Military Jets Photography: October 2013

The abbreviation TLP stands for Tactical Leadership Program. This is a multinational course for fighter pilots which is held six times a year. The TLP course has been held on Florennes Airbase since 1989. In 2009 the organizers of the TLP decided to move the whole course to Albacete-Los Llanos airbase in Spain. To mark the end of the TLP in Florennes the air base decided to host an spotters day.
The weather during the day was excellent. It was a hot and sunny day and we where situated on a hill close to the runway. During the day a lot of aircraft passed by. We first witnessed the take off of a lot of aircraft for a long range mission. This mission had some tanker support therefore it took a couple of hours before the first planes came back. The participants which did not had the possibility to refuel in flight left later during the day for a shorter mission. So we kept entertained all day long.

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-109

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-68, FA-71

Mirage 2000D French Air Force 133-XH/616

F-16D Polish Air Force 4083

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-87

F-16A-ADF Italian Air Force MM7253

Super Etendard SEM French Navy 1, 8

EF2000 Spanish Air Force 11-07/C.16-27

F-16BM Belgian Air Force FB-22

F-16C Polish Air Force 4055

F-16C Hellenic Air Force 134

Mirage 2000N French Air Force 4-AL/348

F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-201

F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-119

Super Etendard SEM French Navy 1

Super Etendard SEM French Navy 8

L-159A Czech Air Force 6055

TLP plateform overview

The 15th Wing, which is the transport wing of the Belgian Air Force, is stationed at Melsbroek. Mobility and flexibility are the two basic requirements for the Belgians in areas all over the world where they are active. This is a key position in tactical airlifting. The mission of the 15th Wing can be summarized as being stand-by 24/7 anywhere in the world to deliver any carriage of passengers or cargo at any place at any time.
In the early afternoon we were welcome at Melsbroek located at the airport of Zaventem. We first got a brief tour when we arrived at the squadron building of the 15th Wing. There was already a nice surpirse in the first hangar which we visited. An A109 for the Benin Air Force and a French Hercules. In the next hangar we found a Belgian Hercules. This Hercules was in maintenance and a few engineers were working on its engines. Next we would visit the engine shop of Melsbroek. The people up here are committed to maintain the engines of the Hercules and also the other types of aircraft. One of the engineers gave us a short tour and told us something about the engines of this heavy transport aircraft. The following hangar was the VIP hangar, here we found an Embraer 145 and a Falcon 20. Once outside again on the platform, we saw another Hercules and an Embrear 135. Furthermore there were also two police MD900 helicopters on this platform.
The last hangar where we could have a look was the one of the Belgian Federal Police. Inside the hangar were two MD520N helicopters, a Cessna 182R and a MD900 helicopter. After a brief introduction by one of the pilots we were allowed to photograph all the helicopters and planes inside this hangar.
Our visit to Melsbroek became to an end after more than three hours. The visit to Melsbroek was small, but nevertheless it was interesting.