NEWS
DEMO TEAM 2012 - 2013
For all our "fans"; demo season 2012-2013 is about to kick off. Rumours are spreading, to prevent wrong information flows we would like to keep you informed about the progress and formation of the new demo team 2012-2013.
We are proud to inform you that finally the demo team lair will be at Volkel airbase again for at least the next 2 years.
The new pilot who will be flying the orange lion F16 will be nobody else but:
Stefan "Stitch" Hutten proud member of the 312 Sqn of Volkel. Stitch has been flying at the 312 Sqn since 2008 and has voluntary taken on the role of demo pilot for the coming season.
Yes, that is correct: the orange lion, F16 tail J015 will be tamed for another year and Stitch will follow in Sheiks and Hitecs footsteps.
A demo pilot is nothing without his coach. Guess who we found to train Stitch to fly the demo as sharp as a knife...... Ralph 'Sheik' Aarts.
Being the former demo pilot 2007-2009 Sheik has been appointed to take over the role of coach for the year 2012. Since Hitec is no more in the air force Sheik is THE person with the experience to get Stitch in the flow of being the figurehead of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Great plan don't you think...
A demo pilot is nothing without and oiled technical team. As we speak technical members of the 312 Sqn are selected to complete the team.
Their names will be published as soon as possible. Sheik is not current, flying the demo, so he will be supported by Bram 'Bitch' Versteeg, his old coach season 2008-2009, to get proficient ones more in flying his show profile 2009.
Both(!) now being from the 313 Sqn of airbase Volkel Sheik and Bitch will help the 312 Team to get things going.
The plan:
Week 5 and 6
Stitch, Sheik and Bitch will start their first training in Arizona USA. Sheik will be flying his old show, alone with Bitch as coach. After being comfortable Stitch will jump in the backseat for his first demo
ride. After this; Stitch will take over controls in the front-seat and Sheik will coach him flying along in the backseat. On the ground Bitch will be taking over the coach role until Stitch is proficient to fly solo. Two weeks of intense training lay ahead..... Stitch will use one or more of the Dutch F16's stationed at the guard base in Tucson Arizona.
Why Arizona ?
1. The weather is great this time a year, so less weather aborts.
2. There are 5 dual seat F16BM there available to use.
3. We have a great Dutch training detachment to help us out in the USA instead of claiming operational resources from the units back home.
Volkel airbase is still busy with the on going operation just back From Libya and still deployed in Afghanistan.
In the mean time the new 312 Technical team will focus on getting organised for the coming season back at Volkel
Future:
It is still in pencil but count on about 10 shows in 2012 and more in 2013.
2013 the celebration of 100 years of Royal Netherlands Air Force.
hope to have informed you enough ! keep tuned to the website (still designed by our good friend Ron Sanders) to get the latest and greatest official news of the new demo team.
The Team 2012-2013
info from RNLAF F-16 Demo team
