Seoul ADEX 17 October 2025

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

Let’s start the ball rolling with my log. There are a few gaps still, hopefully others can fill these. We visited the first day, Friday the 17th. As always, everything in the log is actually read off unless between (brackets).

At entrance:
01-476 F-5E std, no mks
61-646 F-5E std, 10 FW, 101 FS mks
61-660 F-5E std, 10 FW mks
550326/326 F-86F std, xxx mks, fake serial?

Static:
1713 BAe.748-2A/248 (35 FG, 257 SFS) VIP c/s
1718 BAe.748-2A/248 (35 FG, 257 SFS) std, probably wfu
95-178 C-130H 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey c/s
95-180 MC-130K 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey c/s
18-001 KC-330 no mks (5 TATW, 261 ATS)
30-087 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS, grey c/s
10-573 KF-5E 10 FW, 101 FS
50-459 F-5E std, no mks
50-460 F-5E std, no mks
02-004 F-15K no mks (11 FW, 102 FS)
87-658 F-16C no mks (19 FW, 162 FS)
93-063 KF-16C no mks (39 FW, 159 TRS)
20-019 F-35A no mks (17 FW, 152 FS)
15-028 FA-50 16 FW, 202 FS
15-032 FA-50 16 FW, 202 FS
06-004 KA-1 no mks (8 FW, 237 FS)
06-017 KA-1 (8 FW, 237 FS)
004 KF-21 KAI (twin seater)
02-030 KT-1 3 TW, 236 FTS
04-073 KT-1 3 TW, 217 FTS
16-008 KT-100 no mks (AFA, 212 FTS)
08-026 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
08-028 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
11-069 TA-50 16 FW, 115 FS
12-076 TA-50 16 FW, 115 FS
21018 MUH-1 no mks (Gimpo det.)
230922/922 P-8A 61 PAG, 617 sq
31602 AH-64E no mks (2 Comb Avn Brig)
23194 KUH-1 no mks (10th Army Avn Det)
50599 C-54G std, camo c/s, no mks
0-17661 C-118A std, VIP c/s, no mks
524094/094 F-86F std, xxx mks, fake serial?
89-2043/OS F-16CM 51 FW, 36 FS spec tail “Flying Fiends 100 years”
169216/NL-524 EA-18G VAQ-135
N806PS Pitts S-1-11 also flew (Paul Bennett)
VH-IPB Pitts S-1E Paul Bennett
HL003X Buhwal replica, marked 1007/K
The Buhwal was the first Korean built aircraft. The restored real one is at the War Memorial in Seoul, but there are multiple replicas around including one flying one.
The army guys had taped over the serials of their helicopters, including the data block on the Apache. Lucky for us they hadn’t realised there is a call plate inside the cockpit…. Unit info for the fighters and helicopters came from the crews.

Far side:
02-258 AS.332L (6 SRG, 235 CSRS), arrived after show
85101 B.737-3Z8 35 FG, 257 SFS, VIP c/s
? (BAe.125) RC-800 (39 RW, 296 TRS) in shelter
? (BAe.125) RC-800 (39 RW, 296 TRS) in shelter
05-182 C-130H 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey/green c/s
05-186 MC-130K 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey c/s
45-006 C-130H-30 5 TATW, 251 TASS, grey c/s
55-030 C-130H-30 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey c/s
95-181 MC-130K 15 SMW, 255 SOS, grey/green c/s
45-747 C-130J-30 5 TATW, 251 TASS, grey/green c/s
02050 CN.235-220M(VIP) 35 FG, 257 SFS, VIP c/s
30-082 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS
40-096 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS grey c/s
40-098 CN.235-100M 5 TATW, 258 TATS, grey c/s
40-100 CN.235-100M 5 TATW, 258 TATS, grey c/s
14-008 FA-50 no mks (8 FW)
15-022 FA-50 no mks (8 FW)
16-059 FA-50 no mks (8 FW)
01867 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s
02351 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s
? KA-1 (8 FW, 237 FS), in open shelter
005 KF-21 KAI, flew demo, then put on static
01-011 KT-1 3 TW, 215 FTS, flew demo
02-047 KT-1 3 TW, 215 FTS
06-007 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
06-008 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
06-009 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
07-018 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
08-025 T-50 no mks (1 FW), flew demo
09-033 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
10-050 T-50 no mks (1 FW)
(10-0051)/4 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(10-0052)/1 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(10-0055)/5 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(10-0057)/- T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles (spare)
(10-0058)/7 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(10-0059)/6 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(10-0060)/8 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(15-0083)/2 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
(15-0084)/3 T-50B 53 SFG, 239 SFS, Black Eagles
003 LAH-1 KAI, flew demo
After their demo the Black Eagles were put on the static, where their serials could be read off. Between and after the flying demonstrations there was some movement from especially the CN.235s and C-130s. Probably the B.737 also left after the show (it taxied out but went back when it started raining, however it was gone an hour later). Allegedly also one of the BAe.125s took off after the show (serial anyone??).
It was not allowed to take pictures with infrastructure in the background, which obviously was more or less impossible with the static parked in front of it. But nobody of the military actually seemed to care when we read off or photographed the aircraft at the far side.

