People in Brussels may have noticed the sound of swooping jets and military helicopters this morning. Fear not, for Belgium is not at war.
Aircraft from the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces conducted rehearsals for the planned Belgian National Day military parade today, according to information from Phillipe Touwaide, Federal Ombudsman for Air Transport and Director of the Mediation Service for Brussels International Airport.
Between 10:55 and 11:25, several military aircraft, including F-16 jets and a NH-90 military helicopter, flew low over the city as part of rehearsals for National Day celebrations on July 21.
Les répétitions du défilé militaire du 21 juillet 2023 sont en cours aujourd’hui de 10h55 à 11h25 pic.twitter.com/wZi3MApxjM
— airportMEDIATION_FR (@airmediation_fr) July 7, 2023
The full parade will feature three F-16 jets, three Agusta A109 helicopters, three NH90 helicopters, four SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 planes, one Embraer EMB121 Xingu aircraft, one Dassault Falcon 7X and one Airbus A330 MRTT transport aircraft.
Several of these aircraft are likely to be spotted above Brussels at some point in the coming weeks. The ombudsman says that further rehearsals are expected on 11 July and 12 July between 16:05 and 16:10.
An N-90 helicopter at National Day, Tuesday 21 July 2020. The ceremony paid particular tribute to the health workers who tackled the Covid-19 crisis. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Last year, 18 planes and helicopters flew over the Place des Palais as part of the National Day celebrations. On the ground, spectators can expect to see armoured vehicles, Caesar self-propelled guns, motorised vehicles, and formations of marching soldiers as Belgium celebrates the anniversary of the investiture of Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians.
