A Day with Taiwan’s Frontline Fighters
On 19 October 2019, Taiwan’s Tainan Air Base opened its gates to the public for what proved to be one of the most impressive aviation events of the year. Situated on the southern outskirts of Tainan City, the base became the centre of attention for more than 160,000 visitors who came to experience the Republic of China Air Force at close quarters during the 2019 “National Defense Knowledge Journey” open day.
For an aviation enthusiast, the attraction was obvious. Tainan was home to the Republic of China Air Force’s 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, the principal operator of Taiwan’s indigenous F-CK-1 Ching Kuo fighter, while the open day brought together examples of the island’s three principal fighter types: the locally designed Indigenous Defense Fighter, the French-built Mirage 2000-5 and the American F-16. It was also a rare opportunity to see aircraft from units based elsewhere in Taiwan gathered together on the same ramp.
The history of Tainan Air Base and its resident fighter force is closely intertwined with the development of the Republic of China Air Force itself. The 1st Tactical Fighter Wing traces its origins to 1945 and was re-established in Taiwan in 1952. It moved to Tainan in 1953, initially operating F-84G Thunderjets before progressing through the F-86F Sabre and F-5 families. The wing eventually became one of the principal operators of Taiwan’s indigenous F-CK-1, receiving the type from 1997 onwards. By the time of the 2019 open day, the wing’s Ching Kuos represented the culmination of more than six decades of fighter operations from Tainan.
The open day itself was the final major military base open event scheduled in Taiwan during 2019, and was also the only Republic of China Air Force open day held that year. The previous planned event at Hualien had been cancelled following the effects of a typhoon, placing even greater attention on Tainan. The base had not welcomed the public for six years, making the return of the event particularly anticipated among Taiwan’s aviation community.
From early morning, the scale of the occasion was evident. Visitors began arriving well before the official flying programme, with some reported to have been waiting outside the base from around 6 a.m. The gates opened at 0700, while the flying display commenced at 0900. With ordinary vehicles prohibited from entering the base, a large shuttle-bus operation was established from several locations around Tainan, allowing the huge crowds to reach the airfield without overwhelming the surrounding roads.
For those who had come primarily for the aircraft, however, the wait was well worth it. The flying programme began with the appearance of the F-CK-1 Ching Kuo, the fighter that gave Tainan its distinctive character. Five aircraft from the resident 1st Tactical Fighter Group launched in formation for a demonstration sortie, forming up over the base before each aircraft broke away individually for recovery. The five-ship formation provided an impressive opening to the flying programme and demonstrated the close relationship between the open day and the operational activities of the unit based there.
The Ching Kuo was also used to dramatic effect during the opening sequence, with aircraft making fast passes over the airfield before pulling into steep climbs. The locally designed fighter, developed during a period when Taiwan faced considerable difficulties in obtaining modern combat aircraft from abroad, was perhaps the most appropriate aircraft with which to open an event at Tainan.
The indigenous fighter was followed by another unmistakable symbol of the Republic of China Air Force: the Thunder Tigers, or Thunder Tiger Aerobatic Team. Their appearance brought a very different character to the display, with the team’s aircraft performing the close formation manoeuvres and aerobatics for which the unit has become famous. The Thunder Tigers themselves have a long association with Tainan, having been formed in 1954 before eventually being transferred to the Republic of China Air Force Academy in 1989.
The flying programme then turned into an impressive demonstration of Taiwan’s front-line fighter inventory. The Mirage 2000-5s represented the country’s European connection, the French-built fighters having been acquired during the 1990s as part of Taiwan’s effort to modernise its air defence capability. Their high-speed passes and performance display provided a sharp contrast with the indigenous Ching Kuo.
The third element of the fighter demonstration was the F-16. Operated by the Republic of China Air Force’s 5th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hualien at the time, the type represented the American component of Taiwan’s fighter force. Together, the F-16, Mirage 2000-5 and F-CK-1 provided an unusual opportunity to see three distinct fighter designs operating within the same display programme.
While the flying display was undoubtedly the highlight, the static exhibition provided perhaps an even greater opportunity for enthusiasts and photographers. Thirty-one items of military hardware were presented to the public, ranging from combat aircraft and helicopters to transport and support equipment and Army ground systems.
Among the most interesting aircraft were two Tainan-based F-CK-1s, which were displayed alongside an F-16A and Mirage 2000-5. The F-5F Tiger II was also represented, providing an opportunity to compare Taiwan’s older generation of fighter aircraft with the newer designs that had progressively replaced it.
