A somewhat cloudy day, but that didn't mean the airshow wasn't great as usual.

This year the host of the Airforce days was the DHC, short for Defense Helicopter Command, which is based at Gilze-Rijen Airbase and de Kooy. The helicopters included are the AH-64 Apache, Alouette III, NH-90, Eurocopter Cougar, CH-47 Chinook, AB-412 Agusta Bell SAR and Westland Lynx. Operations of these helicopters vary from attack missions to search and rescue.

On friday I arrived and found myself finding a convenient parking spot, close to the entrance of the airbase. A small walk from the parking spot to the airbase, a little longer walk from the entrance to the display area.

As far as facilities go, plenty of toilets, stands, which includes a lost and found stand, info about the RNLAF, an ATM machine and much more.

The static line was pretty packed, some highlights included the British VC-10, the Bleriot and a special paint MI-24 Hind. As far as photo opportunities on the static line goes, you could basically take a photo from any angle, one disadvantage is that you could have other people in your shot.

The airshow itself was pretty busy too, unfortunately alot of low/flat-shows on the friday due to the cloudy weather with the occasional rain drop.

I will describe some of the highlights of the show. First up, the Eurofighter Typhoon, which unfortunately couldn't do the high show. The sequence started with a climbing turn just after take-off. The show includes plenty of afterburner and shows the agility of the Typhoon. This display was flown by Flt. Lt. Cooper.

The next highlight was the airpower demo, it is a re-occurring event, but still makes for a very spectacular show. The show starts with the bombing of the airfield by 8 F-16's. Explosions go off left and right. After which the helicopters swoop in to secure the area and let the soldiers rapel down the rope hanging out of the Cougar. The field is secured by the soldiers, the Apaches take out some more targets on the ground. At the end a big formation of all helicopters under the DHC command and the 8 F-16's in an opposite pass. The Apache demoteam must get a special mention, it is the only AH-64 Apache demo in the world and they did a great job. On the second day there was a special formation between the RNLAF F-16 demoteam and the Apache demoteam.

The C-17 demo was my personal favourite, the plane is huge, but can take of from a runway of only 3000m. The short take-off was spectacular to say the least, airborne in no time. Despite landing and taking-off on short runways, it's turning capability was astoneshing.

Despite the very cloudy weather I really enjoyed the show. A little criticism is that there were too much F-16's and too much Gripens, it is nice to see the differences in their demo sequences. You can't have it all, but a little more diversity would be nice.

Next year the RNLAF Airforce days will be held at Leeuwarden AFB. See you in 2011.

Thanks to the RNLAF and everyone involved in organising the airshow.