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Childrenday 2025 RTAFB Don
Mueang |
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Text: |
Michael E. Fader |
Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Michael E. Fader |
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Children's
Day is a national affair in Thailand and one of the most important
occasions for the Royal Thai Air Force to present itself to the people
and especially to the children. In recent years, WINGS-AVIATION has
reported on the events at RTAFB Don Mueang, RTAFB Kamphang Saen and
RTAFB Thakli. This year, 2568 according to the Buddhist calendar, the
authors were once again guests at RTAFB Don Mueang.
As we wrote last year, the
event at RTAFB Don Mueang is not exactly easy because it is also a
civilian airport. The air force flight demonstrations therefore had to
be done in several time slots. During the breaks, the civilian aircraft
could then take off and land until another time slot was available for
the Royal Thai Air Force demonstrations. The current commander of the
RTAF has re-enforced this procedure and the children's day could be held
as usual.
But let's take a look at the
entire organisation of the RTAF for this day. 13 bases (RTAFB) are
operated by the Royal Thai Air Force, in addition to 5 other airfields
that are operated but have no permanently stationed units. 18 locations
where the Children's Day was held on 11 January 2025. Each airfield had
some aircraft on static display. Around 46 aircraft therefore had to be
flown to other airfields to operate the static displays. For example,
601 Squadron deployed one C-130H Hercules each to RTAF Chiang Mai, RTAFB
Hat Yai and RTAFB Watthana Nakorn.
The flypast or flight
demonstrations that day included 25 aircraft with a total of 8 different
aircraft types. The General Dynamics F-16A Falcons of 103 and 403
Squadron did most of the flypasts and displays. Some pilots made their
flight demonstrations at several airfields. The maps above show which
aircraft were displayed where and which flight demonstrations were flown.
The effort is exorbitant, but it is worth it for the Royal Thai Air
Force.
Due to the subtropical
temperatures, the children's day will only take place on Saturday
mornings between 7.00 am and 12.00 pm. The flight operations start at
8.15 am. |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
General Dynamics
F-16B 403 Sqn #40306 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16B 403 Sqn #40306 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16B 403 Sqn #40312 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
General Dynamics
F-16B 403 Sqn #40312 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Static |
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The
static display at
RTAFB Don Muang was dominated by active RTAF aircraft. Virtually the
entire range of RTAF aircraft was represented here. Starting with the
fighters, General Dynamics F-16C Falcon, Saab JAS-39 Grippen, KAI T.50
Golden Eagle, Northrop F-5TH Super Tigris up to the new attack aircraft
Beechcraft T-6TH Wolverine and the trainer pendant Beechcraft T-6C.
There were also some rather
rarely seen aircraft such as the Saab 340, the Basler BT-67 and the
ATR-72, and of course an aircraft belonging to the host of the 601
Squadron, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which could even be inspected from
the inside. Training aircraft included the Diamond DA-40 and DA-42 as
well as the old NZAI CT-4E. The training machines were positioned so
that the children could be photographed by their parents on the machines.
The helicopters were the Sikorsky S-70i and the Eurocopter EC-725.
The last part of the static
display was occupied by the Tango Squadron, a private collection of
military aircraft. A Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat, North American T-28D-5
Trojan, Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star and North American P-64 were on
display. The North American P-64 is a converted North American AT-6
Texan. |
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Flightline (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
KAI T.50 Golden
Eagle 401 Sqn. #40111 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
KAI T.50 Golden
Eagle 401 Sqn. #40111 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Saab JAS-39D
Gripen 701 Sqn #70102 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Saab JAS-39D
Gripen 701 Sqn #70102 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Northrop F-5Th
Super Tigris 211 Sqn 21112 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Northrop F-5Th
Super Tigris 211 Sqn 21112 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Fairchild
Peacemaker 501 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Fairchild
Peacemaker 501 Sqn.(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Basler BT-67 461
Sqn.#46159 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Basler BT-67 461
Sqn.#46159 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Lockheed C-130H
Hercules 601 Sqn. #60104 |
Lockheed C-130H
Hercules 601 Sqn. #60102 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Lockheed C-130H
Hercules 601 Sqn. #60109 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab 340 702 Sqn
#70206 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
ATR-72 602 Sqn. (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
NZAI CT-4E 604
Sqn. #60457 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
NZAI CT-4E 604
Sqn. #60457 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Diamond DA-40
604 Sqn. #60467(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Diamond DA-40
604 Sqn. #60467(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Diamond DA-42
604 Sqn. #60446 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Diamond DA-42
604 Sqn. #60446 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Beech T-6 Texan
FTS #02(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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RTAF-6 #02 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
RTAF-6 #02 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Eurocopter
EC-725 203 Sqn. #20311 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Eurocopter
EC-725 203 Sqn. #20311 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Sikorsky-S.70i (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Airbus A340 602
Sqn. (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
North American
AT-6 Texan as P-64 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
North American
AT-6 Texan as P-64 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
North American
AT-6 Texan as P-64 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Lockheed T-33A Shooting
Star (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Lockheed T-33A Shooting
Star (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
North American
T-28D-5 Trojan, (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
North American
T-28D-5 Trojan, (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Flight Programme |
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Precision
is one of the hallmarks of the Royal Thai Air Force. The CiC (Commander
in Chief) Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul had just finished his
speech when a General Dynamics F-16A Falcon of 403 Squadron from RTAFB
Thakli flew low over the event. This timing precision has often been
demonstrated at RTAF events and is absolutely impressive.
A little later, a pilot of a
General Dynamics F-16A Falcon of 103 Squadron from RTAFB Khorat
demonstrated the aircraft's capabilities. Fast and slow overflights as
well as rolls and tight turns were flown. This is not comparable with a
performance at an air show in Europe or the USA, as these are not
trained display pilots but normal squadron pilots.
The display of the Saab
JAS-39 Grippen also showed how a squadron pilot can fly the aircraft.
This was not bad at all and showed the manoeuvrability of the aircraft
and the impressive climb performance.
The third display was shown
by a Beechcraft T-6TH Wolverine. The RTAF's new attack aircraft is based
at 411 Squadron at RTAFB Chiang Mai. According to unconfirmed reports,
all 8 aircraft ordered have now been delivered. The Wolverine is the new
pride of the air force. |
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General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
General Dynamics
F-16A 103 Sqn #10312 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Saab JAS-39C
Gripen 701 Sqn #70107 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Sakpinit Promthep) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Sakpinit Promthep) |
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Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Beech AT-6Th
Wolverine 411 Sqn #41104 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
Pilots of the
No. 411 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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The Children |
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As already mentioned, the
children take centre stage. A delegation of children from a school was
invited as guests of honour. A girl then gave a speech about the air
force in the presence of the CiC and the entire leadership of the air
force. Unusually, she gave the speech in Thai and then in English.
The children were also able
to ask the pilots questions after their displays. Other pilots stood by
the machines and explained them. At many stands there were free soft
toys, food, sweets, ice cream and other things. The weapons of the RTAF
(security) and other equipment were shown and could be touched by the
children. This gave the children the opportunity to familiarise
themselves with the air force in a fun way. The individual departments
of the air force were shown in a hangar and the children were able to
find out about the professions in the Air Force. informieren.
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Finally, a word of thanks to the
helpful ladies and gentlemen of the RTAF Public Relations Department, who
once again kindly supported the editors this year. |
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