Alpha Jet
Alpha Jet in the BAF
13-24 (of 56 found)
The Alpha Jet in service with the Belgian Air Force
In order to replace the T-33 Shooting Stars and the Fouga Magisters, a contract for the delivery of 33 Alpha Jets was signed on 11 October 1973. The first aircraft (AT-01) was accepted by the Belgian Air Force on 6 October 1978, reaching Brustem training base on 13 December of that year. The last Alpha Jet (AT-33) was delivered on 15 July 1980. First unit to receive the French-German trainer was 9 Squadron (Green Cocotte) followed by 11 Squadron (Bat) and finally, a year later, 7 Squadron (Red Cocotte). At the time, these three squadrons were part of the Centre de Perfectionnement/Vervolmakingscentrum (Improvement Centre) at Brustem air base. Its designation changed to Wing d'entraînement et d'instruction/Opleidings en Trainingswing (Training and Instruction Wing) in April 1984 and to 9 Wing d'entraînement/9 Trainingswing (9 Training Wing) in 1987. All Alpha Jets were transferred to 1 Wing d'entraînement/1 Trainingswing (1 Training Wing) at Beauvechain on 19 November 1996 following the inactivation of 9 Wing and the closure of Brustem.
The Alpha Jets are primarily used for pilot training. They cover the Advanced Flying Training (AFT) and Initial Operational Training (IOT) part of the training syllabus. Additionally the aircraft is used for Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) and is also flown by staff pilots to maintain their flying hours while they are assigned at Headquarters. For this task, a Continuity Flight has been created.
Starting in 2000, the Alpha Jets went through an upgrade program. This included a new HOTAS-technology stick, a Smart Head-Up Display (SHUD) and an Up Front Control Panel (UFCP) in the front cockpit. The rear cockpit received a Smart Multifunction Display and a video recorder. New navigation equipment were also installed including an Inertial Navigation System (INS) combined with a Global Positioning System (GPS). With this retrofit, the new expected retirement date for the Alpha Jet is 2015.
Since summer 2004, a detachment of seven modernised Alpha Jets (Alpha Jet +) has been set up at the French training base of Cazaux. The size of the detachment will be progressively increased until it reaches 25 aircraft in the fall of 2005 under the control of 11 Squadron as part of the French-Belgian Advanced Jet Training School . The Initial Operational Training phase of the syllabus is conducted at Cazaux with the French taking advantage of the modernised Alpha Jets and the Belgian pupils being trained by French instructor pilots. Once all Alpha Jets are transferred to France , 7 Squadron will only operate the Fougas at Beauvechain.
Belgian Air Force operators of the Alpha Jet
Wings
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Centre de Perfectionnement/Vervolmakingscentrum: 13 December 1978 - 1 April 1984 Wing d'Instruction et d'Entraînement/Opleidings en Trainingswing 1 April 1984 - 1 September 1987 9 Wing d'Entraînement/9 Trainingswing: 1 September 1987 - 18 November 1996 1 Wing d'Entraînement/1 Trainingswing: 19 November 1996 – September 2005 Insignia : The Wolf |
Squadrons
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7 Squadron : January 1980 - 30 August 2001 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum - 7 Squadron : 30 August 2001 – September 2005 Insignia : Red Cocotte |
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9 Squadron : December 1978 - 28 June 1985 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum : 28 June 1985 - 2000 Centre de Formation et d'Evaluation/Vormings en Evaluatie Centrum - 9 Squadron : 2000 - 30 August 2001 Insigna : Green Cocotte |
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11 Squadron : August 1979 – still current Insignia : The Bat |
Continuity Flight embedded into 7 Squadron: 29 September 1982 - 20 September 1983 Continuity Flight : 5 April 1993 - 20 November 1995 Continuity Flight embedded into 11 Squadron : 20 November 1995 - still current |
Thanks to all the contributors ! This allowed us to gather interesting material to set up this project.
Special thanks to
V. Pirard/AviaScribe
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