FighterControl

he most famous ambassadors of the Turkish air force will show a perfect harmony of skill, speed and discipline in the sky over Sanicole this year, in keeping with their motto, the Turkish Stars / Türk Yildizlari.

The team is world-famus for its energetic display with seven NF-5 Freedom fighters. Unlike most European teams, they fly fighters instead of trainers, making them perhaps the fastest and noisiest airforce display team in Europe. Their gorgeous wite, red and silver paintscheme makes them stand out even more, and their enthusiastic narrator will certainly also win your heart during their breathtaking show.

The team were established in 1992 and have a rich history and strong reputation in Europe and Asia. The team members are all experienced frontline pilots who are now based at Konya in southern Turkey. They combine tight formations with exciting solos and spectacular crosses.

It’s been over 10 years since the team visited Belgium so don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the Turkish Stars in action again. Mark 10 & 11 September 2022 in your calendar and cheer them on at the International Sanicole Airshow!

The Belgian Air Force sends its newest top ambassador to our airshow. From this year on, a ‘local’ will provide this spectacular demo. Captain-Aviator Steven De Vries, better known as Vrieske, will use his rich experience to the max. And that experience is truly unique: after all, Vrieske is one of the few pilots in the world with more than 5000 flying hours on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, still the showpiece of the Belgian Air Force.

Vrieske started his career in the Air Force in 1990 and earned his wings in 1992. First he was part of the 23rd Squadron at Kleine-Brogel. After the disbanding of that squadron, he transferred to 31st Tiger Squadron. Since 2005 (?) he was the leader of the Thundertigers, the quartet from 31st squadron that was presented tactical maneuvers exclusively at Sanicole and Kleine-Brogel, something Vrieske has extensive experience in thanks to his years of experience during combat operations abroad.

During his solo demonstration, Vrieske will show the enormous power of the F-16, but where this demo differs greatly from others, is in the amount of manoeuvers with negative G-forces, something that fighter aircraft like the F-16 don’t usually perform in abundance.

Don’t miss this spectacle and join us at the International Sanicole Airshow on 10 & 11 September!

Here you go, the absolute headliner of the 43rd International Sanicole Airshow: the F-35 Lightning II solo display team of the US Air Force. This demo team gets the ‘next generation’ format of the International Sanicole Airshow weekend going with the latest in fighter aircraft technology and the future of the Belgian air force.

It will be the first time the US Air Force F-35 demo team is performing on the European Mainland and it will be the team’s only perfomance outside North-America this year!

Flying this exceptional fifth generation fighter will be major Kristin ‘Beo’ Wolfe of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base. The F-35 is not only extremely manoeuvrable but can also approach its targets undetected thanks to its advanced stealth capabilities. Coupled with the latest avionics and sensor equipment, this remarkable aircraft will no doubt stun you and give you a glimpse of the capabilities that will soon also be available to the Belgian military.

The USAF F-35 solo display team will also help us celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force, longtime friends and partners of the International Sanicole Airshow. More than ever before Sanicole will be honoring the past and celebrate the future.

Another twin-engined warbird is heading to Sanicole and it’s a type that has been only seldom seen in recent years in Europe: a Douglas A-26 Invader. This aircraft arrived in Europe from the United States recently and will be making one of its first European airshow appearances with us.

The A-26 Invader we’ll be welcoming saw extensive service during the Second World War and the airwar in Korea. After its military service, it was converted into a waterbomber to fight forest fires in the USA and Canada. Its name, Sweet Eloise II, is a reference to its original name ‘Sweet Eloise’, which is how it logged 1900 combat hours over Korea in the early 1950s under the command of squadron commander Charles Howe.

No doubt, its sleek lines and excellent flight characteristics will make it a popular addition to the line-up at the International Sanicole Airshow, adding to our impressive celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force.

Make sure you don’t miss this stunning aircraft and mark 10 & 11 September 2022 in your calendar.

In 2021, the Baby Blue Team of the Danish Air Force took part in the International Sanicole Airshow for the first time, but due to circumstances they were forced to cancel the premiere of their brand-new six-ship display with their Saab T-17 Supporters at the last minute. This year they return to Sanicole to show this display. 

The T-17 has a very striking appearance with the wings mounted high on the fuselage, with the instructor and student pilot sitting side-by-side. The team presents four of their aircraft in sleek and elegant formations, interspersed with two solos that prove the surprising maneuverability of the T-17 as the other team members set up for the next pass. Both of these characteristic elements aptly demonstrate why the T-17 is such a popular and highly capable training aircraft, used with great success by various air forces around the world. 

Discover this Danish masterclass in airshow displays for yourself during the International Sanicole Airshow on 10 & 11 September 2022.

The Belgian air force has a proud tradition in helicopter operations, most famously for search & rescue operations. Sanicole is proud to highlight this history with a historic helicopter in the flying display.

The first three search & rescue helicopters in the Belgian air force entered service in 1954 in Congo: the British-built Bristol Sycamore. It is now an extremely rare vintage helicopter and we are very proud to present this little-known chapter of helicopter history thanks to the wonderful collection of the Austrian Flying Bulls, who will present the only flying example in the world. This will give you a rare opportunity to enjoy the splendid sight of this historic machine in combination with its surprising sound from its piston engine. Another interesting aspect about this helicopter is that its rotor blades are made entirely out of wood.

