F-16 'Dannebrog 800' Special Scheme display - Royal Danish Air Force

Captain Troels 'TEO' Vang flying The Royal Danish Air Force's F-16 Solo Display, in the 'Dannebrog 800' special scheme aircraft, E-191, during The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2023 at RAF Fairford, England. The film shows the show arrival of both aircraft on Wednesday 12 July, followed later on the same day, by a practice and validation display by E-191. The aircraft flew again during a very wet Friday 14 July, which I didn't film as it was just too wet to risk the camera. Unfortunately the aircraft then developed a technical fault which grounded it for the rest of the airshow, before it departed on Monday 17 July.
Perhaps one of the most colourful display fast jets on the European circuit, the Danish display F-16 is painted in a special scheme 'Dannebrog 800', which was applied to the aircraft during June 2019 in order to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the colours of the Danish flag.
This celebrated 'Valdemarsdag', the anniversary of King Valdemar’s victory in the Battle of Lindanise (present day Tallinn, Estonia) in 1219. According to legend, on that day, the flag of Denmark 'Dannebrog' (which translates to 'the cloth of the Danes' or the 'red flag') fell from the sky.
The Danish Air Force sent their F-16 solo display, together with a static display example of the F-16BM two seater, to the 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo 2023. The aircraft are from Eskadrilles 727 and 730 of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) based with Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, in southern Jutland, Denmark. Denmark operates 30 F-16s which are pooled between Eskadrille 727 and Eskadrille 730 at Skrydstrup.
Eskadrille 727 was the first Danish squadron to be equipped with the F-16 and is the oldest fighter squadron of the RDAF. It will replace its F-16s with an order for 27 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs. Four F-35As, the first to be received in Denmark, were delivered to Esdadrille 727 at Skrydstrup on 14 September 2023. The squadron will operate both the F-16 and F-35A aircraft for a transitional period, until all ordered F-35s have been delivered, which is expected to be during 2026.
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently the most numerous combat aircraft in NATO. Originally developed for the USAF as a day fighter, the F-16 has evolved into a highly capable multi-role combat aircraft that despite flying for the first time in 1974 is still in production. Over 4,500 F-16s have been produced over the past 49 years and 3,000 of them are still in service with 25 nations around the world. The most recent version is called the Block 70/72 and includes a new cockpit, computers, an advanced AESA radar based on the one installed in the F-35.
Denmark originally ordered 77 F-16s which were licence built by SABCA in Belgium. Today the fleet stands at 30 aircraft in service with others in storage. These have been updated to the F-16AM MLU specification which includes the Link 16 datalink, Helmet Sight, Targeting Pods, new computers and the ability to use the Aim-9X Sidewinder providing a full multi-role capability. The Danish Air Force will shortly begin to retire their remaining F-16s as deliveries continue of the F-35A. Denmark have ordered 27 F-35As to replace the F-16.
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[@Red-rl1xx]

Cool paintjob! Neat flying! The F16 is one of my favorites!

[@philwhipple4557]

Real good stuff.