European Trainers Meet Beauvechain Air Base 2004

The European Trainers Meeting celebrated 25 years of  Alpha Jets in service with the Belgische Luchtmacht, the Belgian Air Force, and its 2004 newly qualified pilots. It was hosted by the Belgian Air Force 1st Wing at Beauvechain on Tuesday, June 29, 2004.

The list of invited aircraft was undoubtedly designed to impress, but as usual, some aircraft would not show up. These included the SU-22, MiG-21, and the Hellenic Air Force TA-7C. That aside, just take a look at what that day produced.

The real highlight was the arrival of the two Northrop SF-5Bs from Ala23 at Talavera in Spain, which had just received their mid-life updates and a very photogenic Alpha Jet coming from 11 Smaldeel (Belgische Luchtmacht), with its anniversary low-visibility unique paint scheme. The Irish Air Corps' (Aer Chór an héireann) PC-9 from the FTS was a surprise, as it had only been delivered briefly. The French Air Force Mirage F1B (520/33-FD) looked fabulous as it taxied from the runway in full sunshine, adorned with its unique markings commemorating the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. That had been applied to celebrate that anniversary back in May 2004.

Before I ramble on, let's take a look at the event's photographs.

AE.9-029/23-18 and AE.9-018/23-26 SF-5Bs EdA from ALA 23 at Badajoz/Talavera la Real.

As they arrived overhead for the break, the photographers were excited to see these rarely-seen jets outside their Spanish home.

AE.9-029/23-18 SF-5B EdA lands on Beauvechains runway 22R.

 

AE.9-018/23-26 SF-5B EdA taxis and stops for the assembled photographers.

AE.9-029/23-18 SF-5B EdA following 23-26 with much waving from the crew and appreciation from the crowd.

AT-12 Alpha Jet BAF and a friendly wave from the rear seat.

B-01/LA BN-2A Islander from the Belgian Army, two examples were seen on the Monday before Tuesday's ETM, the other being B-10-LJ.

MT-40  Fouga CM170R Magister BAF.

 

AT-06 Alpha Jet BAF.

AT-18 Alpha Jet with its unique anniversary markings.

MT35 Fouga CM170R Magister BAF.

This Magister became the last flying example with the BAF  (Belgische Luchtmacht).

MT49 Fouga CM170R Magister BAF.

267 PC-9 FTS Irish Air Corps (Aer Chór an hÉireann).

ST-25/26/32/48 SIAI SF.260D's from 5 Squadron at Beauvechain.

ST-25/26/32/48 SIAI SF.260D's taxiing to the static park.

ST-26 SIAI SF.260D BAF.

MM54492/61-36 MB.339A 61°Stormo AMI from Lecce/Galatina.

The second aircraft was MM55084 MB.339A.

FB-09 F-16BM BAF.

E-105/8-NU Alpha Jet E  ETO.02008 'Nice' from Cazaux.

127/315-YR Epsilon TB30 AdlA from BA709 Cognac/Châteaubernard.

The second aircraft was 102/315-XS.

MT48 Fouga CM170R Magister from the Belgian Air Force display team 'Red Devils'.

MT48 was joined by MT41/13/28/13.

Showing off their mascot, and you can see the team's patch.

ST20 SIAI SF.260D and another excellent colour scheme.

L-06 PC-7 RNAF.

B-01/LA BN-2A Islander from the 'Force Terrestre-landmacht', The Belgian Army.

XX159 Hawk T.1 RAF again supporting anniversary marks celebrating 30 years of type in service from 1974 to 2004.

AE.9-029/23-18 SF-5B 23 Ala 23 EdA.

 

38+69 F-4F Phantom WGAF from Hopsten Air Base.

520/33-FD Mirage F1B AdlA from 03.033 'Lorraine' at Reims/Champagne.

38+69 F-4F Phantom GAF.

520/33-FD Mirage F1B AdlA, 60 Anniversary of D-Day marks.

102/315-XS Epsilon TB30 AdlA.

ZF447 Tucano T.1 RAF.

T-407 T-17 FLSK RDAF.

6037 L-159 (ARCA) 32zTL Czech Air Force.

2408 AN-26 61DLt Czech Air Force from Kbely.

LB-05 L-21B Super Cub BAF.

A64 Sud Aviation Alouette II.

Aviation Legere de la Force Terrestre/Licht Vliegwezen van het Landmacht.

H31 Agusta A.109BA.

Aviation Legere de la Force Terrestre/Licht Vliegwezen van het Landmacht.

Based at Bierset.

The Belgian Air Force had a team of six Alpha Jets on display during the day. Overall, this was another great day out, and the weather was great.

