My Belgian Air Force careera photo tour narrated by Philip Avonds |
Pilot training |
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| 18 October 1976: my first day in the Air Force |
| I'm the fifth from the left... |
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| Elementary Pilot Training on Siai Marchetti SF-260 |
| 1977-1978 |
| 125 flying hours |
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| Advanced Pilot Training on Fouga Magister CM-170 in 1978 |
| also later 1982-1984 and 2003 |
| 150 flying hours |
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| Graduation on Lockheed T-33A |
| 1978-1979 |
| 90 flying hours |
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| The big day: my wings! |
| 01 March 1979 |
Flying fast jets: my little boys' dream! |
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| Instructors congratulate me after my first solo flight on Lockheed TF-104G |
| Note that the first solo was performed in a TF-104G with empty back seat |
| Instructors from left to right: Swa Aerts, Marc Van Huysse and Tony Muls |
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| First operational tour: 31 "Tiger" Squadron in Kleine Brogel |
| Lockheed F-104G Starfighter |
| 1979-1983 |
| 645 flying hours |
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| CO Alex Peelaers congratulates me after my first solo on General Dynamics F-16A |
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| Second operational tour: still 31 "Tiger" Squadron in Kleine Brogel |
| General Dynamics F-16A |
| 1983-1984 |
| 160 flying hours |
Helicopters: a whole new ballgame |
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| Initial helicopter training on Sikorsky HSS-1 |
| From the most modern jet in the inventory to the oldest aircraft... |
| 40 Squadron Search and Rescue (SAR) |
| 1984-1985 |
| 75 flying hours |
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| Westland Sea King SAR helicopter |
| 1985-2003 |
| 3200 flying hours |
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| The only time I didn't land with the airplane I took off with... |
| AFF jump from a Sea King above Koksijde |
Farewell party and last flight 22-24 October 2003 |
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| Tour through the city of Koksijde with the squadron fellows... |
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| ...and lots of smoke and flares! |
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| Statistics |
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| Photo session before the last flight. |
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| One more flypast... |
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...and the last landing! |
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| A well deserved beer at the conclusion of my Air Force career |
| presented by CO Erwin Deolet |
|
Philip Avonds Scale Jets |
| Doornhofstraat 6 |
| B-8670 Koksijde |
| Belgium |
| Phone: +32-58-514451 |
| Fax: +32-58-517253 |
| e-mail: info@avonds.com |