Taiwan 2024

Although Taiwan has recently said goodbye to most F-5s, the RF-5E and a couple of F-5Fs will continue to fly for a while, it remains a great aviation destination. There is good flying at almost every base and if that is not the case, there are often good alternatives within a short driving distance. For enthusiasts, the country is also littered with Wrecks & Relics, we have also selected a few nice ones during this tour.

Before departure it looked like the weather would not be very good, but fortunately the weather forecasts cannot be trusted and things turned out well for us.

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17/18 February 2024

On Saturday 17 February 2024, most participants left Schiphol around noon to arrive in Taipei via Hong Kong on Sunday morning 18 February. For optimal flexibility, we always travel to Taiwan with a small group and after going through customs formalities, collecting luggage and searching for a working ATM, our van was ready in front of the terminal. We quickly headed to the Hsinchu base, where at first it seemed like there was nothing left to do, but we were still pleasantly surprised with a few Mirages. In Taiwan, military flights are normally flown on every day of the week, including the weekend. Via a few Wrecks & Relics we headed to Songshan airport where we saw some airliners coming in nicely. Then it was time to go to the final destination of the day, a hotel in Hualien. Near the hotel was a nice restaurant where we tasted the first local dishes, then took a short walk through the centre to process all the new impressions before the lights slowly went out.

19 February 2024

Monday 19 February 2024 was the first operational weekday. We arrived at the base just before 08:00 and the noise we heard on the way to the base was a pair of F-5s, an RF-5E and an F-5F. Unfortunately for us, this duo went to Pingtung to leave the RF-5 there for major maintenance, the F-5F went along as a taxi service. The F-5F returned later in the day, which we were very happy with. Just after 08:00, plenty of F-16s took off, which we were able to photograph beautifully during the take-off, with the mountains in the background. We then move to the approach to capture these Block 72Vs during the landing. In addition to the F-16s, a C-130 and S-70 also arrived very nicely this morning. Around noon we had something to eat and visited an F-5 in the city. There we were surprised by a P-3 who suddenly came over, but luckily later made another touch & go when we were in the right place. In the meantime we were in the approach again, but now on the other side because sun swung round the runway. Now there was also a good view of the airfield and we saw another batch of F-16s take to the air. For the last wave we decided to stand on the roof of the Carrefour, where you have to be a little careful and there is an increased chance of being checked. The sun had disappeared for a while in the past hour, but has now returned and we were immediately treated to a red/white UH-60M from the emergency services. Then the last F-16s, of a total of 24 that day, landed and the final aircraft of the day, how fitting, was a Fokker 50. Then it was time to get on the minibus to Taitung.

20 February 2024

This Tuesday 20 February 2024, it was Taitung’s turn, during the time of the F-5 there was always early flying activity on the field, we were ready at 7:00 am, but the air force was not yet. About a dozen F-5s were still visible on the ramp, which were being worked on and towed, but not flown. A Medevac UH-60M arrived, one of which was already on the field. Around 10:00 the brand new AT-5 trainers started moving in good numbers. These can be photographed very nicely from the hotel during take-off and landing. Around noon we drove to the other airport in Taitung where a few nice civilian aircraft were parked outside, three red/white UH-60Ms were read in the hangar and a government Beech 200 was taking off. Then back to the air base for the afternoon missions that we watched from the approach. Another UH-60M arrived and the end of the day was a military Beech 1900. Now we had to steer for a few hours again to get to the west side of the island. Tainan was our home base for the next two nights.

21 February 2024

On Wednesday 21 February 2024 we started in Tainan, where the wind was different than during previous visits. So it took some time to find a good spot, but it was quickly found. In bright sunshine we saw the F-CK-1 Ching Kuos take off and appear beautiful before landing. After the sixteen units from the morning mission had returned, we were satisfied and decided, via a few W&R, to go to Chiayi, an F-16 base. There too we had to look for another place due to the ‘strange’ wind, but that was no problem either. Shortly afterwards we saw a C-130 take off and a UH-60M making circuits at its home base. Then two F-16s returned, with a full weapons load, that had flown a long Combat Air Patrol mission. We saw a total of nine F-16s that afternoon and the finale was another transport aircraft, a C-130 this time. We returned to the hotel via an F-5, where we took a group photo.

22 February 2024

It is already Thursday 22 February 2024 when we leave early for Gangshan airport, where the T-34s are in full swing when we arrive. Once these have landed, a dozen AT-3s are taking off, later followed by the same number of T-34s. We then go towards the museum and pass the old museum, where the gate is unfortunately closed. After a visit to this very beautiful museum we return to the old site again and we can speak to someone who calls his boss and gives us permission to look around there as well. However, the day is not over and we go again to Tainan where fourteen more Ching Kuos will fly a mission that afternoon. An OH-58D, but without it typical ball, also passes by nicely. What a cool day! Then we set sail for Taichung for the last hotel of the tour.

23 February 2024

On Friday 23 February 2024, we will first visit the other Ching Kuo airfield in Taiwan, Ching Chuan Kang, where the aircraft arrive slightly higher and the variety of photography is slightly less, but seventeen F-1-CKs, a Beech 1900 and an F-16B give us all a big smile this morning. However, the Mirage 2000 has a slightly greater appeal and we go to Hsinchu for the afternoon mission. It has now become a bit cloudy and we have to photograph part of the ten Mirages without the sun. At the end of the day we return to the hotel via a few preserved F-104s.

24/25 February 2024

After consultation in the group, we decided that we want to end the tour with Mirages, so we will set sail for Hsinchu again this Saturday 24 February 2024. The flying is not very good this morning, but we do see two fully armed Mirages returning from their QRA task from Taitung. There is still time before our flight leaves that evening, so we choose half a dozen locations with F-5 and F-104 jets.

The participants are all dropped at the airport and the tour guide takes the minibus back to the rental company. Together we start the long journey back, again with Hong Kong as a stopover, to arrive back in Amsterdam on the early morning of Sunday 25 February 2024.

We have completed another successful trip to the ever-fertile Taiwan. We will return again soon. Will you be there too?