Absolutely stunning F-16 display in the hands of a fast jet legend - RIAT '23

The Belgian Air Force F-16 Viper display might be THE best fast jet display I think I've ever seen. He does things with the jet that I've never seen done before. From start to finish it's absolute poetry. And that's before we even discuss that absolutely stunning paint scheme.
Captain Steven “Vrieske” De Vries has more than 5,000 hours on the F-16, and boy-oh-boy does it show. Check out the landing at the end. Bearing in mind there was a 20 mph crosswind component, winds gusting to 40+ mph and pouring rain.
If you've not read it you should check out F-16 Solo Display website, especially the section on Captain De Vries - f16solodisplay...
Thanks so much for watching, commenting and liking the videos on the channel. Your support is what keeps it going! 🙏🙏🙏
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[@UKAviationMovies]

If you like my videos please consider buying me a coffee to support my work. Thanks 🙏 www.buymeacoffee.com/ukaviationmovies

[@popkinson]

That pilot should be given some sort of award for sheer brilliance.

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree. Absolutely awesome display 😎

[@Vipers810]

OMG this is the best F-16 display i have ever seen in my life.

[@UKAviationMovies]

It’s so good. The Belgian Air Component nailed it this year for me 100%👌👍

[@smab-ez9he]

Agree with the author, never seen an F-16 doing maneuvers like this before. Awesome airmanship.

[@UKAviationMovies]

It really is. Such an awesome display and presence 😎

[@cybeliometalbest25]

In the air, the pilot becomes a living extension of his F-16, executing maneuvers with unparalleled harmony. What a demonstration !

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

This……pilot does.

[@UKAviationMovies]

100%. I heard a fighter pilot saying it’s more like strapping the jet on, rather than strapping into the jet 😎

[@nickrogers7849]

Outstanding airmanship

[@milleniumsaucer8978]

Beautiful aircraft, great camera work, great camera and great pilot ! What more could you ask for !

[@UKAviationMovies]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks 👍

[@LaVermine773]

@@UKAviationMovies what about Rafale ???

[@topfelya]

Wow ! I was there too and filmed this best aerobatic display ! Top video mate !

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot mate 👍

[@lincthomas7178]

NOTHING beats that sound!!

[@thecorknicehero3073]

0:45 that was the most incredible manoeuvre I’ve have ever seen in my absolute life. 😲😲😲 Jeez that wasn’t a manoeuvre you would normally see at airshows. I’d say this was 10x better than the typhoon.

[@UKAviationMovies]

I love that manoeuvre too. I honestly think it’s the best Viper display I’ve seen. He was good last year but this year’s display was absolutely epic. Vrieske is an F-16 legend 😎

[@davidsmith8997]

With all due respect, that's just rudder yaw. There are FAR more impressive displays that have been done. Having said that, this is certainly one of the best F-16 demos I've ever seen, if not THE best!

[@UKAviationMovies]

@@davidsmith8997 I'm with you on that 👍

[@nickjenkins236]

Captain De Vries is clearly a pilot who has completely mastered the control of the F-16 in all three axes which means he performs manoeuvres that I've never seen other pilots usually only working in two axes perform... and all in a non-thrust vectored aircraft. After last year & this, I have no idea how he hasn't won an award for his airmanship at RIAT yet.

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree! I think the French Rafale won this year but Vrieske is on another level for me. The whole package is top class.

[@keithallver2450]

The F-16...A 40+ yr old design that still never fails to impress with its turn-on-a-dime agility.

[@signpost5596]

Superlative airmanship! Legendary fighter jet! Man and machine at their best!👍

[@knightflightvideo]

Great display and video by the Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo Team! 😊👍👍

[@wolfgangrosen8609]

the best f16 display i have ever seen

[@UKAviationMovies]

100% best I've seen too 😎

[@longsweep1]

Impressive!

[@flyingspirit8040]

What a pilot.impeccable flying.

[@DafyddPhillips]

This was a real treat Ben, great filming 👍

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot bud. They’re difficult to track at times! 😂

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

@@UKAviationMoviesnot easy tracking. I’d just wish the weather would have cooperated better, that’s beyond our control. So far the best F-16 demo I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing!

