Big Cats in Beja - Nato Tiger Meet 2021
Prose: Paulo Camelo
Photography: Fernando Reis, Paulo Camelo
Since 1961, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has held a gathering of air force squadrons for an annual exercise. What makes this gathering unique is that all of the squadrons present have a big feline as a symbol. This event became known as the NATO Tiger meet (NTM). In May of 2020, the responsibility of organizing this event fell on the shoulders of the Esquada 301 “Jaguares” of the Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force). Due to the evolution of the COVID 19 pandemic, the FAP decided to postpone NTM2020 until the month of July of that same year. The unprecedented impact of the pandemic dictated a further postponement until May of this year. In 2021, the NTM would finally become a reality.
This year’s edition took place at Base Aérea N 11 or simply BA11. This base is located in the beautiful Alentejo province in southern Portugal and was held from May 2 to May 14. Seven squadrons from five different nations were scheduled to participate. NATO’s E3A AWAC would also be present - although we were not able to see it. Unfortunately, the participation of the Dutch Air Force 313 Squadron (with a contingent 100 personnel strong) was cut short due to members of the squadron testing positive for COVID 19.
It had been months since I pointed a lens to the sky. The excitement of a much anticipated Tiger Meet Spotter’s Day grew with every passing hour. I must confess that my expectations of a Spotter’s Day at this year’s meet were extremely low. The COVID 19 infection rate in the months leading up to the event were still higher than what Portuguese health officials had stipulated for relaxing the stiff confinement restrictions. Unexpectedly, the announcement was made on the official web page of NTM2021. Two Spotter’s days would be held. The first on May 6, and a second on May 12. My low expectations suddenly jumped higher. My wingman for this adventure would be my friend and fellow aviation photographer Fernando Reis.
Well before sunrise, Fernando and I made our way toward BA11. As we approached the midpoint of our journey, we were greeted by a large orange ball that peeked over the horizon as it came across the Spanish border. The orange ball illuminated the plains of Alentejo. When we reached the main gate, we realized that we were not the only early raisers. A line of vehicles had already formed; it didn’t take long for the access road to the air base to become a spotter’s parking lot.
Once the gates opened, the traffic flowed slowly. It was necessary for the military police to verify the identity of all the participants. There would be about 140 spotters this day, photographers and enthusiasts of military aviation, Portuguese and foreign alike.
The first stop after entering the base was the mandatory, and not so pleasant, COVID 19 test. The Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force) in partnership with the Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross) were responsible for the testing. It is not known if any participant tested positive. But like Fernando and myself, I don’t believe anyone would risk making the trip, to Beja, without having had a rapid test performed a few days before the event. A slight delay in the testing made the spotters a little nervous and anxious as we all stood outside the hangar that was set up exclusively for this process. We just wanted to get our negative results and begin photographing airplanes.
We waited, outside of the hangar, for all the spotters to conclude their testing. The sounds of nature was disturbed by the rumbling of F-16 “jet noise” from behind a tree line. Suddenly, from behind the hangars, we were greeted with some low passes from an AW119MkI “Koala” of the Esquadra 552 "Zangões" of the Força Aérea Portuguesa. It was around this time that the Dutch F-16s took off and headed home. Too bad they couldn’t stay, the day looked promising.
Upon arrival, the circulating rumors were confirmed. We were not going to be able to capture the morning take offs and landings as announced in the program. This was due to the fact that, for the first time in the history of the NTM, they would be conducting night exercises. The crews needed to rest for the long day. In 2020 there had been plans for spotters to attend the night launches. Unfortunately, this part did not make it into the program of 2021.
Standing outside the testing hangar, we could see four aircraft with the most interesting “Tiger” liveries. It is customary at NATO Tiger Meets, that squadrons paint their aircraft with tiger inspired motifs. The most impressive being the Greek F-16 Block52, the Swiss Air Force F-18 of Fliegerstaffel 11, the Italian Air Force EF-2000 Typhoon of XII Gruppo and, of course, Portugal’s own F-16AM of Esquadra 301 “Jaguares”, with an integral tiger livery created by the artist @Nark.Cpk.
By the end of the morning, everyone had been tested and cleared. The brigade of spotters then began the long trek to the base radar station. It was here we would be able to have lunch and rest up before the aircraft took off for the afternoon exercises. We would remain in this spot for the rest of the day. The take offs were scheduled for 3pm and landings at 6pm.
Opportunities flowed as we were able to photograph Polish, Greek and Portuguese F-16s as well as the Swiss F-18s and the ultra-stylish EF-2000 Typhoon of XII Gruppo. Besides fighters, the rotorcraft, HH-101 and H212, added their flare. Other squadrons of the FAP joined in on the fun. The homebased P-3C CUP+ of Esquadra 601 “Lobos” and the AW119 Koala of Esquarda 552 "Zangões" kept the “Tigers” from stealing all the thunder. We know that this is a NATO Exercise and not an air show, but it would have been nice to get a few top side passes before landing, especially by those fighters with the special liveries.
We went to this event not knowing what to expect. We cannot say that we had the aircraft and livery variety of previous editions of the NTM, but taking into consideration the limitations caused by the pandemic, it was a positive experience. As we say in Portuguese, “everything that comes up in the net is fish”. As we looked at Beja through the rearview mirror, the general feeling was, for our first Tiger Meet, it was all worthwhile and in the end… that is all that matters.
