Photo from 2023 for illustration
From September 9 to 20, 2024, Eindhoven Air Base hosts the international airborne exercise "Falcon Leap," organized by the Royal Netherlands Army’s 11th Air Assault Brigade. This exercise focuses on international cooperation, with eight participating nations and air transport provided by the Air Mobility Command in collaboration with international partners.
The 8 participating countries were,
The Netherlands C-130 x3 (G-275 / G-781 / G-988)
The United States Air force C-130 x4 (96-7325 / 16-5858 / 96-1562 / 06-3176)
The Royal Airforce A400m (ZM-417)
The German Airforce A400m (54+19)
The Polish Airforce C295 (020)
The Hellenic Airforce C27J / C-130 (4117 / 741)
The Spanish Airforce C295 ( T21.08)
The Romanian Airforce C27J (2703)
US Air Force HC-130 from the 130th rescue squadron
US Air force ANG (Air National Guard) C-130 from Montanna
Royal Netherlands Airforce C-130
Portugese Air Force C-295
The exercise ended with a special tribute on Saturday, September 21, to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden at Ginkelse Heide near Ede. This significant operation, which took place during World War II, helped liberate southern Netherlands and holds a special place in the country's history.
Spanish Air Force C-295
During the first week, the focus was on practicing cargo drops, specifically using the Container Delivery System (CDS). These took place over areas like the Marnewaard in Groningen and several locations in central Netherlands and Belgium. The training underlines the importance of air mobility in delivering crucial cargo during humanitarian missions, such as the recent aid drops over Gaza.
In the second week, the action ramped up with both parachutists and cargo being dropped across various locations in North Brabant, Gelderland, and Groningen. Aircraft participating in the exercise flew out of Eindhoven Air Base, and because they flew at lower altitudes than usual, many people likely spotted and heard them overhead. This low-flying maneuver is a critical skill the pilots practiced throughout the exercise.
German Airforce A400 crossing the moon
Romanian Air Force C-37J Spartan
Hellenic (Greek) Air Force C-130