[@hangie65]

Great filming, Ben. Awesome display as well. That pilot is one with his machine. Thanks for posting.

[@UKAviationMovies]

Cheers Lorenzo! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! 😎

[@blackers6897]

At 0.45 never saw some one doing that. Nice shot.

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

Imagine the lateral Gs on the pilot.

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot. It’s such a great opening manoeuvre 😎

[@Simu117]

Great filming! I was also there and oh my - that display was for sure the most impressive one. I think there's always a trophy given for the best display, i think we all know who's going to win that.

[@typhoon109]

probably the best display ive ever been to, me and my friends loved it :). also my knowledge came in handy a bit when we were about to get food and i heard the words "Pegasus engine" and i immediately knew it was the harrier about to fly and dropped everything to get up to the display line. even if the wind was a little bad the weather overall couldnt have been better when compared to the forecast

[@UKAviationMovies]

Ahh good work there bud! It was a great show this year 👍

[@davidknight6981]

This pilot, is what Musashi would have said, if he could have witnessed this performance. "This Air Warrior cannot be distinguished from himself and his weapon."

[@UKAviationMovies]

100%! 👍

[@GlennMichaelHasting]

The Falcon has always been ahead of the curve. Aerodynamics and Power. 5th Gen. is a different animal . . .

[@UKAviationMovies]

Yeah it sure doesn’t look its age. A very capable dogfighter 😎

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

A great tool if its operator knows how to use it.

[@jameshardie9914]

I really love that dream viper livery!

[@UKAviationMovies]

Me too! Absolutely incredible 👌

[@jameshardie9914]

@@UKAviationMovies I was lucky enough to see it in person last year

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

I hope a decal company produces it for a kit model

[@jameshardie9914]

@@uwekonnigsstaddt524 I'd buy it if they did

[@johnp2110]

This display makes the Thunderbirds and Viper West look almost mundane and routine by comparison. They don’t fly F-16 demos this aggressive in the US. Amazing pilot! Great filming!

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot man. We had the US Viper Demo here at RIAT in England in 2019. It was a pretty cool display, but the pilot, Maj. Garret Schmitz, suffered damage to the horizontal stabiliser after puling some crazy mad g's during the opening part of his display. I've not seen a US F-16 display since then unfortunately.

[@NEntv58]

Whoa. That tail-wag is intense. Never seen before.

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree. Love that yaw! 😎

[@Blitz9H]

Superb!

[@bazmac3184]

He was the best for me all weekend. Absolute mad man 🤣👍🏻

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree Bazmac! I thought it was the best display as well. Pretty much perfection for my tastes 😎

[@alanh7495]

Wow! that was one heck of an impressive F16 display

[@UKAviationMovies]

It really his. He’s such an awesome pilot. He did an epic knife edge on departures day too. You can see it in my departures vid. So cool 👌👌👌👌

[@aleksanderszymanowski6631]

Being Swedish and aware of pilot Brännströms capabilities, I must admit that this display - in a much less modern fighter, was in a different league!

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree. I think the Gripen E looks very capable though. Watching that with interest for the future 😎

[@aleksanderszymanowski6631]

@@UKAviationMovies I live in the city where they develop and produce it, the roar and the rate of climb seem far outnumbering previous versions, it always lacked a little punch but seems fixed with the new engine, nimbleness intact.

[@philipplace9990]

Child: "Mummy, what's the difference between flying a plane and chucking it around the sky?" Mummy: "Watch this...!!!"

[@timl4257]

Amazing , f16 is still a very capable aircraft despite its age. I believe this is the f16A variant which is the original version. 🇧🇪❤

[@UKAviationMovies]

That's correct. F-16AM, with some additional upgrades to the A 👍

[@scottollett]

Some negative g moves in there ... amazing!

[@UKAviationMovies]

It was a great display this year. My personal highlight I think 👍

[@LotBoy87]

Magnificent

[@ZuleicaRodrigueshosang]

My love beautiful f 16 !😊😊😊😅

[@dissyduster]

Great vid ,just amazing,,,,,,

[@bambrikii]

cool 5:21

[@ImpendingJoker]

Maybe I'm jaded and have watched too many F-16s in real life but after reading the comments I went back and rewatched the video, and I really do not see this pilot do anything all that special. The F-16s fly by wire system and it's small size make it very capable of everything shown here. Now you can argue that it's the pilot and that he's born with it but, have you ever thought for once that maybe...it's Maybeline?

