---
title: "The Netherlands accidentally welcomed its first operational F-35 with a foam bath"
description: "Nothing makes a celebration like bubbles — sort of."
date: "2019-11-04"
modified: "2019-11-04"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/dutch-f35-firefighting-foam-photos/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Aircraft"
  - "Around the World"
  - "Europe"
  - "Fighter Aircraft"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
  - "Stealth"
  - "Tactics"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
tags:
  - "European Command"
---

# The Netherlands accidentally welcomed its first operational F-35 with a foam bath

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/22056889-1.jpg>)

Nothing makes a celebration like bubbles — sort of.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force [welcomed](<https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/10/31/we-got-him-de-f-35?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>) its first operational F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter at the country's Leeuwarden Air Base on Thursday, but instead of the traditional water cannon salute, two E-ONE fire trucks opted to douse the hyper-expensive aircraft with firefighting foam.

\[embed\]https://twitter.com/MinBijleveld/status/1189967379058569217\[/embed\]

The War Zone, which
[first spotted](<https://www.twz.com/30769/whoops-first-f-35a-based-in-the-netherlands-got-a-foam-bath-by-mistake>) the strange welcome, [notes](<https://www.twz.com/30769/whoops-first-f-35a-based-in-the-netherlands-got-a-foam-bath-by-mistake>) that [the official Dutch air force release](<https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/10/31/we-got-him-de-f-35?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>) makes no mention of any sort of mistake. Indeed, the official photos show 323 Test & Evaluation Squadron pilot Ian Knight exiting the aircraft while it's still dripping with suds.

(Royal Netherlands Air Force)

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-1288.jpg>)

(Royal Netherlands Air Force)

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-1289.jpg>)

So what happened? [According](<https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/dpr99c/the_first_operational_dutch_f35_accidentally_got/?utm_source=ifttt>) to Reddit user krijgnog5eurovanje, the Leeuwarden AB fire department "was on standby for the water salute when they were called to an actual emergency with an F-16 ... When they returned for the water salute they forgot to switch from 'foam' to 'water.'"

It's unclear what F-16 emergency took place at Leeuwarden AB at the same time as this ceremony, if any. But ironically, the F-16 was apparently on everyone's mind as the new F-35A rolled up at Leeuwarden AB on Thursday: Dutch State Secretary for Defense Barbara Visser made a direct comparison in her remarks welcoming the fifth-generation airframe to her country's arsenal.

"A little over 40 years ago, the first Dutch F-16 was welcomed here. It was called 'the aircraft of the future,'" Visser said. "While the F-16 used a computer-controlled operating system for the first time, computers and software play such a major role with the F-35 that it is sometimes called a flying laptop. That means a huge change in our work. "

Visser may not show it, but the Royal Netherlands Air Force is extremely excited about its new jet. Just take it from Lt. Col Laurens-Jan 'Sjoak' Vijge, who described his first flight simply: "Holy crap!"

"For a moment I feel that teenager on a very cool skateboard in Florida," Vijge
[said](<https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/10/31/we-got-him-de-f-35?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter>) in the release. "This device goes like a rocket."

Translation: We celebrated the new F-35 with a trip to the champagne room:

\[embed\]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yBPcn8IqU\[/embed\]

Chris Rock - No Sex ft. Shadow

[www.youtube.com](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yBPcn8IqU>)

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
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