F-16 Block. Picture courtesy of Lockheed Martin

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will celebrate National Children's Day 2026 by opening its bases to the public and showcasing fighter jets, aircraft, and military equipment nationwide on January 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Highlights include displays of F-16 A/B and Gripen fighter jets, as well as air shows, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities. Events will take place in Bangkok and multiple provinces, with free shuttle buses provided at key venues.

Bangkok Venues: Don Mueang Area

In Bangkok, Children’s Day activities will be held at the following locations in Don Mueang:

601 Squadron, Wing 6 Command
Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Thung Si Kan RTAF Airfield
RTAF Children’s Day Events Nationwide
Outside Bangkok, families can attend celebrations at:
Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy
RTAF Flying Training School, Kamphaeng Saen
Most RTAF wing commands nationwide, except Wing 1, Wing 3, Wing 4, Wing 7 and Wing 21

Additional activities will take place at:

RTAF Air Training Centre, Nam Phong
9th Air Force Task Force Independent Flying Unit
RTAF Reporting Station, Ban Phe
Highlights at Don Mueang

Visitors to the Don Mueang venue can enjoy a full day of aviation and cultural activities, including:

✈️ Air Shows

Flypasts by various aircraft, including smoke displays

🛩️ Aircraft and Equipment Displays (22 Types)

Aircraft on display include:

T-50
F-16 A/B
Gripen
F-5 E/F
Alpha Jet
AU-23A
H-225M
CT-4B
T-6C
AT-6TH
C-130H
A-319
DA-42, among others

🎤 Stage Performances

RTAF band and guest performers
Fashion shows by Air Force Academy cadets and Air Force nursing students
Student performances from local Don Mueang schools
Games and prize activities for children

🎭 Cultural and Special Activities

Exhibition booths from various agencies
Military dog demonstrations
Fancy Drill performances
Traditional khon performances
Krabi krabong martial arts demonstrations
Klong sabatchai drumming
Drum Zeed performances
Shuttle Buses and Parking (Don Mueang)
The RTAF will provide air-conditioned shuttle buses, operated by the Air Force Transportation Department, connecting parking areas to event venues.

🚗 Parking Locations

RTAF Aviation Park (approx. 400 cars)
Kantarat Auditorium (approx. 50 cars)
RTAF Auditorium (Thong Yai) (approx. 300 cars)
Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer School area (approx. 300 cars)

🚌 Shuttle Pick-Up and Drop-Off Points

RTAF Civil Engineering Department parking area
Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer School parking area
Air Force Staff College parking area
Military Airport 2, Wing 6 parking area
In front of 601 Squadron, Wing 6
Near the RTAF Museum and National Aviation Museum
Live Broadcast and Safety Guidelines

A live broadcast of the RTAF National Children’s Day 2026 activities will be streamed from 8am to 10am at www.rtaf.live
and on Facebook via “กองทัพอากาศไทย Royal Thai Air Force.”

For safety reasons, visitors are asked to refrain from flying drones and not bring balloons, weapons, sharp objects, flammable items, or pets into event areas, reported The Nation.

JAS 39E. Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2026-01-06

 

 

Early military recruitment.

lets hope that none crash this year!

Shameful brainwashing to make war exciting for children so they'll be ready for conscription when they're 18 and girls to support their heroes in uniform.

Subtle warmongering. Why not invite them to the weapons fair in April???

6 hours ago, johng said:

lets hope that none crash this year!

Was thinking the same.

Sending thoughts and prayers to the spectators.

13 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Shameful brainwashing to make war exciting for children so they'll be ready for conscription when they're 18 and girls to support their heroes in uniform.

Subtle warmongering. Why not invite them to the weapons fair in April???

Who will defend Thailand if Cambodia invades Thailand ?

really nice to see they went with gripen E this time, its a completely different beast from C, despite the looks

18 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Who will defend Thailand if Cambodia invades Thailand ?

The navy, if it ever gets the sub on order

Makes it - once more again - crystal clear, who is who on the Thai banana boat and who is the drummer on the oars on the military galley.

