European Trainer Meet 2005

Last year, the first European Trainer Meet was held at Beauvechain, Belgium. The second edition took place on Wednesday 15 September 2005. Last years theme was 25 years of Alpha Jet, this years theme; farewell of the Alpha Jet because of their move to Cazeux, France. The Belgian Air Component organized a photo-call for the photographers to give them a last chance to take photographes on their (old) homebase just before the last Alpha Jets move to France. The Apha Jets will be transferred to the French-Belgian Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS) based at Cazaux, France. Several (foreign) visitors were invited to participate in the meeting and arrived that day while 1 Wing was flying their normal flights in the morning. A report about the first European Trainer Meet in 2004 is also available here.

Compliments must be made to the organization of this event!

One of the few remaining Belgian Alpha Jets at Beauvechain that day was this example with serial AT-28. It is seen here parked on the taxiway that was in use as a temporary flightline during the event. A part of the maintenance stays at Beauvechain, so the Alpha Jet will be a regular visitor at its former homebase.

Among the participants were several French Alpha Jets from Cazeaux as well as Tours. One of them was this Alpha Jet E with serial E17/314-UN.based at Tours-St.Symphorien (BA705) and assigned to EAC 00.314 (Ecole de l‘Aviation de Chasse).

Besides Belgium and France, Portugal also operates the Alpha Jet. The Portuguese Alpha Jets are operated by 103 Squadron which is based at Sintra AB, in southern Portugal. Two Alpha Jet A's arrived at Beauvechain. One of them was this example, serial 15235. You can clearly see the difference between the Portuguese Alpha Jet A and the Belgian and French Alpha Jet E-version. The Portuguese Air Force uses the Alpha Jet for complementary instruction and operational conversion.

A Dominie T.1, serial XS739/F, from the Royal Air Force is seen here parked on the static line. This aircraft is in use for navigational training and assigned to 3 FTS/No.55(R) Squadron based at RAF Cranwell.

Two French TB.30 Epsilons arrived at Beauvechain, both wearing a grey livery. In the previous edition of the ETM there were also two French Epsilons, although they were still wearing the old white livery. One of them was this TB.30 Epsilon with serial 121/315-YL.

Another interesting aircraft from the French Air Force at Beauvechain was this EMB.121AA Xingu, serial 078/YE. This Xingu is based at Avord and assigned to EAT 00.319 (Ecole de l‘Aviation de Transport).

This French Air Force Mystère 20SNR with serial 451/339-JC, was definitely a highlight at Beauvechain! CITac 339 (Centre d‘Instruction Tactique) based at Luxeuil-St.Sauveur operates this unique Mystère 20SNR.

Probably one of the most colourful aircraft at the European Trainer Meet was this Italian Air Force SIAI Marchetti SF-260AM (serial MM54525/70-33).The Italian SF-260's are painted in an orange livery. This Marchetti is based at Latina and operated by 70° Stormo.

An Irish Air Corps PC-9M, with serial 267, is seen here on static display. The Irish Air Corps ordered eight examples in late 2002 and received the Pilatus PC-9M advanced turbo trainers in 2004.

A Belgian Police McDonnell Douglas MD 520, serial G-14, is seen here parked on the static. The MD 520's replaced the elderly Alouette II that entered service in 1968 and was phased out at the end of 1999. The Police received two MD 520 helicopters (delivered in December 1999 and January 2000). They also use two MD 900 Explorers while the fixed wing fleet consist of two Cessna 182's.

This Piper L-21B Super Cub, serial LB-02, is in use by the Belgian Air Cadets. It is nice to see this rarely seen aircraft at Beauvechain during the European Trainer Meet.