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!

Coronet Bullet and Coronet Shooter 1990 deployments to Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands plus the Iconic Koksijde airshow in Belgium

for usz

Back on the road, we were heading across the channel to the Netherlands in the Transit (White) van. It was 1990, and the European exercise Central Enterprise would involve 24 F-15As/Bs from the 49th TFW/7th TFS and 8th TFS, all temporarily based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. Additionally, the Koksijde airshow took place nearby in Belgium.

The Coronet Bullet aircraft arrived at Gilze-Rijen AB on June 12, 1990, with a couple of diversions to Soesterberg AB.

The first wave of F-15A/Bs is arriving as Devon 11-16, 21-26, all tail-coloured blue from the 49th TFW/7th TFS 'HO.' Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
  

They consisted of F15A 77-0078,86(multi) 89,91,96,97,99,100,102,148,152, F15B 77-0159 'HO'. 

77-0078 'HO' F-15A (multi) seen touching down at Gilze-Rijen.

I had to include this slide as the guy with the jeans and hair could have been me then. I'm as bold as a Coot today; guess, as they say, you win some and lose some?

Coronet Shooter aircraft arrived on June 14 and departed on July 11.

77-0088 'HO' F15A. The 8TFS planes all came calling Konag 51-16, 21-26.

They consisted of F15A's 76-0064, 77-0081, 88,89,114,118,119,120,142,144,149,151.

All aircraft were 49thTFW/8TFS "HO" (Yellow)

77-0148 F-15A 49 TFW/7 TFS 'HO' a Coronet Bullet aircraft.

The weather was not favourable during our week, but the jets continued to arrive as the missions progressed.

76-0088 F-15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' was deployed in the Coronet Shooter exercise.

77-0119 F15A 'HO' 8TFS Coronet Shooter.

Airbrake up 77-0078 F-15A 'HO' 7TFS Blue.

Once again, the weather was dumping as 77-0102 F15A 'HO' 7TFS lands.

Have you ever noticed how the weather lets you down right at that moment?

77-0086 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS (multi).

77-0148 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

Typical weather.

77-0151 F15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' Touchdown at Gilze-Rijen, Those were the days so low, so close, and so gone...

Any trip in the Benelux Countries would always involve visiting the scrap yard/storage facility at Koksijde airbase, close to the Belgian coast.

  

It was always a great place to visit, here Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK and Super Mystere B2 83 in its jungle camo.

Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK formally from the Cazaux French Air Force base.

FX-69 F-104G! Wing of the Belgian Air Force. Seen behind is the Mirage 5BA's of 3Wing BAF, all cocooned. The complete list consisted of  BA01, 04, 39, 46, 48, 50, 56, 57, 59 and 62.

There was another area on the Eastside that we could not visit for photography, which held a further fourteen F-104Gs, all ex-BAF and one Meteor NF-11 ex-FAF.

The Friday arrivals for the Koksijde airshow produced some lovely RAF Phantoms.

Here XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF.

XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF aborts its landing and goes around.

XV582 Phantom FG1 111Sqn RAF.

XV462/G Phantom FGR2 19 Sqn RAFG.

508/2-FE Mirage 2000B EC2/2 FAF.

188746 CF-18A Indian Sqn/1 CAD, CAF.

K-4024 NF-5B 316 Sqn RNAF.

81-0967 A-10A 510TFS/10TFW was a pair, with the other aircraft being 80-0170.

L-06 PC-7 EMVO, RNAF, was an excellent aircraft in those years.

Finally and sadly, for us, CS-01 HS 748 21smd/15 wing BAF was seen taxiing for departure as we are.

Wow! I have many good memories.

Happy Days!