AIRSHOW TICKETING: Last call tickets at -25%

Last Call on up to 25% OFF Airshow Tickets! As a friendly reminder ... You can still purchase deeply discounted tickets to the 2022 International Sanicole Airshow for up to 25% OFF, until Sunday (July 31st). As from August 1st, prices go up. Please don't miss this chance to secure your spot and take advantage of this great airshow ticket discounts now https://bit.ly/3y6BqEW

With the imminent out-of-service date of the Belgian air force’s SF-260 training aircraft, Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus will present their PC-7 MkX training solution as a possible successor at the International Sanicole Airshow

The PC-7 MkX is a further development of the famous and proven turboprop training aircraft that has seen service worldwide since the 1980s, bringing it up to 21st century standards. It has state-of-the-art avionics integrated in a glass cockpit, excellent aircrew ergonomics including reliable Martin-Baker ejection seats, superb handling characteristics allowing trainee-pilots to develop the proper reactions under any flying condition and it comes complete with an additional ground-based training setup including Artificial Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR). All this makes this a modern day training setup ensuring the best possible results.

Discover this latest iteration of the PC-7 training platform during the flying display of the International Sanicole Airshow on 10 & 11 September 2022.

In lieu of the planned Rafale pair “Requin Mike” who are unavailable due to operational reasons, the French Armée de l’ Air et de l’Espace will send a double bill of Belgian airshow premieres to the International Sanicole Airshow in 2022.

The first are a pair of one of the newest aircraft in French air force service, the advanced and highly capable Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft. They hail from the base at Cognac and are known by their radio callsign Mustang X-Ray. They will perform tactical role demo of the manoeuvres taught to all trainee-pilots using this latest of the Pilatus turboprop trainer family, including close formation work, syncro manoeuvres and tactical operations. The terrific agility and high speed the PC-21 is capable of will no doubt illustrate why this Swiss-built trainer is regarded as one of the best in the world. It is packed with the latest simulation technologies and is an unrivalled tool to prepare pilots for their later careers.

The second premiere are the prestigious “Ambassadeurs parachutistes de l’Armée de L’air et de l’Espace” (APAAE). The team was formed as a precision landing parachute team in 1986 and has been performing displays at airshows since 2008, performing breathtaking stunts individually and with team members attached to each other under canopy, culminating in a patriotic moment with a French flag the size of a tennis court unfolding on the way down. These highly experienced parachutists come from different bases around France and are welcome guests at airshows and parachute competitions around the country.

Make sure to catch these very diverse premieres by the French air force during the 2022 International Sanicole Airshow on 10 & 11 September 2022.

After their highly popular performance last year, the Italian Air Force once again provides a fierce spectacle and deafening roar over Sanicole.

The Italian test center Reparto Sperimentale di Volo, based in Pratica di Mare, not far from Rome, is sending one of the world’s most modern training aircraft, the M346 Master. This aircraft from the Italian manufacturer Leonardo is extremely suitable for training new fighter pilots because of its excellent flight characteristics. In addition, it is equipped with sophisticated avionics that allow it to faithfully mimic various combat aircraft systems and simulate complex combat situations. The pilot of the Italian test center will undoubtedly amaze you by showing you the power and maneuverability of this aircraft.

In terms of power and maneuverability, the EF2000 is no slouch either, which you cannot possibly miss during the second demo of the Reparto Sperimentale di Volo. This state-of-the-art combat aircraft, a collaboration of Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, has therefore been chosen by several other countries as their primary combat aircraft. The roaring afterburner of the twin-engine Eurofighter will shake the ground as the pilot demonstrates full flight characteristics at high and low speeds, regularly undergoing forces of up to 9G.

To top these awesome demos off, the Italian air force test center will also showcase the highly capable Leonardo C-27 Spartan transport aircraft in flight. However, don’t be fooled by its appearance, this aircraft is hardly inferior to the new jets they propose in terms of maneuverability and performance. Expect a fully acrobatic performance that will make it clear to you why the Spartan is the transport plane of choice for many countries, both in Europe and far beyond.

To complete our impressive celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force, the USAF is sending its undisputed air dominance fighter to the 43rd International Sanicole Airshow, the amazing F-22 Raptor.


This ultramodern 5th generation fighter combines incredible agility, enormous power with added thrust-vectoring for added manoeuvrability and stability, and state-of-the-art technology with stealth, allowing it to approach its target undetected. Its sleek lines also make it look very elegant in flight, while they add to its stealthy characteristics. The United States Air Force is the only operator of this unrivalled machine and you will be able to see it over Sanicole for the first time at a Benelux-airshow.


Two F-22s from the 90 fighter squadron based at Elmendorf in Alaska and currently deployed to Poland to guard NATO’s eastern flank, will visit the spottersday at nearby Kleine-Brogel on Saturday 10 September and depart to Lask in Poland again on Sunday, but not without passing over Sanicole first to greet the audience to join the USAF anniversary celebrations with a single pass.

This unique show of force by the United States Air Force is yet another momentous occasion that you can join by visiting the 43rd International Sanicole Airshow on Saturday 10 September (sunset) and Sunday 11 September.