NATO Tiger Meet Spotters Days 7,8 May

[j.m.]

Now there is a Facebook page for the Spotters Day online.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1540561699539179

[dverhees]

Hi Rene (K9) et al,

We had a very productive Main Planning Conference at Konya AB. Even though we won't have the numbers we have enjoyed at Meets in the last several years, the participants are putting a positive spin on the situation. Several "regular" tiger squadrons are busy with real operations in reaction to world events. Also, due to ever shrinking military budgets, there is a shortage of deployment kits. Two other large force exercises at roughly the time as Konya have also contributed to the situation. First is Lion Effort, the tri-annual Gripen family exercise. The second is Exercise Arctic Challenge in Sweden, which will claim the title (long held by NTM) of the largest exercise of the year with upwards of 100 acft participating.

I personally am very positive as to the size and success of NTM15. Many have told me that with a smaller meet, the training should be better. What they mean is with more emphasis on smaller package debriefings and more time to do quality shot analysis and target destruction (BDA) is actually better training for all, especially for the younger guys.

We are all reminded once more that in fact superior training for combat is our reason for being. Our "show business side", i.e., painted acft, embellishment of tiger flight suits, tiger games, interaction with the public via souvenir sales, etc, while very important, is secondary to the "ops side".

Anyway, on the spottersday news side. I was successful in negotiating the concept of an "outside the fence" area for spotters (who arrive early) on Wednesday, 6 May. We have General Officer approval; location coordinates and timing, rules, etc, are under discussion within the TUAF, and will be posted when received.

I also received a positive response when I asked for (at least) an NTM patch to be offered to each spotter.

For what currency will work for souvenir sales (Euros or TL), I received a mixed response. It appears the Turks "may" accept both, while the rest of us souvenir sellers will definitely accept both. Advice: have some Turkish Lira with you. Actually, the food stands will "probably" only accept TL.

I think that covers it.

Cheers, Don see you there!!

[Melvin85]

That is not very good news.

Is there a list wich country's are coming to ntm2015

Thanks

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[dverhees]

Depends on one's point of view. For example, a young Rafale pilot, who will get to fly more, better training missions than last year (and maybe someday save his life) would not agree with you.

Final list not yet available. My guess: 10 Sqns from 8 nations. It will be bigger than AE 2014-2 which you seemed to appreciate. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Solo Turk and Turkish Stars will perform. And of course the Base F-4s (my old acft )

Cheers, Don

[bvdboomen]

And of course the Base F-4s

That's the frase I was looking for. You made me happy!

[68-0037UH]

132 Filo only has Vipers nowadays, only 7 and 1 AJU fly the F-4

[dverhees]

Yeah? I guess I screwed that up, I met so many F-4 guys there (on the Anatolian Eagle staff, now that I think about it), and I was asking about getting myself a ride, I assumed that there were still some phantoms at Konya.
Mea culpa, Don

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[K-9]

Will be looking forward to the final list of participants !
Despite the exercise not being as large as before, it will still be nice.
Perhaps some TuAF assets might be participating as external participants ?
And Don, thanks for your efforts so far !

Regards, Rene

[Hornet69]

Final list not yet available. My guess: 10 Sqns from 8 nations.

Dutch and Belgian are involdved abroad (fighting IS); Hungarian and Czech Grippen busy with Lion Effort, the tri-annual Gripen family exercise; Exercise Arctic Challenge in Sweden involving among others Norwegian Falcons, German Tornado's and Eurofighters.

My best guess;
Austria; Saab105;
France; Rafale St.Dizier and Mont-de-Marsan;
Greece; F-16 Falcon;
Italian with some helo's;
Poland; F-16 Falcon;
Turkey; F-16 Falcon;
Slovakia; Mig-29;
Spain; F-18 Hornet;
Swiss; F-18 Hornet;

Perhaps some TuAF assets might be participating as external participants ?

Indeed this would be a nice surprise. Wishlist: some phantoms.

[fotrox]

Probably also Ala15 will miss this year NTM edition.
They are planning to go to Konya but one month later,for Anatolian Eagle.

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[Photoforce]

Final list not yet available. My guess: 10 Sqns from 8 nations.

Dutch and Belgian are involdved abroad (fighting IS); Hungarian and Czech Grippen busy with Lion Effort, the tri-annual Gripen family exercise; Exercise Arctic Challenge in Sweden involving among others Norwegian Falcons, German Tornado's and Eurofighters.

My best guess;
Austria; Saab105;
France; Rafale St.Dizier and Mont-de-Marsan;
Greece; F-16 Falcon;
Italian with some helo's;
Poland; F-16 Falcon;
Turkey; F-16 Falcon;
Slovakia; Mig-29;
Spain; F-18 Hornet;
Swiss; F-18 Hornet;

Perhaps some TuAF assets might be participating as external participants ?

Indeed this would be a nice surprise. Wishlist: some phantoms.

[CBR]

Thanks Don for your efforts

[dverhees]

I've asked the TUAF to send any and all other acft types they have to make some approaches, touch and goes, taxibacks to enhance the Spotters day. They said, "good idea, we'll see what we can do". Now I only have ask to the right General who's in charge of weather...........

[K-9]

That ' s a nice initiative!

As for participation, guess we need to wait some time.
Keep up the good work Don.

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[Skido]

313sqn will not participate in this years NTM.