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NATO Tiger Meet 2016 at Zaragoza


Latinbear

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Last week I joined 1,600 other enthusiasts for this year's Tiger Meet at Zaragoza. Given that it was billed as the largest meet in the organisation's history, the relative ease of getting to the base and the near guaranteed perfect weather it was not surprising that attendance was so high.

Security was very tight with large numbers of armed military police on duty and Guardia Civil sniffer dogs checking all bags followed by a visual inspection.

Initially we were told that the afternoon flying session called the "Main Wave" was cancelled and as a result the €25 charge was being waived with donations requested instead. The number of morning launches was in the mid 20s which was a little disappointing. At 12.30pm we were all corralled back to a narrow strip along half of the flight line ahead of expected closure of the Spotters' Day at 2pm. Unfortunately most of the fighters weren't accessible for photography on the apron as we couldn't get close enough to them. However early in the afternoon word went round that flying was being reinstated and we would all be allowed next to the taxiway to catch the returning aircraft. This proved to be the case.

This was my first visit to Zaragoza and a quick look at Google shows two runways and three aprons on what is a vast base. For those enthusiasts thinking about spotting at the base then my suggestion would be don't bother, you just can't get sufficiently close enough. Other people may have different experiences/views but from conversations I had with others the Spanish military didn't seem to welcome spotters outside their bases.

Some of the photos were taken the day before from outside the base.

Huge thanks to the Spanish hosts for what I thought was a very enjoyable day.

Now some photos.....

1. The obvious one to start with.

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2. From the taxiway following the afternoon flying session which saw over 50 aircraft flying and returning.

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3

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4.

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5.

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7.

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8. One of two Hawkeyes present both from the French Aeronavale.

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9. Preparing for afternoon flying and doing some exercise at the same time.

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10. Two Luftwaffe Tornados turned up during the Friday morning.

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11. Belgian Air Force C130 arrived on the Friday.

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13.

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14. Just over the ridge behind the Hind was the apron where the helicopter contingent were located.

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15. The hangars and apron in the background are where the C130s are located.

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16.

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17.

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18.

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19. One of the two Belgian F16s arriving for the following day's Open House.

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20.

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22. The reason for not cropping the heads is to show how close to the runway we were. Despite everybody being spread out along a 1,200 metre strip the €24.95 spent on a step ladder was money very well spent.

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23.

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24. Some of the throng. High viz vests were mandatory. No vest, no entry.

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25. Landing on the right hand or easterly runway taken from outside the base.

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26. Mixed F18 and Eurofighter formation from the day before the Spotters' Day.

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27. A member of the home team arriving ahead of the Open House again from outside the base.

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28.

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29. This was taken from outside the base on the run in to land on the left hand or westerly runway where most landings took place.

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30.

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31.

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32.

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34.

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35.

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36. The E2C was the last aircraft to land on the Friday. The first time I have seen one fly let alone fold its wings.

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37.

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38.

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39.

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That's the lot.

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Great photos……For my money, the Swiss have done it again with another superb piece of tail art that contrasts nicely with the standard color scheme. The Armee de l'Terre Gazelle and Spanish Hornet are also very nicely rendered….Looks like you had a great day.

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I was due to go, but for some reasons couldn't make it. Was hoping to see friends in your photos but I can't. I will be going next year... Shall be booking it as soon as I can. Great selection of photos, most I've seen so far!

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It was pretty good wasn't it? Organisation on the friday was a bit poor and I'm glad people complained enough that they allowed us to see the second wave.

Judging by your E2 pics we were standing about 2-3mtrs away from each other and you may have been witness to some bush destruction ;)

Howard

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Thanks for all your kind comments which are much appreciated.

It was pretty good wasn't it? Organisation on the friday was a bit poor and I'm glad people complained enough that they allowed us to see the second wave.

Judging by your E2 pics we were standing about 2-3mtrs away from each other and you may have been witness to some bush destruction ;)

Howard

Although I was in the crowd for the briefing at 9.30am I didn't catch why the afternoon flying was cancelled. I heard it said that the hosts didn't feel they had enough personnel to oversee the spotters as well as prepare for Saturday's event but I have no idea whether this was true. When I finally did hear that flying was on again there was already a large crowd gathered at the briefing point hence it was a case of finding a spot where I could once I'd arrived at the taxiway. The steps really were worth every penny.

I did indeed see the stem of the bush being removed and the disapproval of the military policeman but I think I was around 10m to the left from the event itself. I did unfortunately have somebody about 5-6m in front of me who was not a photographer and was there purely to watch the aircraft who every time a plane taxied by insisted on taking off his black baseball cap and waving at the crew which of course they wouldn't have seen. Despite being at the top of a five foot ladder I kept getting his cap in my photos. He did stop once I'd angrily yelled at him several times.