Flypast:
19-003 KC-330 (5 TATW, 261 ATS)
10-580 KF-5E 10 FW, 105 FS
10-616 KF-5E 10 FW, 101 FS
02-007 F-15K (11 FW)
02-013 F-15K (11 FW)
02-025 F-15K (11 FW)
02-029 F-15K (11 FW)
02-039 F-15K (11 FW)
84-371 F-16D (19 FW)
85-579 F-16C (19 FW)
86-590 F-16C (19 FW)
87-653 F-16C (19 FW)
87-656 F-16C (19 FW)
01-511 KF-16C 20 FW
01-516 KF-16C 20 FW
01-527 KF-16D 20 FW
20-023 F-35A (17 FW)
20-025 F-35A (17 FW)
21-031 F-35A (17 FW)
21-033 F-35A (17 FW)
13-002 FA-50 (8 FW)
14-009 FA-50 (8 FW)
16-054 FA-50 (8 FW)
16-058 FA-50 (8 FW)
16-060 FA-50 (8 FW)
The flypast surprised most of us, as it was earlier than expected and we had apparently missed the speaker announcing it. More by chance I saw the first group coming from the left, and I had to ran back to create a reasonable angle. That cost me the F-35s, but luckily another member of our group got decent shots of those, so we got the serials anyway.

SAR demo:
92-001 KF-16C 20 FW
93-071 KF-16C 20 FW
14-017 FA-50 16 FW, 202 FS
15-025 FA-50 16 FW, 202 FS
01-714 HH-60P 6 SRG, 233 CSRS
01-772 HH-60P 6 SRG, 233 CSRS
06-005 KA-1 no mks (8 FW, 237 FS)
A nice demonstration where first the KA-1 did some recce runs, then the F-16s and FA-50s did a few bomb and strafing runs after which the F-16s stayed for top cover and the HH-60s came in low to drop some special forces and pick up “downed pilots”.

Visit (early morning):
01-715 HH-60P 6 SRG, 233 CSRS

At the USArmy platform on the far side at least 23 Black Hawks were visible, including 003 (yellow stripes), 006, 007, 040 and 998 (yellow stripes). Others have read 20997 (yellow stripes), 20999 (yellow stripes), 21001, 004, 005, 008, 042, 044, 065, 068 plus mispole 21033. Obviously additional info on those would be welcome.

All in all a great show. The flypast was a lot smaller than last time I was told (25 aircraft versus 100 back then), but we still made lots of numbers. And most of the static could be photographed reasonably well to really well, and that included most types we hadn’t seen or photographed during the two weeks before. We were also quite lucky with the weather, with lots of sunshine in the morning and overcast in the afternoon (when the sun would be in your face for the flying display). And the next day the weather was rather poor.

Many thanks to 4Aviation for organising the tour.
As always, additions, corrections and comments are welcome.

That’s all folks!

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation

[tally]

Great log and useful for some gap fillers:

My two cents.

87-658 F-16C no mks (19 FW, 162 FS). This may be a 155 FS jet. At least in the afternoon the pilot in front of it was wearing a 155 FS patch.

30-078 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS. Missing in your report. This was the second CN-235 that was hangared behind where the T-50's were parked up and the 30-082 was towed from.

58-343 RC-800 was hangared during the show and missing in your report. This was only visible when the KF-21's were towed to the far side and hangared after the show. The hangar with the duck painted on it (left of the revetments with the C-130's).

