurocopter EC-725 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Eurocopter EC-725 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Eurocopter EC-725(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Eurocopter EC-725(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Medical Evac Team (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Medical Evac Team (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The spectators were thereafter treated to some aerial combat maneuvers by two F-16s and a single JAS-39 Gripen. Opening the live firing was an F-16 dropping 4 bombs right on to the target and this was followed by one of the new T-50 aircrafts which dropped 2 bombs with a remarkable accuracy. The next bombing was carried out by a Gripen aircraft, invisible from the ground, which dropped a smart bomb from a rather high altitude exactly on to the target. The accuracy demonstrated by all pilots of the said three aircraft types was astounding, particularly of the T-50, four of which only arrived 11 months ago and showed remarkable abilities, not only with bombs but also with missiles. Concluding the exercises, two L-39 aircrafts repeatedly attacked the target with missiles and board canons.

aerial combat maneuvers (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

aerial combat maneuvers (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

aerial combat maneuvers (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

aerial combat maneuvers (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

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

General Dynamics F-16 Falcon (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

On Target (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Up in Smoke(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

KAI T-50Th (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

On Target (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

Aero L-39 Albatros (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) 

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

The demonstration ended with fly-pasts by two Gripen, four F-16, two T-50 and a very low and fast fly-past by two F-16s arriving from opposite directions, one of which dropped plenty of flares into the countryside. Noteworthy was the total absence of F-5 and Alpha Jet aircrafts. The latter were apparently busy with a goodwill visit to the Royal Singapore Air Force.

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

In closing, the author would like to thank the Royal Thai Air Force for the kind invitation to again attend this year’s event.

last update 20. January 2018

Written 20. January 2018

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