On May 4th, the Belgian Air Component had selected Florennes airbase
as the setting for the presentation of its display teams for the
2011 Airshow season. As the Belgian Air Force celebrates the 65th
anniversary of its recreation as independent arm (the actual name
Belgian Air Force was only adopted on September 15th, 1949) Belgian
Defence intends to accentuate this event by organising one of the
world largest airshows at Koksijde airbase on 6 and 7 July 2011 and
on top of that honour its glorious history by resurrecting the
famous Red Devils aerobatic team.
Presenting the 2011 Dsiplay teams and Koksijde aishow: from l. to r. Col Bruno Havermans Base Commander Koksijde airbase, Air Component Commander Major Gen Claude Van de Voorde and Florennes airbase Commander Col Michel Colles
Red Devils
The Red Devils are reactivated on the nimble Siai Marchetti SF260 as
a spin off from the formation team created two years ago as
"Hardship red". For this purpose four (a 5th spare may follow
soon) Marchetti's have received the now traditional red colour
scheme with national tricolore under the wings of the Red Devils.
The original team was initially created on Hawker Hunter F.6 in 1957
and very soon became one of the major players on the airshow scene
of its day. Due to major budgetary cuts in the early sixties the
team was abandoned when the Hunter was finally withdrawn from use
with the Belgian Air Force. In 1965 the then Major Jacques "Red"
Dewaelheyns could convince the Belgian defence authorities to
re-establish the famous aerobatic team, this time flying the light
jet trainer Fouga Magister. All pilots were instructors of the
advanced pilot
Team leader of the Red Devils in 1965 Jacques "Red" Dewaelheyns and the new Red Devils
"Red " Dewaelheyns leading the Red Devils on Fouga during the Koksijde Airshow on July 9th, 1966 and the new Red Devils perfoming at Florennes. 45 years later, only the aircraft type is different...
The 2011 edition of the Red Devils is again composed of four very
experienced Instructor pilots based at Beauvechain airbase under the
guidance of team leader Commandant Alain Collard.
Red 1
Cdt Alain Collard
- totalizes 2800 flight hours on aircraft such as the C-130H
Hercules, Alpha Jet and Marchetti. He previously was a member of the
Hardship Red team.
Red 2
Lt Stefaan Braem
- totalizes 1700
flight
hours on helicopters and SF260 Marchetti
Red 3
Cpt Albert Baltus
- totalised 2100 flight
hours of which 650 on F-16, 1250 on Alpha Jet and 200 on Marchetti.
Red 4
Lt Olivier Gilson
- Totalised 2850 flight
hours 200 of which on helicopters and some 850 on Marchetti) He also
was previously a member of Hardship Red.
Break after display
Red 2 Lt. Stef Braem taxiing along the public
Definitely a very attractive colour scheme.
Lockheed Martin F-16AM Solo Display
As last year, Cdt. "Mitch" Beulen is designated as the official F-16 display pilot for the 2011 season with his now customary flamboyantly decorated F-16AM M5 FA-110 "Vortex". For the 2011 season some minor decoration details have been applied to the "Vortex".
Spot the small differences in the 2011 colour scheme of the "Vortex"
Michel "Mitch" BEULEN of Kleine Brogel based
N°
349 (F) Squadron
was born on June 16th, 1975 at
Mitch totalizes more than 2250 flight hours of which 2000 on F-16.
Mich is ready to go.
The Agusta A109AB Hirundo demonstration has been for many years a
crowd pleaser performing stunning manoeuvres in constant and close
view of the public. As last year the 2011 A109BA display team is
composed of:
The 2010 A109BA display team is composed of:
1st Lt Igor CRAEGHS
Igor - Totalises 2200 flight hours 1700 of which on the A109BA
Helicopter.
Lt Rutger ANDRIES -
Totalises
1800 flying hours 1200 of which on the A109BA Helicopter.
Agusta H24 which is to be
used by the team has received low visibility show markings.
Pilots and crew of the 2011 A109BA display team
This year’s main theme for the International Airshow at Koksijde
airbase will be the 65th anniversary of the Belgian Air Force. In a
change to the tradition of organising the airshow during the first
weekend of July, the show will now be held on Wednesday 6 July from
14h00 till 22h00 and on Thursday 7 July 2011 from 10h0 till 18h00.
Main attraction will be the presence of 8 aerobatic teams many of
which of world class such as the USAF "Thunderbirds", France's "Patrouille
de France", the RAF "Red Arrows", the "Turkish Stars", the "Saudi
Hawks" and of course also our own "Red Devils". The near future of
the Belgian Air Force will be illustrated by the presence of the
Airbus Military A400M transporter and the NH90 helicopter (the first
Belgian machine which is to arrive at Koksijde airbase in October
2012)
New to the show will be a massive coastal fly by including
most of the airshow participants between the coastal resorts of
Knokke and Koksijde. This exiting event will take place as of 18h00
on Tuesday July 5th, 2011
More airshow information can be found trough this
link.
Last updated 06/05/11 09:37 Daniel Brackx