Military Jets Photography: 2009 04 30 Basevisit Melsbroek

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.