Alpha Jet

Alpha Jet

(All pictures, unless stated are copyright of the Florennes Aviation Society)

Florennes Aviation Society Photogalleries » BAF aircraft in special schemes » Alpha Jet

Alpha Jet in the BAF

25-36 (of 56 found)

AT-12 - "BatBird II" arriving at RAF Fairford in July 1993 for the International Air Tattoo

1995 AT-31 Alpha-Jet 001 AT-31 - In 1995, 7 Squadron celebrated their 45th anniversary (with one year in advance!). The official presentation was made on 24 May 1995. The tail shows a big

AT-31 - In 1995, 7 Squadron celebrated their 45th anniversary (with one year in advance!). The official presentation was made on 24 May 1995. The tail shows a big "white cocotte" (Jacques Vincent)

1995 AT-31 Alpha-Jet 002 AT-31 - The aircraft carried a big

AT-31 - The aircraft carried a big "7" on the port side of the tail fin. Shot taken at the Koksijde Open Door on 2 July 1995 (Jacques Vincent)

This is the sister ship of AT-31... Same colour scheme, same titles, same serial, same pilots! (Jacques Vincent)

1996 AT-25 Alpha-Jet 001 AT-25 - This aircraft carried the same scheme as AT-03 and wore the

AT-25 - This aircraft carried the same scheme as AT-03 and wore the "50 Years of Belgian Air Force" insignia below the cockpit. Taken at Brustem AB in September 1996 (Laurent Vlieghe)

AT-25 - Photographed while landing at Brustem AB in September 1996 (Laurent Vlieghe)

AT-25 - Head-on view of this beautifully painted aircraft. Taken at Brustem in September 1996 (Laurent Vlieghe)

1996 AT-25 Alpha-Jet 004 AT-25 - The demo aircraft was flown by Cdt. Patrick

AT-25 - The demo aircraft was flown by Cdt. Patrick "Pat" Deschrijver. He was the Alpha Jet display pilot between 1994 and 2000. The aircraft flew in that colour scheme until 1998 at least. Taken at Brustem in September 1996 (Jacques Vincent)

1997 AT-03 Alpha-Jet 001 AT-03 - This is the second Alpha Jet painted in this colour scheme. It was also flown by Cdt. Patrick

AT-03 - This is the second Alpha Jet painted in this colour scheme. It was also flown by Cdt. Patrick "Pat" Deschrijver. However, "Pat" flew the last demos in 1999-2000 using a normal aircraft (Jacques Vincent)

1997 AT-03 Alpha-Jet 002 AT-03 - Notice that the two aircraft lost the

AT-03 - Notice that the two aircraft lost the "50 Years of the Belgian Air Force" insignia after 1996. Taken at Koksijde Air Show (Jacques Vincent)

1997 AT-03 Alpha-Jet 003 AT-03 - This colour scheme became well known on the airshow circuit. This one was caught at the Oostende airshow in July 1994 (Jacques Vincent)

AT-03 - This colour scheme became well known on the airshow circuit. This one was caught at the Oostende airshow in July 1994 (Jacques Vincent)

AT-32 - Full profile shot taken at Kleine Brogel Airshow on 5 September 1998 (Laurent Vlieghe)

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The Alpha Jet in service with the Belgian Air Force

In order to replace the T-33 Shooting Stars and the Fouga Magisters, a contract for the delivery of 33 Alpha Jets was signed on 11 October 1973. The first aircraft (AT-01) was accepted by the Belgian Air Force on 6 October 1978, reaching Brustem training base on 13 December of that year. The last Alpha Jet (AT-33) was delivered on 15 July 1980. First unit to receive the French-German trainer was 9 Squadron (Green Cocotte) followed by 11 Squadron (Bat) and finally, a year later, 7 Squadron (Red Cocotte). At the time, these three squadrons were part of the Centre de Perfectionnement/Vervolmakingscentrum (Improvement Centre) at Brustem air base. Its designation changed to Wing d'entraînement et d'instruction/Opleidings en Trainingswing (Training and Instruction Wing) in April 1984 and to 9 Wing d'entraînement/9 Trainingswing (9 Training Wing) in 1987. All Alpha Jets were transferred to 1 Wing d'entraînement/1 Trainingswing (1 Training Wing) at Beauvechain on 19 November 1996 following the inactivation of 9 Wing and the closure of Brustem.

The Alpha Jets are primarily used for pilot training. They cover the Advanced Flying Training (AFT) and Initial Operational Training (IOT) part of the training syllabus. Additionally the aircraft is used for Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) and is also flown by staff pilots to maintain their flying hours while they are assigned at Headquarters. For this task, a Continuity Flight has been created.

Starting in 2000, the Alpha Jets went through an upgrade program. This included a new HOTAS-technology stick, a Smart Head-Up Display (SHUD) and an Up Front Control Panel (UFCP) in the front cockpit. The rear cockpit received a Smart Multifunction Display and a video recorder. New navigation equipment were also installed including an Inertial Navigation System (INS) combined with a Global Positioning System (GPS). With this retrofit, the new expected retirement date for the Alpha Jet is 2015.

Since summer 2004, a detachment of seven modernised Alpha Jets (Alpha Jet +) has been set up at the French training base of Cazaux. The size of the detachment will be progressively increased until it reaches 25 aircraft in the fall of 2005 under the control of 11 Squadron as part of the French-Belgian Advanced Jet Training School . The Initial Operational Training phase of the syllabus is conducted at Cazaux with the French taking advantage of the modernised Alpha Jets and the Belgian pupils being trained by French instructor pilots. Once all Alpha Jets are transferred to France , 7 Squadron will only operate the Fougas at Beauvechain.

Belgian Air Force operators of the Alpha Jet

Wings

Centre de Perfectionnement/Vervolmakingscentrum: 13 December 1978 - 1 April 1984

Wing d'Instruction et d'Entraînement/Opleidings en Trainingswing 1 April 1984 - 1 September 1987

9 Wing d'Entraînement/9 Trainingswing: 1 September 1987 - 18 November 1996

1 Wing d'Entraînement/1 Trainingswing: 19 November 1996 – September 2005

Insignia : The Wolf

Squadrons

	7 Squadron : January 1980 - 30 August 2001 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum - 7 Squadron : 30 August 2001 – September 2005 Insignia : Red Cocotte
	9 Squadron : December 1978 - 28 June 1985 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum : 28 June 1985 - 2000 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum - 9 Squadron : 2000 - 30 August 2001 Insigna : Green Cocotte
	11 Squadron : August 1979 – still current Insignia : The Bat
	Continuity Flight embedded into 7 Squadron: 29 September 1982 - 20 September 1983 Continuity Flight : 5 April 1993 - 20 November 1995 Continuity Flight embedded into 11 Squadron : 20 November 1995 - still current

Thanks to all the contributors ! This allowed us to gather interesting material to set up this project.
Special thanks to V. Pirard/AviaScribe

Links

www.alphajet.be

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