Sanicole 2025
This year I tried a different approach to the International Sanicole Airshow. The program did not have any aircraft/ helo’s which I did not see (many) times before, and I personally always resented the high entrance fees in comparison to spectating the airshow (and photographing) straight into the sun. Having said this the Belgian organization many times before managed to add some spectacular participants - the Sanicole Sunset Airshow show is also a very unique event.
The Sanicole event area is completely surrounded by a large military (exercise) area. The event grounds are positioned in the middle of a single road leading from east to west through this military area. So no close positions on the surroundings are possible.
For this reason I decided to take position in between Sanicole and Kleine-Brogel airbase – with my back into the sun. Here I tried my luck viewing participants, logically participants operating from Kleine-Brogel would pass straight before my position. Unfortunately this year Kleine-Brogels main runway was closed, so only light aircraft operated from this base. Heavy aircraft and fighters operated out of Beauvechain airbase located farther away to the South. Nevertheless still a nice ‘experiment’, returning some of the old ‘spotter feelings’ from the old days not knowing what would pass overhead! (although ADSB gave quite a good cover of what was flying around and could be expected)
2025 marked the anniversaries of the Red Arrows and Frecce Tricolori as well as the end of the Vietnam War with several Vietnam war era aircraft.
The ISA time table above and view from the fields towards the airshow area. The view was quite distant but the show still clearly visible due to the perfect weather. The F4E was my favourite participant and I couldn't wait to hear the Phantoms afterburners roar once again. I managed to see al participants of the time table starting from 11:25 (Rich Goodwin Pitts), seeing some earlier aircraft flying around the area, which is still a good 'catch' for such a day from a distant view.
Hawker Fury and Pitts , I was not able to photograph the Daedelus T-6A due to the distance.
One of the highlights of the airshow, and photogenic - also from a distance, are the Red Arrows. Quite a thrill seeing them performing high-speed passes just above the tree lines. Their airshow patterns made them pass by very closely overhead as can be seen in these photographs. On ADSB the aircraft were only visible by a single Hawk - most of the times not visible due to their capricious maneouvres.
A Casa 212 Aviocar was flying overhead to drop a parachute demo team while a MRTT A330 tanker was in a holding pattern to the North East forming up with 4 F16's. The C212 returned to another airfield closeby as can be seen to the left in the ADSB screenshot.
The MRTT Tanker (from Eindhoven airbase) in its holding pattern and forming up with the F16's, before passing by for the Sanicole fly-by. Afterwards the A330 turned back to return to Eindhoven, all very good visible from my spot. The 4 F16's turned back to perform some more fly-by's as can be seen below:
The ADSB North Eastern Holding pattern, A330 MRTT fly by and F16 wave off, and Tiger flight passes over the Sanicole area.
OV10 Bronco Vietnam War era aircraft and the famous Wingwalkers. The B17 below was only visible from a distance and did not pass by close overhead my location. Some other aircraft also made no close passes overhead while others did - question of luck...
Next up was the Frecce Tricolori - their performance was stunning even from a distance and the different viewing angle of their manoeuvres was also interesting to witness .
Above the three ship Extra 330 aircraft of the French Equipe de Voltige de l'Armée de l'Air which normally participates in international aerobatic contests. These were followed by the well known four ship Extra 330's of the Jordanian Falcons - these activated their smoke while returning to Kleine Brogel ust when they were flying overhead!
Belgian Heritage flight of a F16A - Spitfire combination. Forming up in the North Eastern holding pattern before performing their fly-by's over the Sanicole area - during which the Greek F4E Phantom was awaiting its turn in the same North Eastern holding pattern. The weather was starting to get more cloudy, which wasn't a good result for photographing.
Last but not least the Greek F4E Phantom. Very nice seeing a Phantom roar full afterburner and throwing some engine smoke in it! Remarkably it flew with its transponder showing it as a Russian aircraft on ADSB. Most likely an inside joke? The Phantom arrived early for its display and flew many circles in its holding pattern before finally flying its demo. The long turns made it pass overhead my locations many times. Nice detail was the God Of War signature Phantom ghost depicted on its centre pilon.
The final act was dedicated to the Czech Gripen in its special Tiger c/s. On ADSB it was easy tracking its departure from Beauvechain and return
