Very nice to hear that the Spanish EF2000T's are staying until the end. First time they visit Florennes. Great edition, the TLP is such a great exercise. Terrible it's leaving Florennes next year. Good reason to go and enjoy!
(notes: although the day began with a heavy thunderstorm crossing my home village, I took the chance and joined the tour of two fellow plane spotters to Florennes. Grey skys and hazy horizons obvserved during the journey did not look like promising a successful day. Beginning to loose all hope for a TLP mission I just hoped for some additional fighter aircraft arriving for the last two weeks of the TLP flying course and some support aircraft.
However, after passing a “road-running” special coloured Belgian Army A.109 on the highway E411, the weather improved nicely and the sun finally appeared just when reaching the famous TLP airbase. Even more delighting was the sight of two Turkish C-160s parked on the transient aircraft ramp - and both examples really departed soon after setteling myself on my favourite spoting place. This was followed by the surprising arrival of two additional L-159s and - even better - by three Czech JAS 39s supported by an well-known An-26.
Amazingly, activity on the TLP ramp began quite early, with the first TLP participating aircraft starting their engines before midday. And indeed, an impressive mass-launch of all 21 scheduled participating aircraft took place. This included the deserved additional Spanish Eurofighters and the ECM Falcon, all four Spanish EF-18s, both French Rafales and the two Turkish F-4s featuring a new example for me.
As if this was not enough, two additional Italian F-16s and their supporting C-130 arrived after the TLP launch, followed by the departure of two L-159s, including a changed airframe. The welcome and very enjoyable TLP recoveries were followed by the departure of the NATO E-3 and the arrival of the Spanish CN.295 for the slow-mover mission scheduled for the next week. Finally, we were lucky enough to observe the arrival of an additional Spanish Eurofigther before leaving back home.
The very friendly “come-together” with my fellow spotters and a very enjoyable car-ride completed all the luck experienced that day - thanks to God, thanks to the TLP, and of course thanks to my fellow spotters!)
Mission flown, west departure at 1215LT - 1300LT, west landing at 1500 - 1550LT.
Aircraft remaining on the ground:
F-4E 2020 68-0528
F-16C 92-0002
L-159 ALCA 6059, but only after two attempts
JAS39 9238
All other aircraft flew mission.
Slow Mover C295 also departed but had not arrived back at 1645LT.
Rafale B 313/7-HI returned early because the refuelling connector broke off during refuel.
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