For some time now, I have been talking a lot about the F-16 multi-role aircraft on the channel. Somehow it turned out that a week dedicated to this aircraft, or even a year, is coming. Unfortunately, however, in many respects the news I have for you is not overly optimistic. On September 26, 2024, the Royal Netherlands Air Force proudly announced that its fleet of F-35A multi-role aircraft has achieved full combat operational capability. This information became the official impetus to begin preparations for the farewell to the F-16 aircraft, which took place shortly afterwards at Volkel Base, where the 312th Squadron, also known as Bonzo, was stationed. It was the last unit in the Dutch Air Force to fly F-16 aircraft. The squadron is currently in the process of converting to F-35 multi-role aircraft and no longer needs its old 16s. After completing the training of ground and technical personnel, the squadron will become the third Dutch squadron flying the F-35. All three Dutch squadrons equipped with F-35 aircraft will ultimately be stationed at Volkel. In accordance with the plans for the development of military aviation in the Netherlands, or as some prefer, the Netherlands, all three squadrons are to be transferred to the Leeuwarden base in the near future. According to declarations from Amsterdam, the withdrawal of F-16 aircraft from service in the Dutch military aviation will not mean the end of their life. On the contrary, the ex-Dutch F-16s are to be sent to the air base in Borcea in Romania, where at least 18 aircraft are to be delivered. Another 24 ex-Dutch aircraft are to be sent to Ukraine. As of early September 2024, the 312th squadron had 18 stored F-16 aircraft deployed at the Volkel base, and another ten aircraft were undergoing renovation, repair and maintenance. All of the above-mentioned tasks were carried out by Sabena Engineering at Charleroi Airport. All of the aforementioned aircraft are F-16AM Block 15 aircraft that have undergone the so-called Mid Life Update, while all of the Dutch two-seater F-16 aircraft have already been transferred to the European Training Center in Romania. It is known that some time ago, more precisely on September 16, 2024, at least six multi-role F-16 aircraft previously owned by the Dutch flew from Poland to Ukraine in the evening. Despite rumors that appeared in the media some time ago, the Poles did not decide to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. On the other hand, the takeoff of the former Dutch aircraft to Ukraine took place from the Polish base in Mińsk Mazowiecki, which is considered by some to be the easternmost air base, which is exactly 154 km from the Ukrainian border. Information about the transfer of the Dutch aircraft to Ukraine was not made public until October 6. Two more planes with Dutch numbers J-509 and J-644 were handed over to Romanians responsible for organizing the European Training Center on September 25. The material uses fragments of recordings from the channels: / @defensenow / @spotmediaro / @hotnews_ro I am also here: https://odysee.com/@Balszoi:5?r=CmuKJ... I invite you to support the channel: Virtual coffee https://buycoffee.to/balszoi Patronite: https://patronite.pl/Balszoi #lotnictwo #military #wojna #army #airforce #wojsko #netherlands #f16 #f16fighter #f16fightingfalcon #ukrainerussiawar