The Slopes; Gilze-Rijen, 2009

Gilze-Rijen Air Base in 2009; Text and Photograph's by Alex van Noye

In 2009 I discovered the slopes at Gilze-Rijen. The activity increased drastically at this airbase when the helicopters were moved from Soesterberg to Gilze-Rijen. The slopes are every day used for at least one or two times and sometimes more. They are mainly used by the Chinooks and the Cougars of no 298 and no 300 Squadron. The slopes are two hills in the southern area of the airbase next to the motorway. The helicopters will practice landing on uneven terrain at this location. You can shoot photos from a distance of at least fifty meters from the slopes. The slopes are therefore a unique place for close contact photography of the helicopters.