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Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

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Gary
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:34 am

Cdt. Steven "Vrieske" De Vries from 31 Sqn, has become the 7th pilot and only none American to pass 5000 hours flying F-16s
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Gary
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:17 pm

Temporary immobilisation of the F-16 fleet

On February 11, an F-16 experienced engine problems in Florennes immediately landing as a precaution. Studies show that multiple engines exhibit similar abnormalities. Therefore all F-16 engines should be checked and the fleet is immobilised pending results.

On the advice of the engine manufacturer and the aeroplane manufacturer, it was decided to take immediate corrective measures and ground the remaining aircraft to carry out checks as soon as possible. Defence attaches great importance to the safety of the population and the crew and does not want to take unnecessary risks.

As part of an aviation incident, the Aviation Safety Directorate (ASD) of Defence is conducting a flight safety investigation. During the take-off, the F-16 from Florennes experienced a nozzle burn through. This is a phenomenon in which a fracture of material will melt and unload a number of pieces through the high temperature. The engine of the plane concerned was developed and sent to the maintenance contractor Patria BEC.

During the investigation people encountered a problem with the hanging pin. A thorough inspection of the entire fleet shows that a significant number of engines exhibit similar phenomena.

In parallel with the investigation, all European Participating Air Force partners and the manufacturers were informed. Motor builder Pratt & Whitney, airplane manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force indicated on this information to take corrective actions immediately on the engines concerned.

The repair period is estimated at 5 working days per engine. There is a scarcity on the market, however, with regard to exchange pieces.

The Quick Reaction Alert above Belgian and Dutch airspace remains operational after the inspection. Defence takes the necessary actions to provide the F-16's in operation with the necessary replacement engines. Currently investigating whether other nations have the same problem.
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by 100arw » Thu Mar 11, 2021 3:38 pm


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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:23 pm

First operational mission by the BAF A400M flight
Today we reached a new milestone in our transition. Just a mere 6 months after taking delivery of the first Airbus Defence #A400M #Atlas, the first operational mission was flown. The aircraft CT-03 took off this morning in support of Operation Desert Falcon. The Grizzly came to the rescue of the F-16 Falcons who are grounded at Al-Azraq Airbase - Jordan due to engine problems. We were able to deliver new jet engines and took the bad ones home for repair. Good job guys! 🤘😎💪 #WeAre15thWing 15th Wing Air Transport - Belgian Air Force Belgian Air Force
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Gary
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:53 pm

New special tail for the 75th anniversary of the Belgian Air Force, looks like FA-87

Image
Proud of the past, more employable today than ever, ready for tomorrow's challenges!

This year the Belgian Air Force celebrates its 75th birthday since its birth on October 15, 1946. This important milestone is given, alongside the organization of the Belgian Air Force Days at Florennes Airbase and the great military taptoe in the jubelpark in Brussels, extra look due to a remarkable painting of an F-16 fighter jet from Florennes Air Force base.

The logo with the three planes lays down the link with the present, the past and the future.

The Spitfire silhouette is referring to the first fighter plane our Air Force operated on. On October 15, 1946, two squadrons, the 349th and 350th narrows from their RAF warfare in Fassberg, Germany. Their landing at the Evere airport was part of the founding ceremony and meant the beginning of our current Air Force.

The plane in the middle symbolizes our current commitment to our resources and personnel in operations: from the Balkans operations, across Afghanistan and Libya until today in the Middle East and the Baltic States. For that, we chose the image of the F-16. As a small Air Force, we prove to be a reliable partner in peace and security missions day after day.

The F-35 is already a winking for the future. With the arrival of the F-35 fighter jets, but also the NH-90, the unmanned MQ-9 B and the A 400M transport plane, our Air Force will have the equipment and troops to protect the interests of our country and those of Supporting our allies where this is required of us.