Overall a great event and I suspect the weather will be better than next year's in Brittany!

Radleigh - Anybody you recognise in these? I don't normally take pictures of random people but I quite liked the idea of trying to convey how big the area was that we had to roam in at the same time as trying to show how many attendees there were. As it happens I bumped into four people I know one of whom I haven't seen for eight years! Remarkable how small the world can be sometimes.

1. This is the crowd line west of me.

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2. And east of me.

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3. Taxiway for the afternoon's return.

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4. The C130 Apron is to the right of the C130's wing.

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4. This turned off short much to our disappointment.

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5. The returning aircraft turned left off the runway and then tracked round ultimately giving us the view in 3 above.

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6.

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7. This marked the end of the flight line access.

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Indeed! I don't think there was ever a doubt on the aircraft flying in the pm but lack of staff seemed to be the main problem as you say.

I also don't think there would have been the complaints had the first wave been like a normal NTM first wave but it was sadly lacking in launches (about 12 aircraft??) as you know and that seemed to anger the spotting crowd.

I remember the guy waving his hat to my left and in turn I think I recall you on the ladder then!

I'll try and get some of my pics done later too as I've only put a few on my Flickr so far!

27112833691_ee24425c4b_z.jpg31 Squadron (BAF) F-16AM by Howard Barrett, on Flickr

regards

Howard

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Indeed! I don't think there was ever a doubt on the aircraft flying in the pm but lack of staff seemed to be the main problem as you say.

I also don't think there would have been the complaints had the first wave been like a normal NTM first wave but it was sadly lacking in launches (about 12 aircraft??) as you know and that seemed to anger the spotting crowd.

I remember the guy waving his hat to my left and in turn I think I recall you on the ladder then!

I'll try and get some of my pics done later too as I've only put a few on my Flickr so far!

27112833691_ee24425c4b_z.jpg31 Squadron (BAF) F-16AM by Howard Barrett, on Flickr

regards

Howard

Snap!

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I haven't cropped it but we clearly weren't that far away from each other for the morning session either. The morning was a bit underwhelming but I think the afternoon made up for it.

I was wearing an orange baseball cap if that helps with the recognition. The bearded chap with the black tee shirt was the one I yelled and was standing behind a couple of photographers. Literally every time a fighter taxied in he was there waving his black baseball cap in response to the pilot's waving. What was the point? The pilot wasn't going to see it but in every image I took as the aircraft drew level with me (and him) I had his cap in the bottom of the photo. I was getting so angry! At least he did stop.

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Haha wow we really weren't far away then!! I was just to the left of the marker on the lower left on your pic!

re the guy with the hat, happens every Tiger Meet actually! Normally it wouldn't matter but this year there was the most I've ever seen in the spotters "pen"

I didn't go but Norway 2012 was supposed to be a little crazy, people running onto the taxi way and laying down in front of the jets and everything! Much calmer when I went in 2013 but there was only 400 of us then!

I've booked next years dates off from work as it'll be easy to just drive to Landivisiau. I've not been to the base before but heard it was good in 2008

Howard

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Haha wow we really weren't far away then!! I was just to the left of the marker on the lower left on your pic!

re the guy with the hat, happens every Tiger Meet actually! Normally it wouldn't matter but this year there was the most I've ever seen in the spotters "pen"

I didn't go but Norway 2012 was supposed to be a little crazy, people running onto the taxi way and laying down in front of the jets and everything! Much calmer when I went in 2013 but there was only 400 of us then!

I've booked next years dates off from work as it'll be easy to just drive to Landivisiau. I've not been to the base before but heard it was good in 2008

Howard

Given the number of people there and the space available in the morning at least it is remarkable to have ended so close for both sessions. Like you I didn't do Norway or (I think it was) Konya last year but I did go to Schleswig Holstein in 2014 on the way back from Karup and I thought that was excellent. Again a set of steps came in very useful but it was windy and I nearly took a tumble a couple of times.

Assuming France isn't on strike at the time then I'll definitely be going to Landivisiau and like you it'll be a first for me.

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  • 1 month later...

Some nice shots of some eye-catching aircraft! I might have to give one of these Tiger Meets a visit one day...

Having been to several of these events I thoroughly recommend them. Apart from the eye catching liveries there is the opportunity to get so much closer than at any airshow I can think of.

Thanks for all the kind comments chaps - much appreciated!

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