Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight head-quarter.

R-18, PH-NGK, Auster Mk.III 1942

G-29, PH-KHV, Beechcraft T-7 "Navigator" 1952

G-29, PH-KHV, Beechcraft T-7 "Navigator" 1952

Bo-105 still owend by the Dutch Air Force, it could be a next asset for the Historical Flight

E-20, PH-GRB, Fokker S-11 1950

E-32, PH-HOI, Fokker S-11 1952

B-118, PH-IBB, AT-16ND Harvard IIb 1943

B-64, PH-LSK, AT-16ND Harvard IIb 1942 in restauration

B-71, PH-MLM, AT-16ND Harvard IIb 1943

R-181, PH-GAU, Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub 1954

R-109, PH-GAZ, Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub 1954

R-122, PH-PPW, Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub 1954

R-137, PH-PSC, Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub 1954

R-177, PH-KNR, Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub 1954

H-25 / 3W-17, PH-OUQ, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX 1943

PH-DHC, U-6A Beaver

PH-GAU in restauration, it's a Piper L-21A/U-7B Cub

A-12, PH-TYG, De Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth 1939 in restauration

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Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight head-quarter.

Gilze Rijen Air Base is the oldest air field in the Netherlands. The first flight was on Sunday June 27th, 1909, Count the Lambert (France) flew a Wright bi-plane for three and half minutes above Molenheide (old name of Gilze Rijen AB).

During World War Two, from May 16th, 1940 until August 15th, 1944 Gilze Rijen was a German Fliegerhorst (Air Base). After the war Gilze Rijen was a training base with Tiger Moths, Harvard's, Piper Cubs and Fokker S-11 trainers. From 1972 it's a fighter base with Northrop NF-5A/B, and F-16A/B Fighting Falcons (1991). In 1995 the Tactical Helicopter Group takes over the base, with Bölkow Bö-105 and AH-64A Apache helicopters.

When this article was written, The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has two squadrons (301/302 sq) AH-64D Apaches, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight (Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht) based on Gilze Rijen.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight is restoring all kinds of propeller aircraft of the RNLAF since 1969 and kept them flying. In the near future they will also start restoring and fly helicopters like the Aérospatiale Alouette III and MBB Bölkow Bö-105.

 * in restoration.

At Gilze Rijen two Apache squadrons are currently based,

Pics from the Apaches can be found on a separate page, click here to visit.

More information you can find at www.skhv.nl

Research and pictures by Rob Vogelaar.