Florennes air base home of the fighter planes

In 1942, almost 80 years ago, the German occupier commands the construction of an airport on the grounds of Florennes-Juzaine. The airport, officially opened in 1943 and used by the Luftwaffe, serves mainly as a base for night hunting operations. In 1947, the Belgian Military Fly System takes into their own hands the base of Florennes and Major Klieger Lallement DFC BAR is referred to as the first corps commander of the then 161th Yachtwing at day, formed by the 351th and 352th Small part equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire. In February 1948, the name of the 161th Wing turns into the 2th Yachtwing by day and both are renamed the 1th and 2th narrow sections respectively. The base of Florennes remains home to the fighter planes through its existence. This is how the spitfire fighter jets are succeeded by the F-84 E Thunderjet in 1951, the F-84 F Thunderstreak in 1955, the Mirage V in 1970 and finally the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1988.

Ready for the first flight.

Attentive eyes could already notice the device with the festive painting in the past few days. The plane finally left the painting warehouse of Paint Shop today for a final inspection of the engine in the Engine Shop. In a few days the plane will be ready for its first flight through Belgian airspace. Our professional painters delivered a fantastic result. Prepare your camera!
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Sat Apr 24, 2021 1:40 pm

CH-13 last flight is due to happen Monday.
Due to the busy schedule of our aircraft and crews at this end of lifetime, we were not able to perform an official last flight with CH13. Unforeseen it participated in Ursel yesterday (sorry that we were not able to send CH01 😉 ) giving the possibility to take some last shots.
Monday 26 April 2021, around 10hr30 Local, CH13 is planned tot leave her home base for the last time, CH13 will then (we hope very soon) be accessible as a static display (under WHI) to be remembered for the coming generations.

#20sqn #c130 #belgianairforce
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by 100arw » Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:35 pm

CH-13 arrived just before 10.00 local.
P.

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Gary
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:29 am

CT-05 due at Brussels on Wednesday according to various BAF Facebook pages
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Tue Nov 30, 2021 11:10 am

The end of the road for the C-130H close :'(
On the 17th of December 2021 from 1300L till 1700L, 15th Wing and 20 Sqn are organizing a small event, including a farewell flight, to pay a tribute to our C130's. The whole event has been scaled down due to the actual epidemic situation. 

We are working together for this with some international participants. Poland, Italy and Great Britain have confirmed their participation. ( all pending in function of Operational necessities and Covid )
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:43 pm

The Belgian C-130 performed their last paradrop today in Africa as part of Tropical storm 21. Retirement just days away
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:06 am

CT-06 due at Brussels at 13.15 GMT according to 20 Sqn Facebook page
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Wed May 11, 2022 12:25 am

CT-07 should be arriving today
Good morning Belgium !
We can confirm or inform you that CT-07 will land in Brussels around 1430L. We plan to land on 25R to ease the operations at Brussels Airport.
You might wonder why we only release this information so late ? New aircrafts receive a thorough inspection before being accepted for final delivery. Before this we can not confirm the official arrival at our home base.
So it's Wednesday, it will be in the afternoon and weather should be nice ! After this one you only get one chance to catch the arrival of a newbie ! So be there 😊
If changes apply we will try to inform you....

#20sqn #Grizzly #A400M #BELUX #WeAre15thWing
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Andy Marden » Wed May 11, 2022 9:41 am

Just airborne from Seville.

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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Sat Jul 30, 2022 1:34 pm

The construction of the first Belgian F-35s has started https://www.brusselstimes.com/264236/co ... &fs=e&s=cl
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Mon Aug 15, 2022 9:49 am

Some of the Belgian C-130s have been sold to Pakistan and already departed to their new home

4455 ex CH01
4467 ex CH04
4470 ex CH05
4476 ex CH07
4479 ex CH09
4482 ex CH11
4483 ex CH12
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by plmc135 » Sun Nov 20, 2022 11:44 am

Article on Scramble (due credit) regarding the assembly of the first BAF F-35A. Serial apparently to be FL01.

