10 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comNEWS
// AUGUST 2018 #Continental Europe
THE BELGIAN Air
Component has applied a
special scheme to one of its
ERJ-135 aircraft to celebrate
the 70th anniversary of 15
Wing Luchttransport (
Air Transport Wing). The
Embraer, serial CE-02 (c/n
145480), first took to the air
in its new livery on June 20.The 15 Wing
Luchttransport, based at
Melsbroek, near Brussels,
operates a fleet of ten
C-130Hs which will be
progressively retired
upon the arrival of the
A400M. Seven A400Ms
are on order for delivery
between 2020-23 and thefirst example for Belgium
recently entered production.
Meanwhile, the ‘white
fleet’ of VIP passenger
jets consists of one
Falcon 900 VIP aircraft,
two ERJ-135LRs, one
ERJ-145LR, and an A
leased from the Portuguese
Hi Fly company.As reported last month,
Belgium is considering
selling off its Embraers
and leasing them back,
switching to an outsourced
VIP fleet or scrapping
the capability entirely.
ERJ -145LR CE-04 flew its
final mission on June 1
before being grounded.Luxembourg
Army
acquiring
H145Ms
LUXEMBOURG IS to
form its first ever military
aviation unit, following a
decision to purchase five
twin-engined H145Ms
from Airbus Helicopters.
Plans for the acquisition
were announced
earlier this year, but
more details have only
recently emerged.
At a meeting on January
19, the country’s Council
of Government granted
approval to purchase
an initial two H145Ms
for operation by a new
air component of the
armed forces, but also
to serve the police.
A memorandum of
understanding was then
signed between the
Luxembourg government
and Airbus Helicopters on
March 21 to establish a
framework for increased
co-operation in the areas
of cybersecurity, space
technologies, remotely
piloted aircraft systems
and rotary-wing aircraft.
While there was no
specific mention of
helicopter orders in the
Airbus announcement,
Luxembourg’s Deputy
Prime Minister and
Minister of Defence,
Étienne Schneider,
confirmed an $178m
contract had been
formalised with Airbus
Helicopters on March
21 for five helicopters.
It is believed that all five
rotorcraft involved in the
increased acquisition
will be H145s. Two
are expected to be
allocated to the Grand
Ducal Police, while the
remaining three will be
operated by the new air
component of the army.
Local media reports
indicate that deliveries
to the police should take
place in 2020 or 2021.
Although two MD
Explorer helicopters are
already flying missions
for the police, these are
owned by Luxembourg
Air Ambulance and flown
under contract. Further
helicopter purchases,
along with UAVs, are
anticipated. Luxembourg
is also funding an A400M
that will be operated
in conjunction with
Belgium. Dave AllportNew livery for Alpha Jet Solo Display
Above: Alpha Jet E33 ‘705-FJ’ during the airshow at BA 133 Nancy-Ochey on June 29. Marco Rossi
THE ALPHA Jet Solo Display
team of the Armée de l’Air
(French Air Force) has
applied a new livery to this
year’s aircraft, Alpha Jet E‘705-FJ’ from the École de
l’Aviation de Chasse (EAC,
Fighter Aviation School) 314
at Base Aérienne 705 (BA
705) Tours. The schemewas applied by technicians
from Escadron de Soutien
Technique Aéronautique
(ESTA, Aeronautical
Technical Support Squadron)15/314 ‘Val de Loire’ at
Tours in June. The Alpha
Jet Solo Display introduces
a different special livery to
one of its aircraft each year.Above: HUNAF A319-112 serial 605 over Budapest. Tamás MartényiHungarian Air Force A319 over the Danube
THE RED Bull Air Race over
Budapest on the weekend
of June 23-24 included a
first appearance over the
capital for the new A
military transport of the
Magyar Légierő (Hungarian
Air Force, HUNAF). The two
HUNAF A319-112 aircraft
are former Air Berlin (later
Eurowings) jets that were
subsequently registered
to Privajet as 9H-AGM
and 9H-AGN (formerly
D-ABGM and D-ABGS).
They received the HUNAF
serials 604 and 605 when
delivered earlier this year.Special colours for Belgian 15 Wing
ERJ-135 CE-02 of
21 Squadron at
Melsbroek on June- Tom Houquet