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Beauvechain Air Base : A new page in the history
Text : Serge Van Heertum & Pictures : Serge Van Heertum - SBAP
September 9, 2010 is a new page in the history of the air component. In fact,
besides the change of the commanding officer, this date is the official start of
the Wing Heli integration within the 1st Wing, marking the beginning of the end
of the military installations at Bierset Air Base that will totally disappear
in a few months.
A ceremony was held at Beauvechain to underline this event, but also to welcome
the arrival of the new base commander of the well known Brabant base, and the
new leader of the centre of competence air (C C Air : responsible for the
formations and recruiting). This formal ceremony was hosted in presence of many
dignitaries and guests to milestone the history of Beauvechain Air Base.
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Arrival of a French Alpha Jet From Tours Air Base but with two Belgian pilots | The AT14 under the colors |
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Agusta A109 H23 recently Beauvecahain based | The Alpha Jet from BA705 of Tours |
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Siai Marchetti SF.260D, another homebased aircraft | A Xingu from Avord Air Base |
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The armed troops from the 1st Wing of Beauvechain | |
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Arrival of the 1st Wing and Wing Heli banners | Troops inspection by General Van Caelenberge and Brigade General Laurent |
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Takeover to the 1st Wing of the Wing Heli banner and troops inspection performed by the new base commander Colonel R. Brecx | ||
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Salute to the Air Component Chief | The CC Air troops |
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The flypass of the new coming Agusta's | Anti Tank version |
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Siai Marchetti SF.260 from the 5th Squadron of Beauvechain | And finaly a fly by of four F-16AM |
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General C. Van De Voorde during his speech | The honoured men of the day |
Who is who ? |
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Born in 1958, Patrice Laurent starts his military formation in 1974 at the
Royal Cadets School of
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Brigade General AVI Patrice Laurent, Ir | |
Born in 1960, Robert Brecx starts his studies at the Royal Military school
in August 1979 and is integrated in the 134 Polytechnical promotion. His officer formation completed, he starts his helicopter pilot training in 1984. Graduated in October 1986, he joins the 18th Squadron LtAvn based at Merzbrück not far way of Aachen. During 2 years as a pilot in the 18th Squadron, he also becomes cultural officer, transmission officer and branche 2 officer. From 1995 till 1998 he is attached to the Headquarters of the multinational Division Central Airmobile (MND(C)) from the NATO located at Rheindahlen in Germany. His function there is headquarter officer for the anti tanks helicopters. After his staff function, he moves to the Light Aviation School in August 1998 where he re-opens the study office. In December 2001, he became Lieutenant-Colonel and mid 2002 he is taking the function of 17th anti tank squadron commander. In March 2004, when the light aviation is reorganised in Wing Heli of the Air Component, Lt.Col Brecx became "OSN" Superior Flying Officer. In September 2004, he his affected to the Headquarter in Brussels as responsible for the Belgian Defense helicopter fleet. In June 2008 after his Colonel promotion, he takes the function of commanding officer of the Wing Heli in Bierset. This funtion was held till the disbanding of the unit and the integration in the 1st Wing. And finally on September 09th of this year, he takes over the function of base commander of the 1st Wing in Beauvechain.
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Colonel AVI Robert Brecx, Ir |
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Born in 1966, Stephane Pierre starts his military studies at the Royal
Cadets School located at Laeken (Brussels) between 1981 and 1984. |
Colonel AVI BEM Stephane Pierre, Ir | |