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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Apr 28, 2023 8:28 am

FA-95 going through the last major service

Our loyal F-16 fighter jets are approaching the end of their potential and will soon make room for the new F-35A fighter jets. Over the past 10 weeks our technicians have given the device with tail number FA-95 a final major maintenance. This way it can fly without problems until next summer because then the structure will reach 8000 flight hours and that means we will take it out of circulation. After that, it can serve as a training aircraft for our gunmakers, after the still usable parts of the device have been removed. What will eventually happen to the remaining airframes has not yet been decided.

You have undoubtedly seen the FA-95 fly past a few times in Belgian airspace without you knowing it yourself. Apart from the daily training flights from Kleine-Brogel and Florennes, the device was also active during Operation Baltic Air Policing (BAP) in Lithuania (2019), Decimomannu 2021), OCU Block training (2022) and as a training plane for the F-16 demopilot Vrieske.
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Apr 28, 2023 10:44 am

Looks like a delay with the first Belgian F-35, there was talk of them being at KB for the air show in September
Belgium’s defence minister, Ludivine Dedonder, has confirmed that the US will be delivering only two F-35 fighter jets to Belgium this year instead of four as originally planned. The total order of 34 aircraft, placed in 2018, is still expected to be completed by 2030. Ms Dedonder said the pandemic was the cause of the delay.

“The original delivery plan called for the delivery of the first four aircraft in the last quarter of 2023. Due to the impact of the covid crisis, an adjustment had to be made and the current delivery schedule now foresees the delivery of two F -35 in December of this year and two more in the first quarter of 2024,” she told the House National Defence Committee.

Four to five F-35s per year will be delivered between 2024 and 2030, so the 34 planes should be delivered in 2030, in accordance with the initial delivery scheme, added Ms Dedonder.

Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s manufacturer, began construction of the F-35A Lightning II for the Belgian Air Force in late 2022, on the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas.
https://www.aviation24.be/manufacturers ... air-force/
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Fri Apr 28, 2023 9:43 pm

More news 2 Sqn are coming back after 20+ years. No word on what happens to 80 Sqn who operated the B-Hunter until 2020


The Air Force recreates the 2nd squadron, with SkyGuardian drones, in Florennes
The 2nd squadron will be reborn from Florennes air base to implement the future MQ-9B Skyguardian drones expected next year.

Air component of the Belgian army will reactivate one of its oldest squadrons, the 2nd, with a red comet as its insignia, created in 1913 but dissolved in 2001 to implement, from the air base of Florennes, the future MQ-9B Skyguardian drones expected next year.

“The Air Force is pleased to announce that the future MQ-9B RPAS (the military prefers the term “Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems”) squadron will carry on the traditions of the 2nd squadron. The reactivation of this unit is planned for the near future, ”said his staff.

The 2nd squadron had been created in September 1913 – a year before the start of the First World War – with the “Compagnie des Aviateurs” within the Belgian army. She participated actively in the 1914-1918 war.
Info translated from https://www.sudinfo.be/id657864/article ... IaJnAkiS1o
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Re: Belgian Air Force Aircraft / Helicopters information

Post by Gary » Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:00 pm

First Belgian F-35 has entered final assembly stage.

First Belgian F-35 Enters Final Assembly Stage

August 02, 2023

The first F-35 for the Belgian Air Component has entered the final stage of assembly at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

The jet, known as AY-01, was moved out of the electronic mate and alignment system, where its four major components were joined together by an advanced system of lasers and sensors. In final assembly, the jet’s canopy will be fitted, electronic systems will be tested, and the engine will be installed. From there, it will enter the final finishes facility to receive its stealth coating.

AY-01 is due to roll out of the factory later this year and will initially be based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Belgian Air Force pilots will conduct initial training in the U.S. The first in-country arrival of an F-35 is planned for 2025 at Florennes Air Base. F-35s will also be based out of Kleine-Brogel beginning in 2027.
https://lmt.co/3Kp1GAb
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