Welcome home MSN109... This is not the code name of a secret agent at her majesty's service, but simply the construction number of the third Airbus Military A400M "Atlas", intended for the Belgian Air Force.
On March 3rd, 2021, around 11 a.m. local time in Spain, CT-03 left the Airbus facilities in Sevilla. Flight BAF 636 was followed with great enthusiasm by aviation passionate on various radar applications, so as not to miss the arrival at Brussels Airport.
Focus now on the CT-03, which also carries the black, yellow, red roundel and its flight from the land of sangria. After about 2 hours and 30 minutes of flight, the plane flew on final of the runway 25L with a splendid "Touch and Go" and offering a photo opportunity to the amateurs present along the runway. After a go-around, a wide turn to come on final for runway 25R, but in clean configuration and at high speed to make a masterful break, which becomes usual for the "Atlas" arriving in the country.
Finally, a last circuit for the landing on runway 25R, following the taxi tracks to the Melsbroek military base and receiving a welcome shower from the airport fire brigade as usual.
So CT-03 joined its brothers in arms and as it was only asking to fly, a few hours after its arrival, it carried out a training mission including a series of approaches and touch and go's at Florennes airbase before finally returning to its home base at around 17.45 hours.
Since then, she has been close to her fellow planes and will not fail to take to the air again in the coming days.
Welcome home CT-03, and we are now awaiting the last flight of C-130H "Hercules" CH-13 scheduled for month of April; the possibility of immortalizing C-130H CH-01 carrying a commemorative painting evoking the career of this beast of burden within the Air Force and finally the arrival of the CT-04.
It is clear that the 15th Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Force is in a modernization phaze...
Stay tuned :-)