[@UKAviationMovies]

🤣🤣🤣

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

“Cloud Dancer”…..best way to describe this pilot’s flying abilities. Makes it look so easy. So far, the best F-16 demo I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing. Post Tenebras Lux.

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks for the comment 👌

[@jnhumble]

@@UKAviationMovies I fully agree. Sterling filming saves me going to Fairford! Never thougt the Su- and Migfamilies would meet their master in a 40 year old design. True, the Rafale is an honourable second... From 2025 onwards maybe a F35 will display - I wonder where Belgium will get the money...

[@lincthomas7178]

im a rock star. movie star. game designer and PILOT!!!

[@jerryosorio]

I think, an F16 with a 2d directional exhaust nozzle like the F22 would be even more manuverable & deadly in dogfight.

[@UKAviationMovies]

General Dynamics tried that didn’t they? I’m sure I remember seeing something about a thrust vectoring F-16 🧐🧐

[@LokSimpan]

Can i ask wich camera u use?

[@UKAviationMovies]

For this I was using a Sony AX53, but I have a few cameras that I’ve used on different vids on my channel 👍

[@jlor7675]

Who the hell thumbs down this??

[@UKAviationMovies]

😂😂😂 they live amongst us!

[@macrucial9901]

Solo motor... If turn off... Whats the result ?

[@UKAviationMovies]

Eject! 😬 They rarely have issues though 😅

[@tolgakoken2138]

rudder kick maneuver is Solo Türk F16 Demo Team maneuver

[@UKAviationMovies]

Not seen his display for a long time. It’s a great display manoeuvre 😎

[@tolgakoken2138]

@@UKAviationMovies kzbin.infoM3AGCTXod4I

[@iain8837]

Great display, I was there on Sunday but didn’t see it, was a poor flying line up with far too long between displays, Gripen and Typhoon displayed many times by 3pm along with some other helicopters, pretty poor actually, then the heavens opened at 3:30 and everybody started leaving. The Typhoon display was ok, but very predictable, loads of max rate rolls, derry turns, same year after year. Then you get this F16 which does something a bit different, RAF….taken note!

[@UKAviationMovies]

I really enjoyed it this year personally, I thought it was a cracking show. A Spanish Harrier in the flying display was pretty special. Not the mention the Rafale, Finnish F-18, Dream Viper, German Tonkas, Italian Typhoon, Gripen E and the B-52. The weather was a shocker but I'm am amazed they managed to fly so many of the aircraft given the wind and rain over the weekend 😂

[@iain8837]

@@UKAviationMovies Fair enough. But what exactly did the German Tonkas do? Took off, buggered off for 20 mins, done a fly past with a tanker, then landed. That was special? I remember at Leuchars watching 4x GR1 beating up the airfield at 550kts,, 100ft for 15 mins why being chased by F3’s, with explosions and SAMs going off, that was special.

[@UKAviationMovies]

@@iain8837 Oh for sure. The old RAF Tornado Role demo was the pinnacle for me. A fabulous excuse to hoon about in full burner at 100ft. I just thought it was ace to even see them as a display item. Maybe I'm just easily pleased these days! 🤣

[@Remi55]

Le F16 est bien loin d' avoir la vélocité du RAFALE !

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

The pilot……not the jet….makes the difference. Just because you have the fire, pot, and food ready to cook, it doesn’t make that cook a chef. Post Tenebras Lux.

[@UKAviationMovies]

😮😮😮😮

[@floodea]

Amazing camera work. I didn't think an F16 could do this. None of this thrust vectoring nonsense!

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot! It’s such a cracking display 👌

[@bertg.6056]

Great flying and great photography !

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot! 👍👍👍

[@robinlee7886]

Wow, what a pilot, that was unreal, love the F-16 anyway but really like it even more after that flight.

[@meintingles4396]

Imagine if this has thrust vectoring like the F-16 Vista... What a beautiful plane.

