The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) meet returned to European aviation calendars in 2025. The Czech Republic’s 243rd Helicopter Squadron (243. vrtulníková letka, 243.vrl) played host to the meet, held from the 4th to 8th August at Prague’s Kbely AFB. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson travelled to Czechia to attend the media day, providing the opportunity to witness the culmination of the meet’s flying challenges.
Falcon Spring is the Dutch Army’s annual training exercise for the 11th Airmobile Brigade (11th AMB), the Netherlands’ specialised rapid-response light infantry unit. The exercise brings together the 11th AMB and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) to conduct intensive training in air assault, air manoeuvre, and joint combat operations. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Sander, Commander of DHC’s 298 Squadron about his year’s edition, with images by Paul Thompson, who captured one of the exercise’s air assault missions at Ossesluis (De Wijk).
After a 10-year absence Germany played host to the 2024 edition of the NATO Tiger Meet (NTM). Like the meet of 2014, hosting duties fell with Schleswig AB and specifically Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (TLG 51) who opened their arms to the member units of the NATO Tiger Association (NTA). AeroResource were on hand in the variable north German weather for the 2 spotter days hosted by the NTA and TLG 51 to witness the exercise in full swing.
