| During
2004 Flightgear Online was contacted by the "Rekwisieten Commissie Krijgsmacht"
(Royal Netherlands Army Props Department) This Department keeps the past alive, by
collecting, restoring and showing military vehicles, clothing and arms. These items are
lend out to movie makers (like Paul Verhoeven for his movie "Zwart Boek") and
are shown during Veteran days and Army open days on stage and on a static display. 
The full display team at Leeuwarden 2006
showing both aircrew and non-aircrew retaled air force uniforms.
Klick the picture if you want to see the individuals in more detail.
Until then, the Department only focused on
Army history, but wanted to show Air Force related items also during the annual Air Force
Open Days. Working together with the KPU Bedrijf "Kleding en Persoonsgebonden
Uitrusting" (clothing and personal equipment defence department) During the Air Show
at Gilze Rijen airbase in 2005, Flightgear Online supplied several historical flight gear
artefacts, (helmets, masks, coveralls and parachutes) for the Air Force clothing show.
Besides flight gear, also other uniforms and combat clothing in use with the Air Force was
shown by the KPU.
     
From left to right:Farman
pilot, Spitfire pilot, F-84F pilot, F-104 pilot in standard flightgear, F-104 pilot in
partial
pressure outfit for high-level interceptions, and a present day F-16 pilot.
Leeuwarden 2006
When the Royal Netherlands Air Force announced their 2006 Open Days location,
preparations were started for another clothing show. This time the flight gear part also
focused on items that have been in use on Leeuwarden airbase in the past. Flightgear
Online supplied the Props Department with several historical sets and even went on stage
them selves!
Shown this time were for instance, very
early Farman pilot, Spitfire pilot, 1950’s Thunderstreak pilot, 70’s F-104G
pilot, present day F-16 pilots, SAR helicopter pilot, Apache pilot and an old very rare
EFA high altitude set as used on the F-104G in Leeuwarden in the 60’s/70’s.
For display purposes, some items were no
longer in original condition. For instance the Thunderstreak setup had a modified MBU-3/P
mask attached to the P series helmet, as an original A-13A/MS22001 mask would be too
fragile. Also the EFA outfit had an empty ARZ-30 coverall as walking with an inflatable
bladder would have cost the live of our mannequin! (It can be very hot in those suits..)
Other sets on show were, among others,
firemen, airfield security and crew chiefs.
In 2007 the next show is planned on Volkel
airbase.
Images copyright Frank Peters www.fotocreatives.nl and Jerry Bielsma www.viperflight.nl
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