Nostalgia

A 3/4 size Kwik Fly (built by uncle Jack) in the background and my first own design trainer in the foreground (1977) with a FOX 25 RC engine (which was used in several models)

3/4 size Kwik Fly and Svenson Prima in the background, and my first own design trainer and Robbe Zlin 526 in the foreground

I build this Robbe Zlin 526 Trener in 1977 from a similar Robbe kit. Nearly 50 years later, I built a new version as can be read here. The transmitter I'm holding is a Mac Gregor Digimac, which I still have in my possession, read here.

I built my Falcon 56 from the classic Goldberg kit with reduced dihedral and barn door ailerons. I covered the wings and stab with a translucent blue film next to the white paint finish. Engine is the thrusty FOX 25 RC which was used in several other models. I also built a Junior Falcon and a Falcon 56 Mark II but sadly have no pictures of those models (but I do have an unbuilt example of the latter kit in my collection)

Robbe Lanzet in nice paint scheme with still the same FOX 25 RC engine

Svenson Senior glider (on the photo, the engine pod for a COX 049 engine is yet to be installed)

Das Little Stick built from a Midwest plan and powered with a Veco .19 engine (the compact model was easy to transport in the Opel GT I had at that time)

Mick Reeves Gangster 52 powered by an Enya 45

My very first own design jet, a Mirage F1 with enlarged flying surfaces, enlarged intakes and exhaust to accomodate one of the first commercially available Ducted Fan units, the Midwest Axiflo RK-40 (see below). The Mirage F1 did never fly and was donated to a fellow modeller...

I bought a similar Axiflo RK-40 (my first Ducted Fan unit) in the Christiaensen model shop in Knokke as soon as it became available in Belgium (1977). Actually, I was on my way to buy another newly released Svenson kit, the Twinny (the little sister of the Wayfarer), but when I saw the Axiflo, I changed my mind and this was the start of my involvement in scale jet models... I still have two NIB examples of the Axiflo RK-40 in my collection

Midwest Heinkel 162 with a similar Axiflo RK-40 Ducted Fan unit as above and an Irvine 40 front carb engine (the model did fly but was not a spectacular performer)

Svenson Seychelle built in the eighties (I still have the model and an unbuilt kit in my collection)

Curare 40 built from the excellent MK Kato kit with a Hoernlein Profi 6,5 cc engine installed (I didn't fly the model and sold it to the person from whom I purchased my first OS MAX 60 FSR engine which would power my P-51B Mustang scale model)

DF F-104 with Turbax I and K&B 7.5 cc power 1979)

F-104 with pusher prop and K&B 7.5 cc (1979)

RC kits DF F-106 Delta Dart. Horrible kit but good flyer. Turbax I and K&B 7.5 cc power (1980)

Midwest 1/2A DF A-4 Skyhawk with Axiflo 049 and matching Cox TeeDee for power (1980)

Gee-Bee R2 scale model from Henry Haffke plan (1982) with HB 61 for power

JHH DF F9F-8 Cougar with Turbax I and K&B 7.5 cc power (1982)

JHH DF F9F-8 Cougar with Turbax I and K&B 7.5 cc power (1983)

1/5th scale SV4b from Svenson kit with HB 61 for power (1983)

Incidentally, the full size SV4b OO-LUK is now owned by an ex BAF pilot from the same pilot training class as mine (Promotion 76B). I was lucky to be granted a flight in another full size SV4b, read here.

P-51B Mustang from David Vaughan plan. Originally powered by an OS MAX 60 FSR two stroke engine. It won 8th place at the F4C World Championships in Le Bourget, France (1984). Sadly, it crashed beyond repair after an engine upgrade to a four stroke OS MAX FS-90 following aileron flutter. It was an excellent and realistic flyer...

This is all that remains of my Mustang... now suspended in my "attic museum".

Arrow 40 built from the excellent MK Kato kit and powered with a K&B 7.5 cc engine

Top Flite Taurus built from the original kit in 1997. A classic design from 1962 in the original scheme but with modern colours and up to date radio and engine. Isn't she beautiful?

Starfire (Jet Model Products) built for a friend of mine

Some models suspended in my attic: Protech Edge 540 shockflyer, Scorpio Miss Europa; Robbe Charter, MK Mini Mach, Great Planes Easy Sport 40, Svenson Seychelle, Aeronaut Skippy, Robbe Geier and Ukranian C/L combat model.

More models suspended in my attic: R/C Kits F-106 Delta Dart, EZ Topline 50, MK Arrow 40, Robbe LO-100, