Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
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Lockheed C-130H Hercules
Four engine transport aircraft
In 1970 the Belgian Air Force ordered twelve Lockheed C-130H Hercules (type 382C-25D) transport aircraft to replacement its sizeable fleet of Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcars. The Hercules aircraft were delivered from mid 1972 onwards to Melsbroek based N° 20 Squadron of the 15th Wing. During the first years of operation the aircraft wore a 'Vietnam'-style camouflage scheme which later on gave way for an overall grey. In 1990 a 'Mid-Life Improvement Programme' was started, a programme that included replacement of the outer wings (from engine N°2 and N°3 outwards) in phase 1, the installation of a self-protection suite and a complete new 'glass' cockpit with advanced avionics in phase 2. Belgian Air Force C-130's have proven their value during numerous humanitarian deployments, in which several missions, considered impossible by some, were successfully completed. The Lockheed C-130H Hercules is earmarked to be replaced by the all new Airbus Military A-400M, but considerable delays in this multi-nation project has postponed their entry into service so that the Belgian "Hercs" will be around for at least another decade.
CH-01
C/N
382-4455
Date In
Jul 1972
Date Out
Dec 2021
History
71-1797, CH-01, "The Nairobi Belle" special marking, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4455/ 455 - used for conversion instruction at Zaventem.
CH-02
C/N
382-4460
Date In
Jul 1972
Date Out
May 2006
History
71-1798, CH-02, "30 Years C130" special color scheme, 05 May 2006 destroyed in hangar fire at Zaventem. Tail preserved as gate guardian at Melsbroek airbase.
CH-03
C/N
382-4461
Date In
Aug 1972
Date Out
Oct 2019
History
71-1799, CH-03, Wfu 21 Oct 2019, being dismantled at Melsbroek, forward fuselage to Dakota museum
CH-04
C/N
382-4467
Date In
Oct 1972
Date Out
Jul 2020
History
71-1800, CH-04, "Mid-Life Update" markings, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4467/467.
CH-05
C/N
382-4470
Date In
Dec 1972
Date Out
Dec 2021
History
71-1801, CH-05, "20 Years C-130" Special paint, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4470/470. stored at Gosselies, N992BA, flown to Melsbroek (19 Mar 2024)
CH-06
C/N
382-4473
Date In
Dec 1972
Date Out
Jul 1996
History
71-1802, CH-06, Written off in fatal crash at Eindhoven airport on 15 Jul 1996
CH-07
C/N
382-4476
Date In
Jan 1973
Date Out
Dec 2021
History
71-1803, CH-07, "60 Years 15th Wing" special color scheme, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4476/476. Stored at Gosslies, N993BA, flown to Melsbroek (20 Mar 2024)
CH-08
C/N
382-4478
Date In
Feb 1973
Date Out
Dec 2017
History
71-1804, CH-08, Wfu Dec 2017, dismantled at Beauvechain tail preserved at Steenokkerzeel .
CH-09
C/N
382-4479
Date In
Mar 1973
Date Out
Dec 2020
History
71-1805, CH-09, last flight 18 Dec 2020, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4479/479, departed Melsbroek for Nur Khan AB (Chaklala AP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan on 10 Aug 2022.
CH-10
C/N
382-4481
Date In
Mar 1973
Date Out
Dec 2018
History
71-1806, CH-10, first aircraft having received the "Mid-Live Update". Wfu 20 Dec 2018, dismantled at Melsbroek, tail preserved at 15th Wing.
CH-11
C/N
382-4482
Date In
Apr 1973
Date Out
Sep 2021
History
71-1807, CH-11, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4482/482.
CH-12
C/N
382-4483
Date In
Apr 1973
Date Out
Dec 2021
History
71-1808, CH-12, sold to Pakistan Air Force (2022) as 4483/483, departed Melsbroek for Nur Khan AB (Chaklala AP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan on 29 Jul 2022.
CH-13
C/N
382-4047
Date In
Mar 2009
Date Out
Apr 2021
History
64-0552, N130EV, CH-14, CH-13, flown to Beauvechain on 26 Apr 2021 to be preserved.