NATO Tiger Meet 2001 in Kleine Brogel / Belgium

NATO Tiger Meet 2001 in Kleine Brogel / Belgium

The Tiger Meet is a military exercise in which units of the NATO and associated countries participate. Those units have either used the F5 Tiger or have a raptor in their unit insignia. The exercise takes places once a year, with one of the units beeing the host. The very special of the Tiger Meets is that every unit sends one of their aircraft in a very special not to say "tigrish" outfit. Normally, combat aircraft are painted in low visibility colors. But here, it's real pieces of art being shown to the public. The Tiger Meet 2001 did take place at Kleine Brogel, Belgium.

The host aircraft

This is the F 16 in the Tiger Meet paint job of the squadron of the Force Aerienne Belge hosting the Nato Tiger Meet 2001. The speaker emphasized they didn't get permission for a whole aircraft to paint so they concentrated on the fin. What a faboulous job they did. Just imagine a model builders face while trying to get this replicated in 1:48 scale. Old chap, forget it!

Mirage 2000 of the Armée de l'air

This Mirage 2000 was sent to represent the Armée de l'air. Asides from it's fabulous paint job, it's crew gained the Nato Tiger Trophy for the best flying and military skills shown.

The designs are going to change: In the past, aircraft were decorated more or less with a Tiger's attributes so it looked like a tiger itself. Now it's merely the ground for a decent painting playing with the idea, it's been painted on an aircraft's skin. Motives are showing surrealistic tendencies.

Mirage F 1

The Mirage F 1 is still the workhorse of the french Armée de l'air. In this case, the Tiger Meet paint job was a bit more sparse than others were, more the traditional way. But: The driver's helmet and scarf was in tiger design, too. That's real dedication!

ECM-Tornado of the Bundesluftwaffe

This is one of the Tornados from the Balkan war. It's special paint job is particular well done. The squadron's homepage explains the design: Since being build the Tornados are a bit worn out, but beneath the skin waits a tiger!

On this close-up, one can oberserve well the very skillfull artwork performed here. It's a beautiful done paint job.

Alpha Jet of the Portuguese Air Force

The Alpha Jet is in use with the portuguese Air Force as a trainer andn light ground attack aircraft. This particular Alpha Jet is painted beautifully.

On this close up, it's easy to see that even the aft cockpit has been covered, probably for sake of the paint job.

JaBo Tornado of the Bundesluftwaffe

This Tornado is showing a paintwork with an idea very similar to that of the other Tornado: The skin is ripping of and underneath the Tiger shows up.

Mil Mi 24 D

This Mi 24 D is assigned to a unit of the Czech military aviation. Later these flying tanks were feared enemies of the NATO troops. After now the Czech republic became part of the NATO, some new units have been added to the NATO Tigers organization. In this case the Tiger Meet paint job is a bit sparse (the top hat of the rotor head).

A 10 A of the US Air Force

The Tiger Meet is not just a parade of colorful painted aircraft, but a military exercise. This is an A 10 A, part of a participating unit, ready for landing.