NATO TIGER MEET 2024: HARD TO BE HUMBLE

There were around sixty aircraft that from 3 to the 13 June they met at Schleswig airport, in the far north of Germany, to celebrate the Tiger Meet 2024.

The Aeroporto is normally part of the Tactical Air Force Squadron 51 – 1st Squadron of the German Luftwaffe, equipped with Tornado IDS and ECR.

We remind you that the Tiger Meet is an event that has been repeated since 1960 and brings together in a single airport all the NATO departments that have a "tiger" in their emblem.

The event was held last year, in October, on the Italian airport of Gioia del Colle, and it had been characterized by splendid weather conditions. Unfortunately this year the weather was acting up, and overcast skies, low temperatures and showers of rain accompanied the several thousand enthusiasts who crowded the venue for a long time 2 days of spotter day and the airport fences on the remaining days.

This year the Tiger Meet participants present at the airport came from 14 different departments and represented 9 nations:

They participated in flight operations, but they were not present in Schleswig, also the following departments:

Also, despite not being part of the "official" Tiger Meet participants, aircraft from the following departments were present in Schleswig:

As usual the daily activity was organized with 2 wave, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In both cases the methods were similar: the first to take to the skies were the GFD Learjets (Society for flight target display mbH). In this year's edition the Lears were 2, both in the same configuration with 2 pod subalari for il jamming radar.  These multi-frequency jammers are based on DRFM technology (DRFM = Digital Radio Frequency Memory) and can simulate electronic jamming attacks, with the help of which it is possible to develop, for example, processes to protect aircraft from radar-guided missile attacks. Furthermore, air defense radar operators can train to combat such jamming attacks to keep air defense systems functioning despite electronic countermeasures (ECM).
Then they took off, always one at a time, the fighters of the various nations. Considering they were flying, every time, about forty planes, the time required for the entire operation was considerable. Eventually, There was never much time between the last one to fly and the first to land. The landings, how they opened, they were closed by Learjets.

The same in the afternoon.

Compared to the edition 2023 the Portuguese Departments were not present, Hungary, Belgium, Austria e, for Italy, the 21st Group was missing. Also missing were the Mirages 2000 of Mont de Marsan present in Gioia del Colle. Furthermore, the Flottille 11F of the French Navy was present on Rafale M and the F 35A Lightning IIs of the 313 Sqn della Royal Netherlands Air Force.

As usual, the curiosity of the enthusiasts present was attracted by the Special Color aircraft brought by the various departments. In the end the trophy for the most beautiful plane was taken home by the host Tornado.

The organization of the event was formidable in terms of logistics: It has been possible to register for spotter days since February. Registration, at a cost of €40 per day, gave the right to entry, ad alcuni gadgets (Backpack, hat, PVC patch of the event), at lunch with drink, to transport and access to the spotter area, including gadget market). All perfectly organized in pure Teutonic spirit.
It's a shame that the spotter area was really limited in length towards the track and therefore the space available in the front row was not enough for everyone. Also, despite it being stated in the rules that it would not be possible, entry and use of very high stairs was permitted (even further 2 mt.!!!) that, especially on the first day, they were positioned immediately next to the first row. In this way the photographers who did not find a place in the front row, they often found each other's heads (and sometimes even the torso) of some photographer perched on the stairs in the middle of the frame.

If we add to this that the movements took place from the track 23 which was slightly askew from our position (right next to the track 07/25) but above all behind a hill on which uncut grass grew, we would end up with the situation of not being able to photograph takeoffs until the planes were in the air, while the landings were simply a plane drifting over the grass, with the fuselage completely invisible except in the last part of the taxiing: I won't tell you bad words...

The planes took off very simply, sometimes keeping low, a few other times climbing very quickly but without turning as was the rule last year in Gioia del Colle (you can find photos from last year which), which favored the shooting of spectacular images, also thanks to the spectacular weather conditions that were definitely missed this year.

Unfortunately these defects have clouded the logistical organization which, as already mentioned, it was superb.

The appointment of 2025 it will be in Beja, in Portugal, house of the Esq. 301.
Given the latitude, We are confident in much more favorable weather conditions.

Enjoy photos

[Mostra slideshow]