The Royal Thai Air Force will celebrate its 88th anniversary with a major international airshow in Bangkok, held at the joint military-civilian airport of Don Mueang.
The show was announced by Air Chief Marshal Panpakdee Pathanakul during a visit to Chiang Mai.
The airshow is scheduled for the 7th-8th of March and will feature extensive aerial displays. China’s August 1st aerobatic team and India’s Surya Kiran will participate with their six J-10CY/SYs and nine Hawk Mk.132 respectively, and participation from the United States is also expected. The home team will perform with the JAS-39C/D Gripen, T-50TH Golden Eagle and F-16A Fighting Falcon.
Don Mueang last hosted a major airshow in 2012, marking 100 years of military aviation in Thailand. On that occasion, the four-day show featured impressive mass flypasts and solo displays from the RTAF as well as Indonesia’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team, an RSAF F-16C solo display and a performance by Thailand’s short-lived national aerobatic team, Blue Phoenix. Since then, the base has hosted small flying displays most years in January to celebrate the annual Thai holiday of Children’s Day.