For the annual open door days of the RNLAF, the Leeuwarden airbase played host of this years event. The RNLAF did a very good job by gathering an impressive number of 9 display teams and 7 official solo display teams, one of the largest numbers of display teams that have ever performed in the Netherlands. Almost all the best solo display and display teams on one place for this airshow. On Friday the weather was very cloudy and now and than a rain drop, at the Saturday the weather was just perfect for the airshow. The display teams where in a very large number present at this show, all the big names like the Blue Angels, Red Arrows, Patrouille de France and the Patrouille de Suisse where present. First time visitor this year where the "Midnight Hawks" from Finland, which is a very rare sight outside their own country. With their four BAe Hawk Mk.51's in a overall gray color scheme, which is used due the fact they are normally used for the training of pilots and therefore kept in this "low visible" paint scheme, they showed what it is to fly close formations at high and low speeds. Another "small" display teams with a minimum of four aircrafts in the formation where the RJ Falcons. The US Navy Blue Angels performed a very impressive and "Non-European" style of aerobatics flying and a impressive and tight ground show. Which included all the flight-crews and ground-crews act simultaneous and precise for the preparation of the airshow. Also "Fat Albert Airlines" performed a more than impressive airshow display, with as highlight the jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) capability. Eight solid-fuel rocket bottles, four on each side, attached near the rear paratrooper doors thrust the Hercules skyward. Fired simultaneously, the JATO bottles allow the mammoth transport aircraft to takeoff within 1,500 feet, climb at a 45-degree angle, and propel it to an altitude of 1,000 feet in approximately 15 seconds. On Friday a formation flight was flown with the RAF Red Arrows and the USN Blue Angels. Highlights of this years event where the US Navy "Blue Angels" and "Fat Albert Airlines", a flying Mil-24V Hind in a special "Tiger" colour sheme from the Czech Republic, the USAF F-15E Strike Eagle demo, a Spanish EF-18A-22-MC+ Hornet solo display that is rarely seen outside Spain. And always a highlight in my opinion on a airshow is the RNLAF F-16 Solo display that rocks you always from your feet. The much loved AH-64D Solo Display Team was due to operational reasons in Afghanistan skipped for the 2006 season, but was more than covered by the impressive display of the Czech Republic Mil-24V Hind. Overall one of the best airshows that I have visited over the years.