European Trainers Meet Beauvechain Air Base 2004

The Belgium Air Force 1st Wing at Beauvechain hosted a (ETM) European Trainers Meeting to celebrate 25 years of their Alpha Jets in service with the (Belgische Luchtmacht) and its 2004 newly qualified pilots. The event was held on Tuesday the 29th of June 2004.

The list of invited aircraft was undoubtedly looking to impress, but as usual, there would be some no-shows. These included the SU-22, Mig 21 and the Hellenic Air Force TA-7C. 

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 60th Anniversary of D-Day unique markings. That had been applied to celebrate that anniversary back in May 2004.

Before I waffle more, let us 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, you could hear the excitement from the photographers in seeing these rarely seen jets outside of Spain.

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 Belgium Army, two examples were seen on the Monday before Tuesday's ETM, the other being B10-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 Belgium Air Force had a team of six Alpha Jets display during the day. Overall, this was another great day out, and the weather was great.

Information required. If anybody gets this far and sees this picture, I am seeking info about this friend I unfortunately lost contact with in the mid-2000s. His name was Horst, and he was from Germany. We shared good times and some great shows together.

Happy Days, indeed!

Royal Air Force bid farewell to their Phantom jets at RAF Wattisham airbase July 1992.

RAF Wattisham in Suffolk appeared to be the epicentre of the bad weather across the UK in July 1992. This was the day before the official stand down of a genuinely iconic jet in British Air Force service. We arrived here to see the arrivals for an extraordinary day. 

The  4th of July 1992 was officially known as the"Farewell to the Phantoms" at R.A.F. Wattisham. There was more to come of this iconic RAF aircraft. It was, in fact, the demise of 56 Squadron's Phantoms. With 74 squadrons, Phantom's continuing operations, including a mini Tiger Meet in September and before their 1st October 1992, stand down at R.A.F. Wattisham.

It is easy to find images of this legendary meeting, but few are shown of the arrivals day, which sadly made for some cancellations due to the cyclonic weather.

XT914 (Z) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

It took off at R.A.F. Wattisham on 3rd July 1992 in appalling weather conditions.

XT914 (Z) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

XV393 (Q) Phantom FGR.2 74 Squadron "Tigers" RAF.

This aircraft was the 1992 Phantom display jet, launched with XT914 above.

XV496 (A) McDonald Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 56 Squadron "Firebirds" RAF.

XV496 (A) McDonald Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 56 Squadron "Firebirds" RAF.

XP693 Lightning F.6 BAE.

XP693 Lightning F.6 embellished in 56 Squadrons "Firebirds" marks for the "Farewell to the Phantoms meeting."

XP693 Lightning F.6 deploys the brake chute.

J-631 and J-645 F-16A's 306 Squadron RNlAF arrived to join the FA-26 F-16A BAF.

38+42 F-4F JG71 "Richthofen" GAF. Arriving from Wittmundhaven. The coloured panels are for use when carrying out DACT exercises.

It was to join 38+53 and 38+30 F-4Fs from the newly formed JG72 "Westfalen" that arrived from Hopsten.

XX348 Hawk T.1 arrives from the 1 TWU at R.A.F. Brawdy for what also became a mini Hawk meet?

Beyond are some of the dumped ex-111 Squadron Phantoms.

XT896 (V) Phantom FGR.2 "Tiger" 

On tow to the flight line.

XM192 (K) Lightning F.1A Gate guard R.A.F. Wattisham.

Having nearly dried out from Friday's rain, the Saturday morning skies were once again threatening.

For the morning, the weather held out, albeit grey and overcast.  

Below are some of the assembled aircraft that celebrated this legendary day out. People always reflect on the weather if they speak or read about this event today. They should have braved the Friday?

 

74 Squadron's motto was "I fear no man." sadly, by the year's end, both "FireBirds" and "Tigers" would fear the scrap man!

56 sqn. Phantoms were lined up to spell XV426 (P) PHOENIX, as is their Squadron badge, a Phoenix rising from the flames...

I look here, and I'm caught by NO HOPE?

XV467 (F) Phantom FGR.2 "Firebirds" Majestic to the end!

74 Squadron's unique "Tiger" tail was first exhibited at the 1991 IAT Fairford mini Tiger Meet.

 

XV470 (D) Phantom FGR.2  56 Sqn "Firebirds" RAF.

Sadly, XV470 (D) Phantom FGR.2 ended up at RAF Akrotiri (BDRT) Cyprus.

XT897 (Y) 'Why indeed'? The Options for Change defence review 1991 was the culprit, leaving 56 and 74 squadrons Phantoms axed.

ZG770 (AP.) Tornado F.3 "Firebirds"

The Phoenix would rise again at RAF Coningsby with Tornado F.3 ZG770 marked for the occasion.

XP693 Lightning F.6 from BAE was also specially marked in honour of the "Firebirds".

56 Squadrons fast jets Lightning Phantom and Tornado F.3.

XT906 Phantom FGR.2 56 squadron.

XV419 (AA) Phantom FGR.2 19 Squadron, formerly from R.A.F. Wildenrath  Germany and RAF Akrotiri Cyprus. X1X Squadron was retired in January 1992!

XV404 (I) Phantom FGR.2, an ex-19 squadron aircraft, was seen here on the charge of 74 Squadron.

XV408 Phantom FGR.2 former 92 Squadron.

38+30 and 38+53 F-4F's from the newly formed JG72 "Westfalen" at Hopsten, formerly known as JaboG36.

770132 'CR' F-15A "Wolfhounds" 32nd TFS USAFE.

XX337 (K) Hawk T.1 151 Squadron RAF Chivenor.

XX174/174 Hawk T.1 Flying Training School 4.

XX249 Hawk T.1 Flying Training School 4.

XX289 (289) Hawk T.1 63 Squadron RAF Chivenor.

XW438 (B) Jet Provest T.5B Flying Training School 6 RAF Finningley.

ZG725 (J) Tornado GR1A 13 Squadron RAF.

ZE836 (AS) Tornado F.3 56 (R) Squadron RAF Conningsby.

Happy memories, indeed!