Royal Thai Air Force Air Show 2007.

[Skyman]

Aside from couping the country :-(, Royal Thai Armed Force always display their weapon in their inventory in the children's Day on the second saturday of January. Like every year, RTAF display and fly their aircraft to encourage and light the dream of young Thai to become pilot when they grow up. (and it's working very well. We alway have 20,000 boy compete for about 100 seat of each force in the armed force academy)

This year the show is bigger bacause our 92-year-old Don Mueang Airport is phased out. So we have plenty of time and air space for air demonstration.

Well, I use Fuji S9600 for this even and I can't caught airbone image well. So most of photo is the ground action. And in my country, everyone put some sentence and name in their photo for the copyright reason. I apologise for this.

F-5T Tigres. It's Israeli-modification of F-5E. New features include DASH and Python-4.

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6692/3bu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

L-39 ZA/ART. Use israeli avionic.

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6254/5uy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

AU-23A Peacemaker. It's base on PC-6. USAF aims to sell to South Vietnam. But due to the quality of North Vietname air defense, it's never happen. And Thailand buy all of them to counter the communist terrorist during cold war.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6254/21sg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now we use as FAC, reconnaissance and for air show. (Create Thai Flag in the sky) RTAF has Peacemaker a detachment in 3 southern provinces.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/84/41gj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

F-16A. 103 Sqn.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5672/23ib8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This jet bought under the Peace Naresuan I.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4421/25nf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Skyman]

Line up after the flight.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/233/27iv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The demonstration include 2 vs. 1 dog fight and single-jet aerobatic flight. I will post air shot later.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4062/28jz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Alphajet A. Ex-German. Use for attacking role.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4332/30xk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

L-39 in flight.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5373/31og8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

UH-1H demonstrate rescue mission.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7568/34xm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

RTAF hire Israel to upgrade and extend its service life.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9932/36ar1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They will be replaced soon.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1395/37df9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Dark Avenger]

Excellent pics, Skyman.
Do you happen to have any photos of Thai RFB Fantrainers armed with the 20mm cannon?

[Skyman]

N22 Normad. Australian made. RTAF use this in COIN mission during war against communist. Today, 10 lucky youth that won the quiz have a chance to observe Bangkok with this plane.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2311/39qe8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Alphajet A again. Lufwaffe used this jet only 1,000 hours. So we have many hours left.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6921/43vc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Prepare for flight.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/4390/44cq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

103 TFS. Wing 1 Korat. (Thunder)

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/369/45tp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Engine warming Up.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9012/46oh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Head back home.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/226/47ab1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Taxi

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1656/73da2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Skyman]

Excellent pics, Skyman.
Do you happen to have any photos of Thai RFB Fantrainers armed with the 20mm cannon?

Oh I don't have it. Even in Thailand Fantrainer pic is rare.

[Skyman]

403 TFS. Wing 4 Takhli. Night attack equipped with Rubis and Atlis II.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1358/49ov4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's a static display today. Now she head back home.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8803/50ja8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

F-5T prepare for flight.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6381/51xd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Python-4 pic is still top secret.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/4104/52tu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

L-39. 401 Sqn. Wing 4 Takhli.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/7646/53qg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They can equip wtih AIM-9P and NATO-standard bomb.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8244/54do3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Engine Sound is nice.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3544/55pb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Goodbye Sir!

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3395/56yg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Peacemaker prepare for flight.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1143/57lb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The wind from rotor almost kill me.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5190/58pq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

More static display pics. PC-9M. RTAF's Kampangsan flying school.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6865/8ci5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

BT-67. Nice plane. Easy to fly. RTAF use for general transport and Royal Rainmaking Project.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/1159/9zu9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Special paint. "We love the king" and 60th King accession to the throne logo.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9907/10kz6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

G-222

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9148/11mv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

F-16A 403 TFS.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3230/12sp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hope you will enjoy.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8178/72su6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Dark Avenger]

Oh I don't have it. Even in Thailand Fantrainer pic is rare.
OK, never mind.

[unknown1]

good pics:)

[IraGlacialis]

Nice pics. I heard that Don Mueang Airport was opened back up for domestic non-connecting flights due to issues at Suvarnabhumi.

[Skyman]

Nice pics. I heard that Don Mueang Airport was opened back up for domestic non-connecting flights due to issues at Suvarnabhumi.

Yes. First phase of Suvarnabhumi can handle only 45 million passengers. (Last year no. passengers is 40 million) Final phase is 100 million but government don't want to invest more money now. So they plan to use Don Mueang for domistic flight.

[IraGlacialis]

This may be asking for much, but how many of each aircraft is the Royal Thai AF using currently?
You can just post a link.

[Skyman]

This may be asking for much, but how many of each aircraft is the Royal Thai AF using currently?
You can just post a link.

Never mind

F-16A/B: 58
F-5 B/E/F: ~45
L-39: 36
Alphajet: 20
AU-23A: ~25
C-130H: 12
G-222: 6
Avro-748: 6
BT-67: 9
UH-1H: ~20
PC-9M: ~25
CT-4E: ~25

[IraGlacialis]

Thanks man. There are a whole lot more Falcons than I originally thought in service.

One last thing: did Thailand decide to get the Su-30s, the Gripens, or neither?

[zulu261]

Thanks man. There are a whole lot more Hornets than I originally thought in service.

Hornets o0?

[IraGlacialis]

Hornets o0?
I have no idea what I was thinking. When I looked through the list, instead of seeing F-16A/B, I saw F-18A/B. :cantbeli:
I have shamed myself. *Grabs knife and stabs into gut. Blood goes onto keyboard.* Oh ****.

[Skyman]

:-)

RTAF might go for Gripen or F-16 C/D. But, well, we need to wait until new democracy government is elected. (About early 2008......)

If they go for F-16, it's ok. Because we familar with this aircraft. (RTAF operate F-16 more than 20 years without loss) But I think I perfer Girpen. More lower operating cost and Saab 340 with ERIEYES (which is include in the package) is very interesting.

[Nightsky]

Yes. First phase of Suvarnabhumi can handle only 45 million passengers. (Last year no. passengers is 40 million) Final phase is 100 million but government don't want to invest more money now. So they plan to use Don Mueang for domistic flight.

really ? just been to thailand and flown bkk-phuket, krabi-bkk and bkk-chiang mai as for domestic flights, which was all from suvarnabhumi.
Or is it just a plan so far ?

[calimero2]

F-5T Tigres. It's Israeli-modification of F-5E. New features include DASH and Python-4.

Are you sure about the F-5T designator for the upgraded Thai F-5E? I have it as an upgaded F-5F from Singapore.

[Skyman]

really ? just been to thailand and flown bkk-phuket, krabi-bkk and bkk-chiang mai as for domestic flights, which was all from suvarnabhumi.
Or is it just a plan so far ?

Yes. It's just a plan now. All party still talking.


Are you sure about the F-5T designator for the upgraded Thai F-5E? I have it as an upgaded F-5F from Singapore.

Some official news source form RTAF say F-5 with T designator. But normally I think it's just a unofficial name for our israel-mod F-5E/F. But the name Tigres is official.