About The NAFRAS


 

The aim

 

The Netherlands Air Force Radio Amateur Society (NAFRAS) is a civilian society of radio-amateurs and short wave listeners who are serving or have served in the Royal Netherlands Air Force (in Dutch : Koninklijke Luchtmacht) or its Naval equivalent the Royal Naval Air Service (in Dutch : Marine Luchtvaart Dienst, MLD).

Both military as well as civilian personnel can join in.
After the formation of the MARAC (Marine Radio Amateur Club) for (former) personnel from the Royal Navy, the radio-amateurs within the Royal Air Force felt the urge to exercise their radio hobby within a separate society.
The goals of the NAFRAS incorporate the wish to strengthen the contacts amidst its members in the national as well as in the international arena.
The contacts are established through all means and frequencies open to its members in the HF (Short Wave), VHF and UHF bands in all possible modes of operation.

 

The club callsign, PI4NAF, is activated every week in several radio nets in the 80 and 40 meter band as well as in the 2 meter band.

 

  • very first Wednesday of the month via the repeater PI3AMF (location : Amersfoort) at 145.7875 MHz at 20.30 LT in FM.
  • 3rd Wednesday of the month via the repeater PA3GKB (location : IJsselstein) at 145.7875 MHz at 20.30 LT in FM.
  • The other Wednesday s of the month at the so called house-frequency 145.450 MHz at 20.30 LT in FM by several operators throughout the country.

  • Every Friday at 20.00 LT the 40 meter net at 7.080 +/- QRM

  • Every uneven week after the closing down of the Dutch Radio Net at 3.630 MHz at 19.30 LT, net controller : Chris, PA0CJN operating from the city of Leiden in the Western part of Holland. If conditions are not favourable we will QSY to 3.750 MHZ +/- QRM.

 

Link to results of NAFRAS Contests

 

Four times a year we will publish a Club Journal. Here you will find club notifications of all kind of information relating to our common interests.
Club members and donating supporters are invited to share their radio experiences and other news in our Club Journal.


 

Twice a year we organize radio contests, we also hand out a number of club awards and are active in promoting our society at radio markets (HAM-vantions) and at the yearly Open (House) Days of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
 

F16

 

Hercules

 

 

NAFRAS history

 

The NAFRAS is a society of radio-amateurs and short wave listeners that are serving or have served within the Royal Netherlands Air Force or within the Royal Naval Air Service or in any other way have connections with these institutions both as military as well as civilian personnel.
The origin of the NAFRAS lies with the ham radio station PI1RRS located at the (Royal Netherlands Air Force) Electronics and Technical School at Schaarsbergen in the neighbourhood of Arnhem city. For many Air Force communications and electronics specialists who were studying at this school, PI1RRS was the very first opportunity to get acquainted with amateur radio.
When the PI1RRS station was dismantled, it was decided to form a society with two binding elements : HAM radio and the Royal Air Force / Royal Naval Air Service respectively. At present all kinds of specialist branches within the Royal Netherlands Air Force are represented within the NAFRAS. After all you can find cooks, pilots, air traffic controllers, administrative staff, etc that are active radio-amateurs and short wave listeners.

 

The activities within the NAFRAS encompass :

- The activation of the club callsign PI4NAF yearly at the Open (House) Days from the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
- Special events like the half yearly NAFRAS contest.
- NAFRAS nets at 80 and 2 meter bands.
- The issue of a Club Journal containing news on the Royal Netherlands Air Force, technical issues and club news.
- The issue of the NAFRAS awards
 

F16

 

SAR

 

 

Applying for membership or donating support

 

If you are a licensed radio amateur or listed short wave listener and you are serving or have served within the Royal Netherlands Air Force, you can apply for NAFRAS membership.


If you are a licensed radio amateur or listed short wave listener and you are interested in military air services, and you support our goals, you can become a supportive donor within the NAFRAS.


You can apply by sending us an e-mail at secretaries@nafras.nl containing :
Your name, address, postal (ZIP)code, city, Royal Air Force Unit*, Registration Number*.
* when appropriate.

Or you can send us a letter containing the requested information to our secretary at :
Klarinetlaan 36, 7577 LG, Oldenzaal.

If you have any ideas or material to contribute to this website / homepage please send us an e-mail at webmaster@nafras.nl .