What a sick idea to celebrate Children's Day with a display of a total waste of money in form of military gear? The costs of this "force de frappe" would be much better spent in welfare for children and there is still plenty of possibilities in that niche.

But yes, the generals and admirals need their 15 minutes of fame, in their fancy clownery uniforms with bells and whistles and for all those non-Thais around Sattahip; the defunct aircraft carrier permanently parked at the piers of Sattahip is not accessible for non-Thais as this relict of absolute corruption is still considered strategic secrecy .......

20 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Who will defend Thailand if Cambodia invades Thailand ?

china

Must have acquired a new set of elastic bands. 🤣😂🤣

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will celebrate National Children's Day 2026 by opening its bases to the public and showcasing fighter jets, aircraft, and military equipment nationwide on January 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m

Perfect venue for childrens day...

22 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Shameful brainwashing to make war exciting for children so they'll be ready for conscription when they're 18 and girls to support their heroes in uniform.

Subtle warmongering. Why not invite them to the weapons fair in April???

Unfortunately the 21st Century world did not turn out to be a land of peace and harmony, there's no Star Trek style Federation to unite all the countries in peace. Countries still need to defend themselves against aggressive neighbours and internal violent groups, so war weapons and motivated armed forces are a modern necessity to protect the population.

So a children's day military show is a wise investment. A country full of soft kids can't have a useful defence force.

My Father was an RAF pilot in early jets then later nuclear armed V-Bombers, and as kids we used to love the annual airshows with the simulated attacks and huge explosions.

I'll be heading to Don Muang to relive my childhood 🙂

Are foreigners allowed? I recall going to a naval base in south Thailand quite a few years back on Children's Day and they weren't allowing foreigners into the base.

I don't have an opinion on whether that was good policy or not. Just wouldn't want to disappoint my kids on the day...

Very difficult to find out is some of these answers are sarcasm. Please use /s for those of us thick of head. TIA!

44 minutes ago, impulse said:

Are foreigners allowed? I recall going to a naval base in south Thailand quite a few years back on Children's Day and they weren't allowing foreigners into the base.

I don't have an opinion on whether that was good policy or not. Just wouldn't want to disappoint my kids on the day...

its in bangkok, i dont think there can be anything there that need to be prevented for foreigners to see,

you should be able to mail the PR department of THAF about it, but i cant see the need for it

7 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

its in bangkok, i dont think there can be anything there that need to be prevented for foreigners to see,

you should be able to mail the PR department of THAF about it, but i cant see the need for it

As I recall, there are demonstrations nationwide on that day. Some are on military bases. Some are not. That year, I was in South Thailand and they had demonstrations on the naval base. I wasn't allowed in.

Again, I'm not complaining. Excluding foreigners from sensitive military bases is probably a good idea. But I'd hate to take the kids out and get turned away at the gate.

5 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Makes it - once more again - crystal clear, who is who on the Thai banana boat and who is the drummer on the oars on the military galley.

What a sick idea to celebrate Children's Day with a display of a total waste of money in form of military gear? The costs of this "force de frappe" would be much better spent in welfare for children and there is still plenty of possibilities in that niche.

But yes, the generals and admirals need their 15 minutes of fame, in their fancy clownery uniforms with bells and whistles and for all those non-Thais around Sattahip; the defunct aircraft carrier permanently parked at the piers of Sattahip is not accessible for non-Thais as this relict of absolute corruption is still considered strategic secrecy .......

Any opinion on the numerous air-shows around the world in which the military are involved with ?

Blue Angels – US Navy, Red Arrows – Royal Air Force, Patrouille de France – Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Frecce Tricolori – Italian Air Force, Al Fursan – UAE Air Force, Roulettes – Royal Australian Air Force, Patrouille Suisse – Swiss Air Force… etc.

Are they all a waste of money ? how about scrapping all military and pushing that funding to 'needy' causes ?...

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Are foreigners allowed? I recall going to a naval base in south Thailand quite a few years back on Children's Day and they weren't allowing foreigners into the base.

I don't have an opinion on whether that was good policy or not. Just wouldn't want to disappoint my kids on the day...

It's possible for foreigners to visit the museum on the base, so I think no problem with the air show.

