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1st Wing (Belgium)
The 1st Wing is a wing in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces, located at Beauvechain Air Base. Training Wing The 1st Fighter Wing (All Weather) was disbanded in 1996, with 349 Squadron and the Operational Conversion Unit moving to Kleine Brogel Air Base. 350 Squadron moved to Florennes Air Base. Later that year, all Belgian Air Force Training Squadrons moved to Beauvechain, creating 1st Wing. This unit was responsible for the education and training of the pilots of the Belgian Air Component and comprised the 5th Squadron, which operated the SIAI Marchetti SF260, the 7th Squadron and 11th Squadron, which operated the Alpha Jet. The 7th Squadron used to operate the Fouga Magister as well. Instructors of the 9th Squadron, also known as "Training and Evaluation Centre" (TEC), flew on the SF260 as well as the Alpha Jet. In 2005, 11th Squadron and the Alpha Jets moved to Cazaux in France, to participate in the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS). The Fouga Magister was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of . Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, historically a somewhat larger region than the Benelux group of states, as it also included parts of northern France. The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven. Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Its institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aermacchi SF
Aermacchi was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Formerly known as Aeronautica Macchi, the company was founded in 1912 by Giulio Macchi at Varese in north-western Lombardy as Nieuport-Macchi, to build Nieuport monoplanes under licence for the Italian military. With a factory located on the shores of Lake Varese, the firm originally manufactured a series of Nieuport designs, as well as seaplanes. After World War II, the company began producing motorcycles as a way to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation. The company later specialised in civil and military pilot training aircraft. In July 2003, Aermacchi was integrated into the Finmeccanica Group (now Leonardo) as Alenia Aermacchi, which increased its shareholding to 99%. Military trainers Since the beginning, the design and production of military trainers have been the core business of Alenia Aermacchi. The products include: * SF-260, piston-engined or turboprop-powered screener/primary trainer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
AgustaWestland AW109
The AgustaWestland AW109, originally the Agusta A109, is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter designed and initially produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta. It was the first all-Italian helicopter to be mass-produced."Law Enforcement: Italy." ''Police Aviation News'', No. 175. November 2010. Its production has been continued by Agusta's successor companies, presently (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into the new Finmeccanica since ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basic Flying Training School (Belgian Air Component)
The Basic Flying Training School is a unit of the Belgian Air Component located at Beauvechain Air Base. It consists of 5th Squadron and 9th Squadron. Both operate the SF 260 "M" & "D" models. The main mission of the school is to provide Phase II pilot training (5th Squadron) to the student pilots of the Belgian Air Component. After successfully completing this course, the students will continue their Phase IIb at 2/8 Sqn in Cazaux, France. After this Phase IIb, the students are assigned to one of three possible "tracks": fighter, transport or helicopter. The school also provides a number of courses for confirmed pilots (9th Squadron). The military glider centre is also part of the BFTS. This small unit, based at Goetsenhoven operates Piper Cub The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wing Heli
The Wing Heli was a helicopter wing in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. Mission The mission of the Wing Heli is to intervene in order to provide aid to the nation, urgent humanitarian aid and armed support on the national territory, to evacuate Belgian nationals from areas of crisis and to participate in peacekeeping operations. Equipment * Agusta A109 * Alouette II (retired from service in September 2009) Battle honours The standard of the Wing Heli bears the following battle honours: *Campaign 1914-1918 *Yser 1917 *Flanders 1918 *Antwerp-Liège-Namur These battle honours were obtained by the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron (french: 6ème Escadrille d'observation) during the First World War. This standard was presented to the Belgian Army Light Aviation by King Baudouin I Baudouin (;, ; nl, Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Gustaaf, ; german: Balduin Albrecht Karl Leopold Axel Maria Gustav. 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993), Dutch name Boudewijn, was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
9 Squadron (Belgian Air Force)
9 Squadron is a training squadron of the Belgian Air Component, constituting the Basic Flying Training School together with 5 Squadron. History First World War The squadron's origins The ''9ème Escadrille de Chasse'' was originally the '' 1ère Escadrille de Chasse'', which was founded in February 1916 as the first dedicated fighter squadron of the Aviation Militaire Belge. On 1 March 1918, while stationed at Les Moëres aerodrome near Veurne, it would be reorganized into the ''9ème Escadrille'' and become part of Belgium's first fighter wing, the Groupe de Chasse. The squadron continued to use the equipment and personnel of the '' 1ère Escadrille''. ''9ème Escadrille'' also inherited the "Thistle" symbol and motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" or "No-one can challenge me unpunished". The squadron's fleet consisted largely of Hanriot-Dupont 1s, supplemented by a some Sopwith Camels. The ''10ème Escadrille'' and '' 11ème Escadrille'' were the other squadrons of the Grou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fouga Magister