Happy Days, indeed!

The 2004 Cognac-Châteaubernard Airshow at Air Base BA709 featured sunshine A-4 Skyhawks and Mirages galore.

One of my first Cognac 'Meeting National' was the airshow of 2004, and how fortunate for me to be just an hour down the road, hidden away in this corner of Southwest France, amongst the rows of "Cognac" and "Pineau" vines, just like Base aérienne BA709, Cognac-Châteaubernard itself. So, it was time to venture out, enjoy fabulous aircraft, and catch up with good friends.  

The Armée de l'Air always put on a good display of aircraft types at their airshows, and no less at this 2004 Air display.

909 TA-4SU 150 Sqn RSiAF.

Sadly, these and all the RSiAF A-4 Skyhawks have been withdrawn today.

933 TA-4SU 150 Sqn RSiAF.

220/30-QK Mirage F1CT EC01. 030 'Normandie Niémen' special marks.

Status: It was retired to the Châteaudun storage facility before being transferred to active service in Excenevex.

22/5-ND Mirage 2000C EC01. 005 'Vendee' special marks.

Status: This aircraft was sold to the Brazilian Air Force as 4945.

89/AZ N.262D 00. 065 'GAEL' arrived from Villacoublay. It was withdrawn from use in 2004. And today, it can be seen in the Châteaudun Museum.

15/315UN TB-30 Epsilon from the home team at Château-Bernard EPAA00. 315.

Status: This aircraft is in storage.

45/315VR TB-30 Epsilon.

Status: Wfu.

The 32/315VE TB-30 Epsilon is wearing the grey paint scheme that was relatively new at the time.

Status: This aircraft is today stored at Alenco/Valframbert.

MT-13 CM170 11sm BAF.

Status: Stored at Antwerp for the Stampe and Vertongen Museum.

J-655 F-16BM 323 Sqn KLu ECATS marks.

Status: Passed to the Chilean Air Force as 735.

45+20 Tornado IDS AG-51 GAF.

Status: Still active!

603/3-IM Mirage 2000D EC01. 003 'Navarre'

313/4-CR Mirage 2000N EC03. 004 'Limousin.'

685/3-XZ Mirage 2000D EC03. 003 'Ardennes'

F-ZBEY/07 Turbo Firecat (Sécurité civile).

Status: Wfu.

F-ZBEG/39 Canadair CL-415 (Sécurité civile).

Status: "Active"

E101/8-NQ Alpha Jet A ET002. 008 'Nice'

E134?8-MA Alpa Jet-A ET001. 008 'Saintonge', both arriving from their home base at Cazaux.

515/2-FT Mirage 2000B/-5 02. 002 'Côte d'or'

Status: This aircraft was stored at Châteaudun on the "German runway".

61/CH Mirage 1VP 01. 091 'Gascogne' up from Mont-de-Marsan.

Status: I believe this aircraft is located at Saint-Dizier Air Base.

MM6286/46-51 C-130J Hercules Itaf. Support aircraft for the Frecce Tricolori.

The aircraft is active.

61/CH Mirage 1VP burners are lighting up.

61/CH Mirage 1VP powering down  Cognac's runway 05.

933 TA-4SU RSiAF lineup for taking off.

909 TA-4SU RSiAF moving alongside 933 for departure.

685/3-XZ Mirage 2000D departs for its Nancy-Ochey base.

220/30-QK Mirage F1CT of the distinguished "Normandie-Niemen" Special marks.

In 1942, De Gaulle ordered the"Normandie-Niemen", led by a group of its pilots and mechanics, to the USSR. Upon arrival at the Soviet airfield in Ivanovo, they were offered either La-5s or Yak-1 aircraft; they chose the Yak-1M and departed for the Western Front.

They flew 5300 combat missions in Russia, engaged in 869 dogfights and shot down 273 enemy aircraft. In early 1944, they were involved in the liberation of Lithuania, and later that same year, they upgraded to the Yak-3.

Four pilots received the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union", with a total of 76 pilots being decorated with both Soviet and French decorations. The "Normandie-Niemen" air regiment was awarded the Red Banner and the Alexander Nevsky order for performance in battle.

In 1945, the Soviet government presented the pilots with their Yak-3 aircraft, and on June 20, 1945, they witnessed the incredible sight of 40 Yak-3s landing at Le Bourget airfield in France.

The "Normandie-Niemen" were home.

Today, they operate the Rafale B/C from their base at Mont-de-Marsan.

  

A Yak-3 can be seen in the museum at Le Bourget.


What a story!

Happy days!