Belgian Air Force news

[TLspotting]

Hello!

During the BAF Days I got 2 major news :

- First A400M for 2019.

- Last Seaking RS05 will leave the fleet end of March 2019.

[sn26567]

- First A400M for 2019.

Where will it be based? The hangars at Melsbroek are too small for the A400M.

[KriVa]

A new hangar will be built at Melsbroek. Construction to start relatively soon.

[TLspotting]

A new hangar will be built at Melsbroek. Construction to start relatively soon.

Any idea where exactly? East to Pol Fed Hangar?

[KriVa]

I have no idea. However, if they want to remain operational from EBMB at all times, I guess east of FedPol is pretty much the only realistic location.

[sn26567]

Belgium will buy a flight simulator for the training of future pilots of the military transport aircraft Airbus A400M. It involves an investment of approximately 115 million euros together with Luxembourg (€ 28 million). The simulator will be installed in Melsbroek.

https://www.aviation24.be/military-airc ... simulator/

[pitrixplanespotting]

Belgium will buy a flight simulator for the training of future pilots of the military transport aircraft Airbus A400M. It involves an investment of approximately 115 million euros together with Luxembourg (€ 28 million). The simulator will be installed in Melsbroek.

Source: Minister of Defence D. Reynders

Wow, the simulator costs 70% of a real A400M, that's not cheap...

[FLYAIR10]

In the meantime it appears the BAF is permanently grounding a second C-130 (which CH-XX?),leaving 9 planes to fulfill the transport-role and para dropping until the first A400M shows up.

Source: http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20181226_04063060

[sn26567]

Wow, the simulator costs 70% of a real A400M, that's not cheap...

That's not unusual. The costs of an aeroplane and of its flight simulator are always similar. The difference is that you can crash the simulator many times, the aircraft only once

[TLspotting]

A few news.

The last SeaKing flew for the last time to Koksijde 7 days ago, and was ferried to Ostend on Tuesday (mechanical training, right?)

BAF Base switch from Koksijde to Ostend seems more and more possible in the following months or years...

[TLspotting]

FA-101 Dark Falcon / News

Facebook : Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display

Very proud to present the DarkFalcon 2019 that I will be flying across Europe this year!
40 years of FightingFalcon with the DarkFalcon!
I hope you like it as much as I do and don’t worry this year we will organize some special events in Florennes if you want to see it close!

https://www.facebook.com/BelgianAirForc ... ?__tn__=-R

[TLspotting]

No news announcement at BAB Day 2019.

[Mavke]

The mexAF 787 is for sale and stored at VCV till a buyer turns up ...

[TLspotting]

Florennes Base to welcome the F-35s as from 2025. Infrastructure works to cost €300M.

[TLspotting]

Belgian Air Force unveiled its new "Tiger squadron" tail on FA-116, F-16 based at Kleine Brogel.

From 13 May until 24 May 2019, there's the NATO Tiger Meet 2019 at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan in France where many other countries will come under Tiger livery.

Pictures Bart Rosselle - via Belgian Air Force

[Apuneger]

Maybe it's me, but personally I'm not a huge fan of this latest Tiger tail. Anyone else who would like to share his/her opinion? What do you think?

Best regards,
Ivan

[TLspotting]

Koksijde Air Base to be closed in end 2023, NH90 to rescue from Ostend only.

[TLspotting]

Maybe it's me, but personally I'm not a huge fan of this latest Tiger tail. Anyone else who would like to share his/her opinion? What do you think?

Best regards,
Ivan

Not really a fan neither...

[jan_olieslagers]

What do you think?

I do not think anything. In fact I try to avoid thinking whenever I can - to do it properly is so demanding, it always leaves me exhausted... Thinking is really a hard job.

But as regards the paint scheme: someone tried hard, and that deserves appreciation - well beyond tastes, let alone "thinking" ... Good try!

[TLspotting]

This new hangar will be located next to PolFed Hangar at Melsbroek.