.
  Childrenday 2025 RTAFB Don Mueang
      .

Text:

Michael E. Fader

Pictures:

Chakrit Samithinan & Michael E. Fader


 
   

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.

   

(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)

   

(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)

   

Static

   

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.

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

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)

   

Flight Programme

   

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.

   

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)

   

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)

   
   

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)

   

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)

   
   

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)

   

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)

   

The Children

   

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.

   

(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)

(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)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   
 

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.

 
 
 

-

last update 19. January 2025

Written 12. January 2025

-

-
- Corrections, additions and remarks please send to the Webmaster Michael E. Fader -
- If information from this site is used as source material please credit www.wings-aviation.ch  -
- If this page does not have a navigational frame on the left, click HERE to see the rest of the website. -