Kuwait Aviation Show 2020

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

Didn't see anything reported on this show yet, so here my attempt.

The Kuwait Aviation Show was a good reason to travel to the Gulf region, as aircraft of the Kuwait Emiri Air Force are very rare (ok, apart from the C-17s and C-130s maybe). Beforehand nothing was known about participants for the show, but 4Aviation had scouted the first version in 2018 and based on that they were willing to organise a tour to the 2020 edition. A chance not to be missed in my opinion!

We arrived Tuesday in the middle of the night, luckily the immigration and collecting the rental car went relatively smooth. The hotel was nearby, so we were able to catch no less than three hours of sleep before we headed back to the airport. Although Wednesday was the official opening, with the Emir and many other high guests, they were clearly not ready for visitors yet. Going through a scanner which was placed in the middle of an empty square was a bit strange. And it was impossible to collect our press cards, but we were let in anyway. Good thing was it was still very quiet in the outside static area. The flying part of the airshow was not too big, but a Kuwaiti SA.330 flanked by two Kuwaiti AH-64 is a great sight, and the two Kuwaiti Hornets that made two fast passes were very nice indeed. The American flying participation was rather dull, with an F-15E (from Lakenheath….) and two F-35a making just one high speed pass the first day. Luckily this improved a bit during the next days. Nice surprise was the Qatari AF skydive team with their two brand new DHC-6s. They gave a very impressive display every day, including large flags and fireworks. The Twin Otters operate from Al Udaid by the way.

Anyway, on with the log. As always, everything is read off unless between (brackets). Where squadron markings are given between (), these were confirmed by crew. Regarding the show, we visited on the 15th, 16th and 17th, all aircraft logged were present all three days unless mentioned.

Static inside:
143 Hawk mk.64 no mks
KAF514 SA.341L no mks, c/n 1341, SA.341K on plate (not SA.342!)
KAF115 Tucano mk.52 19 sq
KMOI-06 AS.365N3+ Police, c/n 7034
MOH-4 B.429 EMS, c/n 57231

Static outside:
422 F/A-18C 25 sq
KAF004/04-0004 AH-64D no mks, pilots were from 20 sq
KAF326 KC-130J no mks (41 sq), c/n 5746
KAF556 SA.330L no mks (32 sq), c/n 1286
MM62218/46-82 C-27J 46 BA
MM7287/4-3 F-2000A 4 St
MAQ DHC-6-400 Qatar para team, c/n 963
MAR DHC-6-400 Qatar para team, c/n 966
MAB C-17A no mks (10 sq)
213/MAJ C-130J-30 no mks (12 sq), c/n 5668
KMOI-08 H-225 Police, c/n 3014 (flew mission 15th, added to static 16th)

Flightline next to static:
MB.339NAT, Al Fursan: 430/5, 434/3, 435/-, 436/2, 437/4, 438/1, 440/6, 441/-, 442/7
With the help of the crew chief boss I was able to check the connumbers of the three that were still unknown: 436 is c/n 6835, 441 is c/n 6715 and 442 is c/n 6771.

Military platform (* means flying opening display):
427 F/A-18C* 9 sq (went home directly after flypast on 15th)
444 F/A-18D* 25 sq (went home directly after flypast on 15th)
KAF002 AH-64D* no mks (17/20 sq, went home after flypast on 15th)
KAF013 AH-64D* no mks (17/20 sq, went home after flypast on 15th)
KAF342 C-17A no mks, departed 16th, returned 17th
KAF327 KC-130J no mks (41 sq), present 15th, departed evening of 16th
KAF328 KC-130J no mks (41 sq) arrived evening of 16th, present 17th
KAF558 SA.330L* no mks (32 sq), c/n 1298
Plus Saudi Hawks 8806, 8808, 8811, 8816, 8817, 8818 (in shed first day), 8820, 8821
These are all listed as mk.88A apart from 8808, which is said to be a mk.88, is that correct?

Civil side:
(KAF323) L-100-30 std, 41 sq mks
(KAF324) L-100-30 std, 41 sq mks
(KAF325) L-100-30 std, 41 sq mks
UR-CPS Il-76T (ex Iraq AF YI-AKV)

Flying only:
MM7275/4-19 F-2000A 4 St
91-0310/LN F-15E 494 FS (17th only)
91-0312/LN F-15E 492 FS (16th only)
91-0604/LN F-15E 494 FS (15th only)
15-5143/HL F-35A 388 FW (15th and 17th)
15-5199/HL F-35A 388 FW (17th, read as 5133? on 15th)
168637/YR-01 MV-22B VMM-161

Visit:
1630 C-130H-30 16 sq Sau AF (15th only)
00-0185/AK C-17A 517 AS (17th only)

Seen departing from the civil side on 15th was a C-5 (around 16:30 local time), while on the 16th we saw a C-17 parked at the other side and on the 17th around noon another C-17 landed. Long shots, I know, but if somebody knows which ones these were….

Talking to crews learned that the Kuwait AF still have 4 SA.330s operational, all serving with 32 squadron for SAR duties. The other former Puma squadron, number 62 sq, will be the first to get the new H-225. First of those should be delivered in February already. The AH-64s are operated by 17 and 20 sq (correction Scramble database). The S-92s have probably been withdrawn from use, after a smuggling incident where a crate of Johnny Walker was found in one when returning home from abroad with the Emir on board. Since then the Police wing is flying the Emir around instead of the Air Force…. Furthermore I was surprised to learn that the Kuwait KC-130s not only fill up their own F/A-18s but also Saudi Typhoons.

As always, additions, corrections and comments are welcome. And if you would like to read a comprehensive report on the airshow including some photos see http://www.tristaraviation.org/2020/02/ ... show-2020/ .