Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 These were taken Sat Aug 5 from an airbase near here. It houses the Mirage 2000-5 fighters, which form the first line air defense against the Chinese AF across the straits. The airbase is fully open to the public, and they are very liberal about photographing, radio scanners and allowing the public to mingle with highly dangerous weaponry such as the Air Cobra, F-16s, Hellfire anti-tank missiles. The Thunder Dragon aerial display team. They fly the AT-3, which is similar to the Japanese AT-4. The head-on maneuver...a highly dangerous move whereby both oncoming planes can collide if either one breaks formation. Here the minimize the risk by maintaining a lower speed for the main team (see airbrakes, gears down). "Five finger" pattern with the fightleader breaking out from the center. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 Baaahhhhh, Denny, excellent pictures Is this a yearly event ? Would like to plan to visit Taiwan next year and might include the ROCAF open-day Please, post some more shots; loved them all (sofar) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 Is this a yearly event ? Would like to plan to visit Taiwan next year and might include the ROCAF open-day Its a yearly event...family day, public relation, recruitment - all happening in 1 day. From July-Sept, each weekend is given to a different airbase. The better airbase visit is the US bases in Japan. You get to see more variety of a/c. The first sight that greets you when you get to the apron. This is the SuperCobra version, an improved version of the original air cobra. Main canon. On top is the ears and eyes of the cobra, the FLIR (Forward looking IR) plus targetting system. Hellfire anti-tank (laser-guided) missiles and Hydra rockets. TOW (wire-guided) anti-tank missiles, only 3 are visible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Teh 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 Denny, nice pix from taiwan..... i am planning on a backpacking trip to taipei area next year for 10~20days.... probably on august... hope to have chances to see those as well love all your pictures above, share more pls Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Min Chun 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 Oh Wow.. Denny must be enjoying those excellent performances.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 (edited) I like this photo because of the flag matching the ROCAF badge on this a/c. It's also a reminder of the ideals of the republic and the struggle to maintain its democratic ideals. Solo performance...the Mirage 2000-5 performed a series comprising of 16 stunts to show-off its agility. This remarkable French flying machine deserves the spotlight because it is such an agile fighter. It is capable of pulling turns at a tighter angle compared to larger US fighters such as F-15s or F-14s. Edited August 5, 2006 by Denny Yen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin P K 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2006 That SuperCobra looks extra mean and... well ugly! Wow check out the ammunition! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ignatius 4 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 (edited) Incredible shots .. I love the Mirage 2000 alot.. great angles.. Edited August 6, 2006 by Ignatius Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abdul Malik 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 great pics denny,especially the Mirage,seriously nice your camera had no problem taking the pic of the mirage while it was moving so fast??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PC Yuen 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 Damn cool! Taiwan offers a mix variety of high-tech defense weaponary systems including their advance equipped air-force. Nevertheless, its a beautiful place to visit...especially the girls! heee.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raj 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 "Five finger" pattern with the fightleader breaking out from the center. Denny, Really like this Shot..Awesome.. Also nice shots of the Cobra.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin Yii 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 man look at the canon!! i wish i can squess the trigger.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benjamin Ng 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 Nice stuff.Thanks Denny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chan CS 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 This one remind me of concorde... Haha... The wings looks familiar... Haha... Anyway, thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 More of the aerial display show. Mirage show....all taken with Canon IS 70-300mm, shutter priority mode. Admiring crowd...p/s: Take note of Taiwanese ah-moi with DSLR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 Nice Mirage 2000-5 shots, Denny: it shows very well one of only a few fighters with slats AFAIK Also.... they do have a fantastic roar when the after-burner is on Great looking plane and pretty big too compared to F-16. (Never knew, there were ah-moi spotters in Taiwan ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2006 Latest addition to the ROCAF. E2-Ts Kuda kuat (the workhorse) French engineering marvel, and an agile fighter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ignatius 4 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Planetastic Denny.... I'm amazed from the start Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Very nice shots Denny. Some questions: 1)Which airbase is this? 2)Is the open house at the same airbase or rotated around? Tks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Very nice shots Denny. Some questions: 1)Which airbase is this? 2)Is the open house at the same airbase or rotated around? Kwek: (1) Hsinchu Airbase/RCPO - not open to civilian. (2) It is rotated from base to base during this few weeks. Every year, each base will have open day once, and it is around late-July to end-August. Next wekeend is Hualien Airbase (Aug.12) - which houses F-16s. RF-5s. A map of all airbases is here: http://home.nycap.rr.com/mismedia/PRCROCmissile/index.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 Again, excellent shots Denny Uniform of flightcrew look very similar to US Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Teh 0 Report post Posted August 7, 2006 what's that thing on top of the chopper? it looks cute...like alien Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted August 8, 2006 what's that thing on top of the chopper? it looks cute...like alien It's called MMS = mast-mounted sight, which is used in hunting targets and not for flying. The device comprises of TIS (thermal imaging sensor), TVS (television sensor), LRF/D (laser range finder/designator). TIS = nighttime target finder, TVS = daytime target finder. LRFD = measuring the range and to "highlight" the target by laser. This chopper is the Kiowa OH-58D, and its primary role is in surveillance-targeting and attack. The MMS is mounted 6ft above the pilot so that it can remain hidden behind the trees, and only the sensors appear on top. The chopper is also painted with a special camo paint which appears different shade under different lighting conditions, sometimes as grey, green-grey. dark-green. There is even a cable-cutting device on top of the windshield. It is used to cut power cables/lines along their flightpath. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites