Farewell to the Viper: Capt. Troels “TEO” Vang Leads the Final Operational Season of the Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Solo Display
For more than a decade, the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-16 Solo Display Team has been one of Europe’s most recognisable F-16 demonstrations, showcasing the agility, power, and precision of Denmark’s frontline fighter. In 2025, the team took to the skies for the last time symbolically closing a significant chapter in Danish airpower history. At the centre of this historic finale was Captain Troels “TEO” Vang, the active-duty fighter pilot chosen to lead the final season and deliver the last public F-16 displays in Danish Air Force service.
A Legacy of Precision and Public Engagement
The RDAF F-16 Solo Display Team was founded with a dual purpose: to demonstrate the skill and professionalism of Danish fighter pilots and to build stronger connections between the Air Force and the public. Its displays highlighted the aircraft’s energy manoeuvrability, responsiveness, and high-performance design, while also celebrating the men and women who operate and maintain the aircraft.
Over the years, the F-16 Demo team frequently flew in commemorative or national paint schemes, especially the well-known red-and-white Dannebrog livery, transforming the fighter into a crowd favourite at airshows across Europe. High-G turns, dramatic vertical climbs, precision rolls, and high-alpha passes became trademarks of the Danish routine, each flown to tight timing and safety constraints.
Capt. Troels “TEO” Vang: The Final Display Pilot
The 2025 airshow season was designated as the final year of public F-16 displays as the RDAF accelerated its transition to the F-35A. Capt. Troels “TEO” Vang, an experienced F-16 pilot with substantial operational experience, was selected to fly the farewell tour. Vang brought a calm, measured, and exceptionally smooth flying style to the role. His demonstrations emphasised the F-16’s high thrust-to-weight ratio, post-stall controllability, and tight energy management—skills that mirror the aircraft’s behaviour in real tactical environments. His performances throughout 2025 became more than technical demonstrations; they became symbolic farewells to an aircraft that have served Denmark for over 40 years.
Technical Overview: Airframe, Flight Profile & Operational Integration
The RDAF Solo Display was not simply a public-relations effort. It provided real operational value, using frontline aircraft and active-duty pilots to develop and preserve expertise directly transferable to combat roles.
Aircraft Configuration and Performance
The display aircraft used throughout the programme was the F-16AM (MLU), an extensively upgraded early-block F-16 variant. Key technical characteristics relevant to display operations included:
Powerplant & Aerodynamics
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220E, providing the thrust necessary for sustained vertical climbs and rapid energy recovery.
- Flight Control System: Digital FLCS (via MLU upgrades), delivering highly stable high-alpha control and precise response in rapid pitch/roll transitions.
Display Configuration
- Minimal external stores or clean-wing configuration to reduce drag and mass
- Full afterburner availability throughout most manoeuvres
- Weight reduction allowing optimal corner velocity and instantaneous turn rates
These parameters allowed the aircraft to operate close to, but never beyond, its certified flight limits during public demonstrations.
Manoeuvre Profile and Envelope Usage
Capt. Vang’s 2025 routine showcased the F-16’s performance envelope through several key manoeuvres:
High-G Horizontal Turns
Up to ~9G depending on aircraft condition, demonstrating sustained turn capability and tight radius performance.
High-Alpha Pass
Utilising FLCS-managed pitch authority to operate deep into the high-lift region while maintaining directional stability visible to the crowd.
Vertical Repositioning
Full-afterburner climbs, often executed directly from high-speed passes, highlighting thrust surplus and the aircraft’s ability to regain altitude rapidly.
Negative-G Segments
Short negative-load manoeuvres demonstrating fuel-system reliability and flight control responsiveness at the edge of the certified envelope.
All manoeuvres adhered to strict safety gates, altitude minima, and predefined escape profiles, in compliance with Danish and international airshow regulations.
Pilot Qualification, Workload & Training Transfer
Display pilots remained fully mission-qualified throughout the season. Preparation included oversight by weapons instructors and safety officers, systematic rehearsal of timing and manoeuvre geometry and constant monitoring of G-loading, airspeed, and altitude gates. The workload inside the cockpit during a display is comparable to that of close-range Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM) and high-intensity tactical manoeuvring. This is one reason the RDAF maintained that display flying enhanced, rather than distracted from, operational readiness.
Operational and Strategic Significance
Though beloved by airshow crowds, the RDAF F-16 Solo Display Team simultaneously served deeper defence purposes, such as:
Operational Expertise
Exposure to sustained high-load manoeuvring improved aircrew confidence and energy-management skills—critical in air combat.
Engineering Insights
Maintenance crews monitored engine temperatures, structural loads, and FLCS behaviour under demanding but controlled manoeuvre sets, supporting long-term fleet sustainment.
NATO Engagement
Participation in multinational airshows reinforced Denmark’s visibility within the alliance and demonstrated ongoing interoperability with partner air forces.
Recruitment & Public Confidence
The display showcased, in a tangible way, how Danish airpower operates, by building trust and inspiring future personnel.
The End of an Era
Denmark’s F-16s have protected national airspace, served in NATO missions, and flown overseas operations for over four decades. As the F-35A assumes the RDAF’s air-defence and expeditionary responsibilities, the retirement of the F-16 Solo Display symbolises the end of the Viper era in Danish service. Capt. Vang’s final displays, particularly the farewell performances in Denmark, notably at Roskilde airshow 2025, drew thousands of spectators, many aware they were witnessing the last public flights of a national icon.
A Legacy That Will Fly On
Although the F-16 Solo Display Team completed its final season in 2025, its contributions endure:
- Decades of operationally relevant display flying
- A strengthened bond between the RDAF and the public
- A showcase of Danish excellence in aviation skill and discipline
- A fitting final chapter for the Danish Viper before the transition to fifth-generation airpower.
As Denmark moves forward with the F-35, the roar of the F-16—captured vividly in Capt. Vang’s final season—remains a proud part of the nation’s aviation heritage.
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