Fouga (also known as Air Fouga) was a French manufacturing company established by Gaston Fouga at Béziers during 1920. Originally specialising in the repair of railway rolling stock, the firm eventually became most noted for the aircraft it produced from its woodworking facilities at Aire-sur-l'Adour. The most successful product to be created by Fouga was the CM.170 Magister, a postwar jet-powered military trainer aircraft derived from the firm's experiences with sailplanes. Many of its features, such as its slender tapering wings, reflecting the company's sailplane heritage. During May 1958, Fouga was acquired by rival French aircraft manufacturer Potez; the company's former facilities at Toulouse continue to produce aircraft as a part of the multinational Airbus Group. History During 1920, the company was established by Gaston Fouga; from the onset, it was based at the town of Béziers in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Initially, Fouga's operated centred aro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer co-manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier Flugzeugwerke of Germany. It was developed specifically to perform trainer and light attack missions, as well as to perform these duties more ideally than the first generation of jet trainers that preceded it. Following a competition, a design submitted by a team comprising Breguet Aviation, Dassault Aviation, and Dornier Flugzeugwerke, initially designated as the ''TA501'', was selected and subsequently produced as the Alpha Jet. Both the French Air Force and German Air Force procured the Alpha Jet in large numbers, the former principally as a trainer aircraft and the latter choosing to use it as a light attack platform. As a result of post- Cold War military cutbacks, Germany elected to retire its own fleet of Alpha Jets in the 1990s and has re-sold many of these aircraft to both military and civilian operators. The Alpha Jet has been adop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
11 Squadron (Belgian Air Force)
11 Squadron is a training squadron of the Belgian Air Component, deployed at Cazaux Air Base in France, in the scope of the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS). The school closed on 11 October 2018. History First World War Origins The ''11ème Escadrille de Chasse'' was created on 1 March 1918 at Les Moëres aerodrome near Veurne. As the third dedicated fighter squadron of the ''Aviation Militaire Belge'', next to '' 9ème Escadrille'' and '' 10ème Escadrille'', it was part of Belgium's first fighter wing, the ''Groupe de Chasse''. The new unit used an insignia that was adopted from Willy Coppens's personal insignia with his consent. The ''Cocotte'' is a two dimensional representation of an origami Chicken, and was painted in white on the airplanes. The squadron was equipped with castoff Sopwith Camels from '' 1ère Escadrille de Chasse'' as well as a few Hanriot HD.1s, and under command of Commander Paul Hiernaux.Above Flanders' Fields p.17 Operations ''11ème Escadrill ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian Air Component
The Belgian Air Component ( nl, Luchtcomponent, french: Composante air) is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force ( nl, Belgische Luchtmacht; french: Force aérienne belge). The Belgian military aviation was founded in 1909 and is one of the world's oldest air services. The commander is Major General Thierry Dupont, appointed on 17 September 2020. History Foundation and early years The Belgian military aviation was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army, carrying the name . King Albert's interest in the military use of aircraft was the main impetus for its formation. Coincidentally, in the civil aviation sector, Baron Pierre de Caters earned the first civil pilot's brevet that same year. De Caters would promptly establish an aviation school. At approximately the same time, the War Ministry followed the French military's example and had pilots earn a civil pilot's brevet before their militar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian Air Force
The Belgian Air Component ( nl, Luchtcomponent, french: Composante air) is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force ( nl, Belgische Luchtmacht; french: Force aérienne belge). The Belgian military aviation was founded in 1909 and is one of the world's oldest air services. The commander is Major General Thierry Dupont, appointed on 17 September 2020. History Foundation and early years The Belgian military aviation was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army, carrying the name . King Albert's interest in the military use of aircraft was the main impetus for its formation. Coincidentally, in the civil aviation sector, Baron Pierre de Caters earned the first civil pilot's brevet that same year. De Caters would promptly establish an aviation school. At approximately the same time, the War Ministry followed the French military's example and had pilots earn a civil pilot's brevet before their military ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Florennes Air Base
Florennes Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield located east southeast of Florennes, a Walloon municipality of Belgium. It is home to the 2nd Tactical Wing, operating F-16 Fighting Falcons. It also used to be the home to the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), a joint training program formed by ten NATO members. On July 31, 2009, TLP moved to Albacete in Spain. Units During World War II, German Luftwaffe fighter units operated from here, including Ju 88 and Bf 110 night fighters, and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 day fighters. It was captured in September 1944, after which Allied units operating from here included the USAAF's 430th Fighter Squadron, flying Lockheed Lockheed P-38 Lightnings in the ground attack role, and the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, flying Northrop P-61 Black Widows. From 1984 to 1990, the US Air Force 485th Tactical Missile Wing was located at Florennes, deploying the BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile system, which were removed in 1989 as pa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