01595 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s Missing in your report. Left after the show in between all CN-235's and C-130's leaving.

01867 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s was hangared and as far as I know never saw daylight.

A US ARMY UH-60 left after the Black Eagles flew which was 21044. In your list as 044.


I have not gone through the US ARMY ramp but doubt I can add any of the ones you made.


Thanks again for posting this.

[patrick dirksen]

Thanks Tally. A few replies from me:

87-658 F-16C no mks (19 FW, 162 FS). This may be a 155 FS jet. At least in the afternoon the pilot in front of it was wearing a 155 FS patch.

=> my unit was based on the pilot that was with it. Apparently there were pilots from multiple squadrons present, so I guess it's take yuor pick

30-078 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS. Missing in your report. This was the second CN-235 that was hangared behind where the T-50's were parked up and the 30-082 was towed from.

=> was that the one that was visible during the show inside the hangar that was partly open, indeed behind the T-50s? The smallest hangar of the three next to each other (biggest was the VIP hangar on the right of the three)?

58-343 RC-800 was hangared during the show and missing in your report. This was only visible when the KF-21's were towed to the far side and hangared after the show. The hangar with the duck painted on it (left of the revetments with the C-130's).

=> there were two RC800s visible in shelters that were opened up during the show, left of the revetments with the C-130s. Are you referring to one of those, or are these different ones? I don't remember a hangar with a duck.

01595 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s Missing in your report. Left after the show in between all CN-235's and C-130's leaving.

=> unfortunately not seen by me.

01867 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s was hangared and as far as I know never saw daylight.

=> indeed, it was seen when their hangar was opened up to put 02351 outside.

A US ARMY UH-60 left after the Black Eagles flew which was 21044. In your list as 044.

=> thanks, I didn't have time to check the (very dark) photographs I made of it.

[tally]

Thanks Tally. A few replies from me:

87-658 F-16C no mks (19 FW, 162 FS). This may be a 155 FS jet. At least in the afternoon the pilot in front of it was wearing a 155 FS patch.

=> my unit was based on the pilot that was with it. Apparently there were pilots from multiple squadrons present, so I guess it's take yuor pick

30-078 CN.235-100M 15 SMW, 256 TATS. Missing in your report. This was the second CN-235 that was hangared behind where the T-50's were parked up and the 30-082 was towed from.

=> was that the one that was visible during the show inside the hangar that was partly open, indeed behind the T-50s? The smallest hangar of the three next to each other (biggest was the VIP hangar on the right of the three)?

==> This hangar: 37.441760, 127.107478. Basically the first hangar north of the C-130 revetments.


58-343 RC-800 was hangared during the show and missing in your report. This was only visible when the KF-21's were towed to the far side and hangared after the show. The hangar with the duck painted on it (left of the revetments with the C-130's).

=> there were two RC800s visible in shelters that were opened up during the show, left of the revetments with the C-130s. Are you referring to one of those, or are these different ones? I don't remember a hangar with a duck.

==> This hangar. 37.437633, 127.107345. It is not a duck but some artsyfartsy animal that looks like a duck with a helmet and oxygen mask on. Basically the first hangar south of the C-130 revetments. In the morning I noticed an RC-800 in this shelter: 37.435610, 127.106494. But that remained unknown to me.



01595 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s Missing in your report. Left after the show in between all CN-235's and C-130's leaving.

=> unfortunately not seen by me.

01867 VH-60P (35 FG, 257 SFS), black VIP c/s was hangared and as far as I know never saw daylight.

=> indeed, it was seen when their hangar was opened up to put 02351 outside.

A US ARMY UH-60 left after the Black Eagles flew which was 21044. In your list as 044.

=> thanks, I didn't have time to check the (very dark) photographs I made of it.

Hope this coordinates come through ok.

[patrick dirksen]

Hope this coordinates come through ok.

They came through perfect, thanks!
The CN.235 is indeed the one I have seen as well. No luck with that RC.800 though, the two I saw were in the shelter yuo mention and the one next to it.

[AndyMarden]

At the USArmy platform on the far side at least 23 Black Hawks were visible, including 003 (yellow stripes), 006, 007, 040 and 998 (yellow stripes). Others have read 20997 (yellow stripes), 20999 (yellow stripes), 21001, 004, 005, 008, 042, 044, 065, 068 plus mispole 21033. Obviously additional info on those would be welcome.