[@UKAviationMovies]

The F-16 is still a monster! 😎

[@zumbach.7434]

Holy cow!!, that is fantastic display!!

[@UKAviationMovies]

It’s a cracker 😎

[@zumbach.7434]

@UKAviationMovies It's a true cracker, thanks for video!

[@bobritter7197]

Half of that shouldn't be possible. The other half probably isn't.😮

[@UKAviationMovies]

😂😂😂 great comment 👌

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

I did notice a lot of negative Gs. That pilot has got to be in great physical shape.

[@jnhumble]

Haha! Quite!

[@michealpallett5708]

Cant get anove such a brilliant display sir i sault you

[@8888shooter]

Absolutely awesome video footage!!!.. 👌....the Belgium pilots know how to do a top notch display!!👍😍....and their F16'S are always fabulously painted!!!! They make stunning photos/ videos!!!!.. thanks so much for sharing this video!! Fantastic job!! Cheers Paul 🍻📸😁

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks a lot for the comment as always Paul 👍 It's an absolutely stunning display for sure 😎

[@modelrailwaynoob]

Saw it yesterday... very impressive

[@UKAviationMovies]

One of the best displays at RIAT this year for me. Absolutely stunning 👌

[@jackbertie8686]

Absolutely right about the landing. If one could have been a passenger with a full pint 🍺 not a drop would've been spilt... not that the pint would have survived those negative Gs What a display! What a pilot! 👍👍👍

[@UKAviationMovies]

Thanks for the comment 👍 like butter 😎

[@itsstephenjackson]

That shimmy. Wow.

[@มดแดง-ฃ3ข]

เฮ้ยนี่มันพูดไม่รู้เรื่องจริงๆฉันบอกแล้วว่าเรื่องนี้ห้ามยุ่งเกี่ยวกับงบประมาณการจัดซื้อมันทำตัวเป็นราชินีที่นี่ยังไง

[@allinacan]

Unbelievable. Never seen an F-16 do this

[@UKAviationMovies]

It's a cracking display this year! 😎

[@มดแดง-ฃ3ข]

มึงลองเอามาเล่นถุงมือหากินยากแน่นอนมึงขายได้ปีนี้แค่ 2 ลำประเทศไทยเท่านั้นแหละ

[@eddymagielse4993]

can't think of anything negative, 🐍perfect display🐍

[@UKAviationMovies]

I agree. Hard to fault 😎

[@eddymagielse4993]

@@UKAviationMoviesi live near Kleine Brogel and i visited many airshows for 40years now and was suprised to see that the F16 is better then we thought.

[@UKAviationMovies]

Ahhh awesome. I'm hoping to visit Kline Brogel at some point before Belgium retire the F-16. Vrieske's display this year was absolutely stunning. It was, I think, my favourite display from this year 😎

[@TwistLosi]

Don't normally see so much negative G's being pulled at a Airshow, unique and very impressive display.

[@UKAviationMovies]

Yeah I agree. He pulled more negative Gs last year, but he backed off a bit this year, which I think made for a better display 👍

[@Red-rl1xx]

Awesome!

[@UKAviationMovies]

It’s such a great display. Got to be one of the best 😎👌

[@michaelkaliski7651]

Moved the plane about in the sky and pulled a lot of negative g’s but plenty of over controlling and corrections going on too. A good display but the pilot seems unable to exactly nail the 90º angles and crispness I have come to expect from military display pilots.

[@UKAviationMovies]

🧐 can you point to where you’re talking about in the vid? All I saw was awesomeness 🧐

[@michaelkaliski7651]

@@UKAviationMoviesThere are several points where the pilot turns into a roll, stops just past 90º and corrects back 5 or 10º. Also some nose drops and rises to get back on speed and/or trajectory in the vertical manoeuvres. Now this could be just how the pilot flies, weather related, or making sure everything is exactly on the numbers before commencing the next sequence. No one can claim that the pilot does not have serious flying skills, I am merely pointing out that if I were judging their flying as part of a competition, they would lose points for a lack of crispness in parts of the display routine. As others have pointed out, it is rare to see an F16 flown to its’ limits in this way and perhaps I am judging too harshly, but I don’t think so.

[@elilustrebelga]

Woaw, you're a demo pilot yourself ... or just an....