After a year of absence in 2015, the annual Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Luchtmachtdagen returned this year to Vliegerbasis Leeuwarden, in the North of the Netherlands. Whilst the theme of the show was once again Operatie Luchtsteun (which literally translates to Operation Air Support) it was clear that for this year at least the show had a rather particular aim. Love it or hate it, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II will be here to stay and for 2016, the Koninklijke Luchtmacht’s task was to ensure that the Dutch public loves this new aircraft. With a display centerpiece built around the presence of the first two RNLAF F-35As, this was either going to be a PR flop or triumph.