008 is also a mis-pole (TX-based). Carrying a check-list enables these to be spotted immediately and re-read...
Read on the previous day were (20)997, (20)999, 21001, (21)003, 21004, 21005, (21)006, (21)007, 21038, 21039, (21)040, 21042, 21043, 21044, 21063, (21)064, 21066, 21069, 21070, 21071.

[ASh]

As for KA-1. Monday 3 KA-1 departed Seongnam, one after another: 06-004, 06-006, 06-017. 06-004 & 06-017 were on static display, so maybe 06-006 was 3rd one, in open shelter.

[patrick dirksen]

As for KA-1. Monday 3 KA-1 departed Seongnam, one after another: 06-004, 06-006, 06-017. 06-004 & 06-017 were on static display, so maybe 06-006 was 3rd one, in open shelter.

Sorry for my late reply, but thanks for that info! Seems very plausible indeed.

While back on the subject of ADEX, was somebody present the day before the opening (so on October 16th) and did he (or she) read off the practice flypast? We saw that in the distance while at Suwon airbase. Seen were 1 KC-330 (003), 2 F-35s, 3 F-16s, again 3 F-16s and finally 3 FA-50s.

[Le Addeur noir]

As for KA-1. Monday 3 KA-1 departed Seongnam, one after another: 06-004, 06-006, 06-017. 06-004 & 06-017 were on static display, so maybe 06-006 was 3rd one, in open shelter.

Sorry for my late reply, but thanks for that info! Seems very plausible indeed.

While back on the subject of ADEX, was somebody present the day before the opening (so on October 16th) and did he (or she) read off the practice flypast? We saw that in the distance while at Suwon airbase. Seen were 1 KC-330 (003), 2 F-35s, 3 F-16s, again 3 F-16s and finally 3 FA-50s.

I didn't see this myself, but one of the local Koreans on the outside showed me some pictures of the F-16s, and all of the ones in the practice were in the main flypast, these included (01)511 and 527 for sure.

On the first day (the 17th), a F-15K did a flythrough at 08:45, which appeared to be 051, but was not confirmed.

On the Saturday morning a Falcon 200 flew, as did a RC-800.

Also visiting was C-130J-30 45-744. Sister C-130J-30 45-747 visited on the 19th and 20th.

And Falcon 2000 11-714 flew on the 20th with a pair of RC-800s, 25-342 and 25-351.

[patrick dirksen]

I didn't see this myself, but one of the local Koreans on the outside showed me some pictures of the F-16s, and all of the ones in the practice were in the main flypast, these included (01)511 and 527 for sure.

Thanks for the info, that is reassuring
I wuld still be interested in more serials, just for the record, if somebody can help!

Too bad the Falcons and RC800s didn't fly on the show day. But of course that was as expected.

[Ex Stacker]

Great list chaps-thanks. We went on Saturday 18th. Low cloud all morning and flying effectively cancelled except for some transport movements (Family flights)?
Can add a bit though. The Falcon 2000S that departed on Saturday was 14-726 and the RC-800 was 58-346. There was one other visible in an open shelter. The KA-1 was also present still. Also logged CN235 40-102 which I think may have arrived. Can't add anything to the US Heli's -only managed to ID 3 so would love some confirmations or tie-up's for the Saturday please? We left about 1300-they launched a couple of the T-50s which were doing circuits as we were walking to the metro-not sure if anything flew after that. Cheers

[ASh]

As for KA-1. Monday 3 KA-1 departed Seongnam, one after another: 06-004, 06-006, 06-017. 06-004 & 06-017 were on static display, so maybe 06-006 was 3rd one, in open shelter.

Sorry for my late reply, but thanks for that info! Seems very plausible indeed.

While back on the subject of ADEX, was somebody present the day before the opening (so on October 16th) and did he (or she) read off the practice flypast? We saw that in the distance while at Suwon airbase. Seen were 1 KC-330 (003), 2 F-35s, 3 F-16s, again 3 F-16s and finally 3 FA-50s.

Hi. 16.10.2025 rehearsal: one of 3 F-16 was 86-587, 2 others are covered by smoke trails; 3 FA-50 were 13-002, 16-058, 16-060.

[patrick dirksen]

Thanks ASh!