For the first time since 2018, the Belgian Air Force Days will take place this weekend. Dozens of military and civilian aircraft from several European countries will take to the skies for a unique airshow.
Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Limburg will be hosting the major airshow on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, with a preview on Friday which is reserved for aviation spotters. The highlight of the event is the breathtaking flight demonstrations by skilled pilots in historical, contemporary and futuristic aircraft from a range of countries including Belgium, Austria, France and Czechia.
Credit: Belgian Air Force
Friday's spotter day will see a unique experience take place: the last flight of the first Belgian F-16 to reach 8,000 flight hours (the end of this aircraft's structural life).
Visitors can also discover a range of aircraft up close in the Static Display section. On the programme will be the colourful aircraft used by the Patrouille acrobatique de France, German and Belgian Airbus A400M Atlas (a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft) and the Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multirole combat aircraft.
Credit: Belgian Air Force
A wide range of other activities will be organised to entertain visitors of all ages, including interactive boots where aviation lovers can have their photo taken in the cockpit of an F-35 or an F-16, discover how night vision goggles work in the dark, and explore several weapons and non-airborne vehicles.
While it may seem that these aviation days are all about showcasing the Air Force's aircraft and helicopters, the main aim of the event is to recruit new generations of military personnel for Defence. "We need a lot of young people", Colonel Koen Vanheste, commander of the base and its fighter aircraft unit, the 10th Tactical Wing, told Belga news agency.
Credit: Belgian Air Force
Based on pre-sale figures, some 40,000 spectators are expected each day due to the good weather and clear skies, slightly more than at the previous event five years ago.
More information about the event, including the full programme, can be found here.
