Spectacular NATO Tiger Meet 2009 at Kleine Brogel Air Base ✈️

NATO Tiger Meet 2009 Kleine Brogel Air Base
From September 14 until 25 september 2009 Kleine Brogel air base in Belgium was the place to be as the 48th annual NATO Tiger Meet was hosted by 31 Smaldeel of 10 Tactical Wing. With more then 50 participating aircraft, the NTM is the biggest exercise held by NATO in Europe during 2009.
NATO Tiger Association
The Tiger Meet started as an Franco-American initiative by the French Defence Minister Pierre Messner to improve the military co-operation between the two countries in 1961. When the same year RAF 74 Squadron met with nearby based 79thTactical Fighter Squadron of the USAFE, they were joined by the French Escadre de Chasse 01.012. By accident all three units sported a Tiger in their unit's emblem and was to be the common theme that linked the units; the Tiger Meet was born.
With already eight Tiger Squadrons from six different NATO members in 1962, the following years the Tiger Meet grew from a single day to a multiple days meeting. In 1963 the Tiger Meet moved to the continent for the first time when 31 Smaldeel based at Kleine Brogel hosted the event for the first time.
Since 1961 the NATO Tiger Association's objective are the promotion of co-operation between the various Air Forces, create better understanding of NATO military objectives and to develop better unit interoperability. Of course networking and the maintenance of strong personal ties between the participants are equally important. In contrary to other organizations like the TLP, the Tiger Association is no standing or integrated organization within NATO and is organized by the hosting unit on a rotational base. The host also delivers the Chairman of the Tiger Association.
When in 1977 the International Air Tattoo at Greenham Common hosted the Tiger Meet, the Silver Tiger Trophy was donated to the Association. Since then this Trophy is awarded annually to the Tiger Squadron that shows the highest degree of professionalism and Tiger Spirit during the Tiger Meet. The winner is determined by vote of the Detachment Commanders present at each Tiger Meet. The first winner of the Trophy was the Canadian 439 Squadron, then based at Baden-Söllingen in Germany.
Nato Tiger Meet is an intra-military affair.
The public had only access at the Kleine Brogel Spotterday which was held on September 18, 2009.
The footage is taken on that Spottersday, you can see some splendid tiger painted jets , some are already out of service such as the Mirage F-1 and the German Tornados.