TIGERMEET
Tigermeet as you may know is an annual event held at an airbase that has an association with the Tiger as its squadron figure head.This year the Tigermeet association celebrated 50 years of the association.This year i was lucky enough to be able to go to this great event on the 15-15 of May 2011
The hosts for this year were 01/012 based at BA103 Cambrai France with there Mirage 2000 aircraft.
My journey started at Birmingham airport where i was picked up by minibus having previously booked the trip with Globemaster Aviation Tours of SuttonColdfield.The pickup point being the Ibis hotel at the airport.From Birmingham we travelled south to Luton airport via the M1 and again picked up people by a hotel.It was then onto Hatton Cross bus terminal by Heathrow airport.And then it was onto Dover for our crossing via PandO ferries to Calais.From there it was a fairly short journey to Cambrai of 83 miles.We arrived early morning near one of the crash gates and waited for around 40 mins untill the security gates were opened.I must say at this point how very organised the French Air Force were, by the fact they had 4 lanes running.One for us Brits,one for French,one for the Dutch,and lastly any others including Italians.Once on base we were directed to a prime parking spot and deplanned.And the rest of the day was ours to enjoy.
The viewing area was in the form of a long rope line that was within feet of the main peritrack.The aircraft were parked to our left on a very large aircraft pan in all there splender.
This year we had aircraft from many countries and i have provided you with a link so you can see the break down of squadrons etc http://www.natotigers.org/tigermeet/premeet.php?ntmID=50
The action started at just gone 8.15am with starter carts coming to life and engines winding up to idle speed.For me it was the Rafales that caught my ear.They do sound a bit like a Starfighter when spooling up.Over the next hour the first wave of aircraft taxied by and took off to great cheers from the crowd.An hour of so later they returned.I still can picture the scene in my head,which will remain with me for a long time.The colours and effort put by various squadrons was awesome.JBG32/1 from Germany with their Tornado being my favourite.Wave 2 was very much like wave 1 after dinner,but no less exciting.Sadly at 3.30pm it was all over for us and we departed for good old blighty.
My conclusions are if you get the chance please go as you will never forget it.Well maybe the minibus i will forget as my backside is still num.And my spine feels like i have ejected from a Phantom.But for £115 return i will not go on to much.
Images wise i will post a few below.They are not great as the weather was grey with silver clouds.Not good for digital.
Thanks for looking Jim.
Tigermeet as you may know is an annual event held at an airbase that has an association with the Tiger as its squadron figure head.This year the Tigermeet association celebrated 50 years of the association.This year i was lucky enough to be able to go to this great event on the 15-15 of May 2011
The hosts for this year were 01/012 based at BA103 Cambrai France with there Mirage 2000 aircraft.
My journey started at Birmingham airport where i was picked up by minibus having previously booked the trip with Globemaster Aviation Tours of SuttonColdfield.The pickup point being the Ibis hotel at the airport.From Birmingham we travelled south to Luton airport via the M1 and again picked up people by a hotel.It was then onto Hatton Cross bus terminal by Heathrow airport.And then it was onto Dover for our crossing via PandO ferries to Calais.From there it was a fairly short journey to Cambrai of 83 miles.We arrived early morning near one of the crash gates and waited for around 40 mins untill the security gates were opened.I must say at this point how very organised the French Air Force were, by the fact they had 4 lanes running.One for us Brits,one for French,one for the Dutch,and lastly any others including Italians.Once on base we were directed to a prime parking spot and deplanned.And the rest of the day was ours to enjoy.
The viewing area was in the form of a long rope line that was within feet of the main peritrack.The aircraft were parked to our left on a very large aircraft pan in all there splender.
This year we had aircraft from many countries and i have provided you with a link so you can see the break down of squadrons etc http://www.natotigers.org/tigermeet/premeet.php?ntmID=50
The action started at just gone 8.15am with starter carts coming to life and engines winding up to idle speed.For me it was the Rafales that caught my ear.They do sound a bit like a Starfighter when spooling up.Over the next hour the first wave of aircraft taxied by and took off to great cheers from the crowd.An hour of so later they returned.I still can picture the scene in my head,which will remain with me for a long time.The colours and effort put by various squadrons was awesome.JBG32/1 from Germany with their Tornado being my favourite.Wave 2 was very much like wave 1 after dinner,but no less exciting.Sadly at 3.30pm it was all over for us and we departed for good old blighty.
My conclusions are if you get the chance please go as you will never forget it.Well maybe the minibus i will forget as my backside is still num.And my spine feels like i have ejected from a Phantom.But for £115 return i will not go on to much.
Images wise i will post a few below.They are not great as the weather was grey with silver clouds.Not good for digital.
Thanks for looking Jim.
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| The very rare Mirage F1 in spanish service |
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| This is one aircraft that looks good in grey |
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| The brand new Polish F-16C |
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| Note the Polish aircraft have a brake chute.And the new Sniper pod |
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| Polish C-130 ex USAF |
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| Spanish F-18 |
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| A true work of art on this Mirage 2000 |
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| The Gripen |
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| 335 SQN F-16C from Araxos Greece |
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| And the neighbours the Turkish F-16 |
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| JBG 32 Mighty Tornado in all its splender |
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| The Swiss F-18 |
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| The line.Can you see the digital Mig29.Sadly she did not fly the day i visited. |
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| Polish F-16D Block 52 plus.Awesome machine. |
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| The Austrian Saab 105, Great Scheme. |
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| The artwork needs no words.JGB32 Tornado. |
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