The supporting aircraft demonstrated just how broad the Republic of China Air Force’s responsibilities were. A P-3C Orion represented Taiwan’s maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare capability, while an E-2K Hawkeye illustrated the importance of airborne early warning and command and control in Taiwan’s air-defence system. A C-130H Hercules represented the transport fleet, while a UH-60M Black Hawk from the Republic of China Air Force’s rescue organisation provided a glimpse into the service’s search-and-rescue capability.
Training aircraft were represented by the AT-3 and T-34C, while Army Aviation added further variety with the AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The static display therefore extended well beyond the fighters for which Tainan was best known, giving visitors a broad overview of the equipment operated by Taiwan’s armed forces.
One of the most interesting details of the static exhibition was the presence of the Wan Chien air-to-ground weapon carried by the F-CK-1. The weapon was displayed publicly at a Republic of China Air Force open day for the first time, making the Tainan event particularly significant for enthusiasts interested not only in aircraft but also in Taiwan’s indigenous weapons development.
Beyond the aircraft themselves, the event provided an insight into how the Republic of China Air Force presented itself to the Taiwanese public. The open day was organised around five principal themes: flying demonstrations, ground performances, static equipment displays, recruitment and national-defence information, and a large fair area. The programme included the Air Force Military Band and Honour Guard, while local schools and youth organisations contributed performances throughout the afternoon.
The military presentation continued into the afternoon, when the Air Force Honour Guard demonstrated its highly choreographed rifle drill before local school groups took to the performance area. Traditional drum performances, dance groups, cheerleading and other cultural performances gave the event a distinctly Taiwanese character and ensured that the open day appealed to considerably more than just the aviation community.
For an overseas visitor, there was another interesting aspect to the event. The Republic of China Air Force had established a specific procedure for foreign nationals wishing to attend, with applications handled separately from the arrangements for Taiwanese citizens. Photography was permitted within the designated areas, although visitors were explicitly instructed not to photograph sensitive locations outside the controlled areas, while unmanned aerial vehicles and remote-controlled aircraft were prohibited.
This combination of access and security was characteristic of the Tainan event. The public could walk among aircraft that normally operated from one of Taiwan’s most important fighter bases, yet the organisers retained strict control over where visitors could go and what could be photographed. For aviation photographers, this made the opportunity particularly valuable.
Looking back at the photographs from the day, what stands out most is the variety. Within the space of a few hours it was possible to photograph Taiwan’s indigenous Ching Kuo alongside the Mirage 2000-5 and F-16, then turn to the older F-5F, the imposing P-3C Orion or E-2K Hawkeye, before moving among helicopters, trainers and transport aircraft. Few air force open days provide such a concentrated snapshot of an entire national combat aviation inventory.
There was also something particularly appropriate about experiencing the Ching Kuo at Tainan. The 1st Tactical Fighter Wing had operated from the base for decades, and the indigenous fighter had become inseparable from its identity. The wing’s history stretches back to the earliest post-war years of the Republic of China Air Force in Taiwan, while its modern identity had been shaped by the introduction of the F-CK-1 and its subsequent modernisation.
The event therefore offered more than simply a day of aircraft photography. It provided a rare opportunity to step inside one of Taiwan’s most important military airfields and witness the personnel, aircraft and equipment responsible for maintaining the island’s air-defence capability. The enormous turnout demonstrated just how strong the public interest in military aviation remained, while the mixture of operational aircraft, aerobatics, static displays and cultural performances created an atmosphere quite unlike a conventional Western airshow.
As the afternoon programme drew to a close, the Ching Kuos returned to the sky once more, providing a fitting conclusion to a day dominated by Taiwan’s indigenous fighter. After the final flying activity, the crowds gradually began to disperse, leaving behind a ramp that had only hours earlier been filled with thousands of visitors.
For those fortunate enough to have attended, however, the significance of the day extended beyond the sheer number of aircraft on display. Tainan Air Base Open Day 2019 offered a fascinating glimpse into the Republic of China Air Force at a particular moment in its history: an air force operating a unique mixture of indigenous, American and French combat aircraft while increasingly placing emphasis on national defence production and the continued modernisation of its forces.
For an aviation photographer, it was an especially memorable combination. The Ching Kuo of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing provided the local identity, the Mirage 2000-5 and F-16 added international variety, and the Thunder Tigers brought the spectacle. Together, they made the 19 October 2019 Tainan Air Base Open Day one of the most remarkable opportunities to experience Taiwan’s military aviation first-hand.