Airforces

Above right: A member of the demo team ground
crew looks on as the canopy comes down on FA-
123 prior to a practice sortie. Demo team duties
rotate between the two Belgian F-16 bases: 10
Wing at Kleine Brogel and 2 Wing at Florennes.
Right: ‘Blizzard’ rolls towards the runway at
Kleine Brogel. The wingtip ‘smokewinders’ are a
key part of the display and require daily attention
and refilling by specialist maintainers.
Left: F-16AM serial FA-123 ‘Blizzard’ was Gizmo’s
primary display aircraft. After his final flight in
the jet on November 10, 2017, FA-123 began
major inspections prior to a return to the front
line in normal operational livery.

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #359 FEBRUARY 2018 // 43

seasons. When the season is under way it’s
only the day-to-day issues that need to be
solved. It’s between the seasons that you have
to develop a new display, you have to practise
the display, you have to get the agenda
together, but you must also plan the ferry
flights. We [sometimes] combine airshows,

then you need to see if it’s realistic to fly from

one place to another. For each ferry flight,

you need to apply for diplomatic clearance,

do fuel calculations [etc], so there will be quite

some time spent in February, March and April

in the preparation of the demo season.”

The airshow calendar is compiled by the

Belgian Air Component public relations

department in consultation with the team. Its

staff receive various invitations and then ask

the team for a ‘wish list’ of where they want to

go. Some airshows are considered important

to attend, usually because they are in nations

that have already supported the team in the

past few years, or because the air arm wants

to invite specific countries to future events.

In terms of the flying itself, Gizmo said:

“There’s little room for mistakes, although

of course we keep enough margin for error.

Actually, I don’t notice whether I’m performing

a training sortie or if I’m flying for the public.

The moment I actually go to the aircraft and

start up, then I’m always a bit more nervous,

but once the aircraft turns on the runway, it

passes, and the concentration takes over.”

Physically, Gizmo thinks the demo is no

more demanding than his regular job. “It

takes some getting used to, but it’s no more

than we’re practising every day. When we’re

training aerial combat missions you’ll find

the same g-forces. A demo takes around

ten minutes, shorter than most air combat

missions. Most people think that it’s very

unpleasant to fly inverted with a lot of g-forces,

but you get used to it fast. Your body also

anticipates because it knows what’s going

to happen. If my right hand [commands] a

sharp turn, then the rest of my body knows

Since 2014, a number of Belgian Air Component

aircraft have been emblazoned with a poppy

logo and the dates ‘2014-18’ in recognition of the

centenary of World War One. This was initially

worn on the intake of the F-16 demo jet, but later

switched to the ventral fin.