46 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

It's possible for foreigners to visit the museum on the base, so I think no problem with the air show.

Good info. Thanks!

On 1/6/2026 at 3:13 AM, webfact said:

by opening its bases to the public and showcasing fighter jets, aircraft, and military equipment nationwide on January 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cambodian Military Intelligence and other interested Nations, please note-

at the following locations in Don Mueang:

601 Squadron, Wing 6 Command
Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Thung Si Kan RTAF Airfield
RTAF Children’s Day Events Nationwide
Outside Bangkok, families can attend celebrations at:
Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy
RTAF Flying Training School, Kamphaeng Saen
Most RTAF wing commands nationwide, except Wing 1, Wing 3, Wing 4, Wing 7 and Wing 21

Additional activities will take place at:

RTAF Air Training Centre, Nam Phong
9th Air Force Task Force Independent Flying Unit
RTAF Reporting Station, Ban Phe

Obvious the Royal Thai Air force is not security conscious!! Possible sabateurs?

On 1/6/2026 at 4:50 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Shameful brainwashing to make war exciting for children so they'll be ready for conscription when they're 18 and girls to support their heroes in uniform.

Subtle warmongering. Why not invite them to the weapons fair in April???

A school friend of mine's dad was pretty high up in the British air force in the late 1960's.

He took us to an airshow. It was marvellous. It never had any effect on my choice of career or my friends. Just a good day out.

You do your hateful thing. Carry on old chap.

Tally ho!

5 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Cambodian Military Intelligence and other interested Nations, please note-

at the following locations in Don Mueang:

601 Squadron, Wing 6 Command
Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Thung Si Kan RTAF Airfield
RTAF Children’s Day Events Nationwide
Outside Bangkok, families can attend celebrations at:
Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy
RTAF Flying Training School, Kamphaeng Saen
Most RTAF wing commands nationwide, except Wing 1, Wing 3, Wing 4, Wing 7 and Wing 21

Additional activities will take place at:

RTAF Air Training Centre, Nam Phong
9th Air Force Task Force Independent Flying Unit
RTAF Reporting Station, Ban Phe

Obvious the Royal Thai Air force is not security conscious!! Possible sabateurs?

Do you think the Cambodian air force will attack?

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

Do you think the Cambodian air force will attack?

With their one WW2 Zero fighter.....doubtful

On 1/6/2026 at 1:50 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Shameful brainwashing to make war exciting for children so they'll be ready for conscription when they're 18 and girls to support their heroes in uniform.

Subtle warmongering. Why not invite them to the weapons fair in April???

I loved attending air shows as a kid.

19 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Any opinion on the numerous air-shows around the world in which the military are involved with ?

Blue Angels – US Navy, Red Arrows – Royal Air Force, Patrouille de France – Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Frecce Tricolori – Italian Air Force, Al Fursan – UAE Air Force, Roulettes – Royal Australian Air Force, Patrouille Suisse – Swiss Air Force… etc.

Are they all a waste of money ? how about scrapping all military and pushing that funding to 'needy' causes ?...

Point taken, but just saying, all those named air and navy shows are military oriented; Thailand is celebrating "Children's Day" with all this nonsense. And yes, honestly, I find it a total waste of money. Secret services of other countries know exactly, what these air and naval shows will present and are public knowledge anyway.

13 hours ago, emptypockets said:

A school friend of mine's dad was pretty high up in the British air force in the late 1960's.

He took us to an airshow. It was marvellous. It never had any effect on my choice of career or my friends. Just a good day out.

You do your hateful thing. Carry on old chap.

Tally ho!

I actually never mentioned an airshow, nor was it mentioned in the posting. Airshows are great fun, though a catastrophic waste of taxpayer money and an environmental disaster.

I was commenting that getting one's kids to hold real weapons of war, climb on tanks aso is hardly building the kind of peaceful world I'd like to see. No hate involved.

This sounds like a great way to engage families and spark interest in aviation and technology at a young age. Opening bases and offering free shuttles make the event accessible and educational. Well-planned logistics are key for large public events, similar to how Wood Black Car Service focuses on luxury coordination when managing group transportation and scheduled arrivals.