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"a winter day at Gilze Rijen"
Wintertime sometimes provides wonderful
opportunities of blanketed airfields, black runways and beautiful clear
skies. The mid-December snow was still there and some of the aviation
photographers were waiting to get a shot at jets and copters in the snow
at their local.
As the skies cleared and the second week of 2010 was underway, an
unexpected invitation arrived to visit 'our local' (Gilze Rijen),
courtesy of the PRO Office and Gilze Rijen Aviation Society. Although
the Met-office predictions spelled overcast, abundant sunshine and clear
blue skies were duly noted as we were greeted at the main gate.
Gilze Rijen Air Base in the south of the Netherlands is home to the
Defense Helicopter Command (DHC), the youngest command of the Royal
Netherlands Air Force. Headed by General Ten Haaf, DHC was erected in
July 2008 and is now the sole operating body of all rotary assets in The
Netherlands, including the former Naval Air Service (MLD) units.
In the past years, Gilze Rijen has undergone a major transformation from
a base operating jets for decades, to almost being closed and after a
complete renovation and expansion, now home to almost sixty helicopters
of various shapes and sizes.
To accommodate a fleet of 11 CH-47D's and 17 Cougars, two new platforms
and adjoining hangars were constructed. The Dutch transport helicopter
fleet, together with the 'Royal flight' of four aging Alouette III's,
moved home in October 2008, enabling the closure of their former home
base, Soesterberg. They joined a fleet of 29 AH-64D's, which called
Gilze Rijen home since their delivery in the late nineties.
With cold weather gear at the ready and spare batteries for our cameras,
almost fifty photographers were ready for an afternoon of helicopters in
the snow.
Thinking of GRAS' latest visit in August last year - 20+ movements, half
of which visiting jets - expectations ran high, too high. The AH-64D's
had had their moments in the morning, a few Cougars to return late in
the afternoon, maybe a single Chinook flight and another one to return
from a trip to Germany. We waited....
And waited for a brand-new Police EC-135 doing some auto-rotations
and mock landings. To warm us up, they decided to do some low level
manoeuvring in front of the small mound upon which we had positioned
ourselves. It was a joy to see. Shortly after, an Alouette III was
rolled out and took off for a local flight. This gave the photographers
ample opportunity to shoot this bird, although it looked like it 'did
not dare to fly in front of a crowd'.
As stories of last year's successes and this year's plans were swapped,
some helicopters returned to the base and flew a small routine in front
of us. Our 'helicopters in the snow' theme began to pan out. Another
Alouette III returned home and so did the two Cougars, kicking up a
cloud of snow and a cold blast of air. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and
were sorry to hear the last helicopter wind down.
As Gilze Rijen prepares itself for the first Air Force Open Day in five
years and for the first time as DHC's main operating base, the PRO
Office and many support staff are in overdrive to present a good
programme enticing both enthusiasts and the public at large. Details of
a photo opportunity and/or spotter event are to be revealed later.
With crews and machines stretched to the limits of their operational
readiness due to the ongoing Afghanistan commitments, it will require a
big effort from all at DHC. However we expect not be let down as DHC
will do anything to show what they have achieved at their new home in
the past few years. Regarded by many as the best tactical demo on this
side of the ocean, the renowned Air Power Demo is definitely something
to look out for at the Open Days on 18 and 19 June at Gilze Rijen.
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