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Chakrit Samithinan |
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Chakrit Samithinan |
The Tactical Air Operations Competition for the year 2021 was again held at Chandy bombing range near Chaibadan on 24th December 2020. The event took place in spite of increased Covid-19 cases in Thailand but suitable precautions had been initiated and all participants and spectators wore facemasks at all times. The spectators were limited to RTAF personnel, a few invited special guests and about two dozen media representatives. The students from nearby schools had, however, not been invited due to Corona restrictions. The special guests and the media people were kindly transported by minivans and busses from RTAF Don Muang to the site about 250 km north of Bangkok.
Chandy Range (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sikorsky S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Arrival of the Chief Sikorsky S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sikorsky S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sikorsky S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Sikorsky S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Chief arriving (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
RTAF Leadership (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Weaponry (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Air Wing Commanders of the RTAF (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suttiwan (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
To the disappointment of the photographers present, the event took place one hour earlier than usual, i.e. at 10 am instead of 11 am when the light conditions were even worse than at the usual 11 am. The problem is that a large part of the flying display is totally against the sun which makes it difficult for photographers to identify and follow the aircrafts on their runs. The weather during the display was sunny which enhanced the problems with the light. Nevertheless, the flying program is always interesting to watch in view of the unique nature of these exercises.
The new RTAF Commander, Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suttiwan, arrived from RTAF Don Muang in a convoy of two Sikorsky S-92 helicopters which was followed by a short ceremony during which all air wing commanders were presented to the chief. Speeches were exchanged and thereafter, the Commander declared the exercises open.
This year, the following aircrafts participated in the flying display (in the sequence of their appearances):
F-16A (low opening pass), Diamond D-42 (fly past), 1 x Gripen and 1 x F-5E Tigris (bombing runs), Gripen (laser bomb drop), F-16s and F-5 E (bombing runs), Alphajet (rocket attack), Lockheed C-130 Hercules (cargo drop), Basler BT-67 (water drop), Eurocopter EC-725 (erecting mobile hospital), formation fly pasts of 2x Gripen and 2x F-5E Tigris, 2x Alphajet, 6x F-16, and 4x T-50, low level fly-past of Lockheed C-130H Hercules and 1x F-16A and 1x F-16B (low level surprise attack) to end the exercise.
Diamond D-42 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Northrop F-5TH Tigris (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
JAS-39 Gripen (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16A (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Bombing Target (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16A (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Laser Team (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Dornier Alpha Jet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Dornier Alpha Jet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Dornier Alpha Jet (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Basler BT-67 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Basler BT-67 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Eurocopter EC-725 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Field Hospital (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation Gripen - F-5TH Tigris (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation Gripen - F-5TH Tigris (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of Dornier Alpha Jet(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
As we have witnessed in previous years, the weaponry skills of the Thai RTAF pilots are astounding as the targets were hit in a very precise manner with no exceptions. Flares were used only at the end of the opening pass and at the end of the surprise attack at the closing of the show but due to new restrictions, the flaring began only when the aircrafts were quite far away from show-center which did not allow taking some dramatic pictures which were possible in previous years.
Remark: Due to the rising numbers of new Covid cases in Thailand, the air display to be held during the Thai Children’s Day planned for 9th January 2021 has been postponed indefinitely.
Formation of General Dynamics F-16 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of General Dynamics F-16 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of KAI T-50TH (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of KAI T-50TH (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of KAI T-50TH (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Formation of KAI T-50TH (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
General Dynamics F-16B flares (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Artillery Tracker (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Chandy Viewing Area (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Ready to send off the Chief (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Parked S-92 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Ready for Lift-off (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Chief departing (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Until next year (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
I would not be right to conclude this report without thanking the RTAF and its Public Affairs Department led by Khun Jirayu Doungnui most sincerely for providing the media representatives with transport to and from the Chandy range and for the food and drinks provided in the morning and during an excellent buffet lunch at the range.
Jirayu Doungnui (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)