A Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules has taken part in a flypast of Brussels Airport, to mark the retirement of the Belgian C-130H.
Flying from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the Aircraft operated by 47 Squadron joined the event organised by the 15th Wing Air Transport of the Belgian Air Force to mark the retirement of their C-130H. Models from the USAF, Polish and Italian Airforce were also invited to take part in the farewell which saw the Belgian C-130H and A400M take to the sky.
“It was a great privilege to be invited by our Belgian Air Force colleagues to take part in this flypast to mark the retirement of the Belgian C130H. The RAF Air Mobility Force and the Belgian Air Force Air Transport Force have a proud shared history. Our partnership will only strengthen in the future as we grow our respective A400M capabilities.”
Group Captain Simon Blackwell
Commander Air Wing
RAF Air Mobility Force
The Belgian Air Force have operated the C-130 transport aircraft since 1971; the 'H' model is roughly equivalent to the RAF C-130K, which was retired in 2013. The Belgian Air Force will move to an all-A400M fleet.
The Royal Air Force has long-standing ties with the Belgian 15th Wing Air Transport, having maintained a Pilot exchange with them for many years. In the past this was between the C-130H and C-130K but is now an A400M exchange.
“47 Squadron were proud to send a RAF C-130J to take part in the Belgian C-130H retirement flypast today. Our Squadron has worked with our Belgian colleagues many times in the past on operations and training, so it was a great honour to be able to mark our friendship in this way.”
Wing Commander James Sjoberg
Officer Commanding
No. 47 Squadron RAF
