Since the beginning of aviation in Belgium, our country has received many foreign visitors. During air shows in the golden years, squadron exchanges on Belgian Air Force operational bases or simply at the different international airports in the country. This page will bring up pictures of visitors that came to Belgium from the past years until today.

Caudron Renault C449/1  N° 1345  French Air Force
During a visit at Melsbroek air base in the early 1950’s
(Coll SBAP)

General Dynamics EF-111A Raven  AF66-0030  20TFW (USAFE Upper Heyford)
At Kleine Brogel air base for Tactical air meet in June 1986.
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

Douglas C-124A Globemaster II    50254  (MATS Continental command)

Bierset international airshow 1958.

(Jean-Marie Cuvelier via "Buzz")

Douglas A4-D2 Skyhawk     142123 c/n 11377   (VA-83 NAS Oceana)

Bierset international airshow 1958.

(Jean-Marie Cuvelier via "Buzz")

At Melsbroek Air Base a night of January 2013
(Serge Van Heertum)

On taxi during Beauvechain airshow in 1972
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

Boeing 377 Stratocruiser  4X-FPX  (c/n 15963)   (IAF International Squadron)

Originally operated by American Overseas Airlines, called “Flagship Denmark”, this Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was then acquired by Pan Am on 25 September 1950 and registred N90947, when Pan Am bought American Overseas Airlines. It also carried the title “Clipper Queen of the Pacific”. In 1961, it was withdrawn from use and stored at San Francisco, California. It then passed at Israeli Aircraft Industries before going to the Israeli Air Force, with the registration 4X-AOD, then 4X-FPX (Number 098). The plane was converted to Boeing 377M specifications. While operated by the Israeli Air Force this Stratocruiser carried the title “Zipon”. It was finally withdrawn from use on 1 September 1975. The airframe was presumably broken up. Seen here at Bierset air base in 1971.

(Pierre Taquet)

Ilyushin IL-12B   SP-LHD   (c/n 93013504) LOT Polish Airlines

At Melsbroek airport in 1952. Lot purchased five Ilyushin IL-12B as from 1948.
The military version was named “Coach” in the NATO structures.
 A total of 663 Il-12s were manufactured for four air forces (Russia, Poland, Republic of China and North Korea)  and six airliners.
The first export customer for the Il-12 was LOT Polish Airlines, who placed an order for five Il-12Bs after it was displayed at the Poznan Fair in Poland in the spring of 1948. This was followed by Czech Airlines, who purchased 10 aircraft from 1949–1951, TAROM in Romania from 1949, in the late 1950’s TABSO (later Balkan airlines) purchased 6 IL-14 model and at least 20 aircraft to CAAC in China. 

(Coll Jacky Vincent)

Deployment at Florennes airbase around 1955
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

At Florennes airshow in 1975
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

Presented at Florennes airshow in 1975. After his National Geographic Institute carreer the plane was bought by Salis association and became the well known "Pink Lady"
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

Landing at Brussels in the early 1950's
(Coll Bruno Ghils)

Melsbroek airport in 1952
(Coll Jacky Vincent)

Melsbroek airport in 1952
(Coll Jacky Vincent)

At Fairey Gosselies for overhaul in the 1960's.
Note the Belgian Meteor in the background
(Coll Jean-Luc Deval)

Melsbroek air base during the 1952 airshow
(Coll Jacky Vincent)

At Fairey Gosselies for overhaul in the 1960's (2-tone camouflage)
Ex RAF (WS747) aircraft, was delivered to the French Armée de l’Air
in August 1955 and served as electronic countermeasures test aircraft.
Used by the CEV until 1985.
(Coll Jean-Luc Deval)