European Trainers Meet Beauvechain Air Base 2004

The European Trainers Meeting celebrated 25 years of  Alpha Jets in service with the (Belgische Luchtmacht) Belgian Air Force and its 2004 newly qualified pilots. It was hosted by the Belgium 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 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, 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 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.

Happy Days, indeed!

St Dizier Airshow 2022 "Journées Portes Ouvertes" at Base Ariene BA113.

With the "Meeting National" 2022 staged at Cognac Chateaubernard, it was now time for BA113 at Saint Dizier/Robinson airbase to open their gates to the public with "Journées Portes Ouvertes."

Saint Dizier/Robinson is home to the French Air Force 4th Fighter Wing (4e Escadre de Chasse), which comprises three squadrons.

EC01.004 'Gascogne' EC02.004 'La Fayette' and ETR03.004 'Aquitaine' which is the combined Rafale training unit or 'Escadron de transformation' and includes Rafale M from the Marine alongside AdlA Rafales. 

Although JPO is secondary to the "Meeting National", it did not feel like it at St Dizier on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of June 2022. Blessed with relatively good weather on Friday, the 24th of June, we were treated to various military aircraft arriving from across France and Europe.

On Saturday, with an early start, we toured the base, photographing the flight line and preserved aircraft found stored around the base. It was also interesting to visit the maintenance hangers and see the levels of work being carried out on some of the Rafale jets.

Here are the results of a great weekend.

313/4-HI Rafale B ETR03.004 "Bison" seen recovering to  BA113 at Saint Dizier/Robinson.

A lineup of mixed Rafale types from ETR03.004 'Aquitaine' and the combined training unit  'Escadron de transformation'  lined up in the static display and armed with the varied armaments they could be seen to deploy with. 

The Patrouille de France arrived overhead St Dizier escorted by two home-based Rafales.

326/4-HY Rafale B EC01.004 "Gascogne" ESC BR66 "Faucon Eygtian".

314/4-HP Rafale B EC01.004 " Gascogne" SPA37 "Charognard".

Sheltered Rafale 326/4-HY  EC01.004 "Gascogne" ESC BR66 "Faucon Eygtian". 

345/4-FL EC02.004 "La Fayette" SPA81 "Levrier".

351/4-FR Rafale B EC02.004 "La Fayette" N214 "Tete de Soiux". 

Patrouille de France catches some attractive light as they arrive from Base 701 Salon-de-Provence in Southern France.

T-785 Falcon 900EX arrives early ahead of the two FA-18C's SwissAF.

J-5014 F/A-18C SwissAF is making a fast descent across St. Dizier.

643/3-JD Mirage 2000D  EC03.003 "Ardennes" BR44 "Sanglier assis" from Nancy-Ochey.

643/3-JD Mirage 2000D  EC03.003 "Ardennes" BR44 "Sanglier assis" holding the nose up for the photographers.

16/709FR PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

Flying for the"Mustang-Ray" demonstration team.

17/709FS PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

09/709FK PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

ET-613 F-16BM RDAF touching down at St Dizier. (Have Glass V colours).

55/2-EU Mirage2000-5F EC01.002 "Cigognes" SPA103 'Cigogne deFonck".

55/2-EU Mirage2000-5F Sadly, they will soon be withdrawn from use.

55/2-EU Mirage2000-5F makes the photographers happy with a brake chute. 

E176/8-MB Alpha Jet E from EE03.008 "Côte de d'Or" at BA120 Cazaux in the Southwest of France.

They are some of the last still flying and are used in the aggressor role.

78/XE TBM700A CEAM.

117/XN TBM700A ET00.043 "Médoc" ECA43 from BA106 Bordeaux/Mérignac.

198/64-HF CN235M from ET03.062 "Vercors" at BA105 at Evreux.

Patrouille de France practise display.

E48/6 Alpha Jet E EPAA 20.300/PdF.

FA-67 F-16AM "Dream Viper" 2Wing BAF.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tete de Hibou".

I made the best display on the Friday practice and earned well-deserved applause from the photographers.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tete de Hibou". In action over St Dizier.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tete deHibou". Passing with a tremendous coloured sky behind.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tete deHibou". Landing after its display.

A124/11-RJ Jaguar A, EC 11

A113/7-HT Jaguar A, EC7. Both Jaguars are in front of the tower.

52-8997/1-PA F-84F. Near the main gate and marked as 29094.

046 CM-170 Magister.

16524/338-H T-33A

347/30-FB SO.4050N Vautour EC30.

16/AO Mirage 1VA is one of two preserved at St Dizier. The second one can be seen in photo number six under the landing Rafale, serial 61/CH Mirage 1VP and belongs to the Aeroclub Vol Moteur collection.

Access to the collection is from the other side of the airfield.

16/AO Mirage 1VA FAF.

Early morning at St Dizier.

16/AO Mirage 1VA and 0019/F-RBAG A.400M ET01.061.

16/AO Mirage 1VA and 0019/F-RBAG A.400M ET01.061.

55/2-EU Mirage 2000-5F EC01.002.

198/64-HF CN-235M.300 ET03.062.

The Patrouille de France.

Rafale taxiing.

ET-613  F-16BM FWS RDAF is taking off for its display.

ET-613  F-16BM FWS RDAF. (Dannebrog colours).

J-5002 F/A-18C Swiss Air Force display complete.

046/F-UJCL A330MRT ERVTS 01.031

046/F-UJCL A330MRT ERVTS 01.031 and 313/4-HL Rafale B ETR 03.004.

Very different flying speeds 313/4-HL Rafale B and F-GEKD a Robin DR400 from the St Dizier flying club.

 

F-AZTK as 3198/DL-UI Luftwaffe SK-15A Ex Swedish airforce 5020.

F-AZKT MD-311 ex 260/316-KT FAF.

N52533 PT-17BW  flying as 2390/297 USN and ex-USAAF 41-8831.

 

F-AZHR T-28A as 517749/749 USN ex FAF.

F-AZVN Havard T-6G as 49-2983/983 RCAF ex FAF.

F-AYFM TB-30 as 67/315-WJ Special colours EALA 9/72.

F-AYPT M-62A-3/PT-19 as 163 RNorAF, ex RCAF EW477.

F-BNDD MH1521M ex 240/330-IN.

F-GKJT MH1521M ex 106/33-JT.

F-AZCQ Havard T-6G ex SpAF E.16-193.

350/4-FQ Rafale B.

That's it from a great airshow 2022 at St Dizier.

"Happy days indeed".