You could be forgiven for thinking that seasoned fast jet 'jockeys' have it all. But seemingly not. Despite having flown some of world's most powerful combat machines with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), including the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and F-16 Fighting Falcon, a handful of pilots had a burning desire to show off their formation skills in a somewhat more sedate fashion. The commemoration of Anthony Fokker's historic September 1, 1911 flying demonstration around the Cathedral of Saint Bavo in Haarlem, near Amsterdam, has always been noted as the main catalyst for the Fokker Four's formation. Exactly 70 years on from his daring flight, a four-ship of Fokker S-11s flew around the same church in salute to the pioneering Dutchman's milestone. The aircrafts' owners at the time enjoyed performing the memorial flight so much they decided to pursue more formation flying. Momentum soon gathered for this new venture - which followed in the slipstream of former RNLAF demonstration teams including 'Whiskey Four', with its Lockheed T-33s and 'Dash Four', flying brightly painted Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks.
展开▼
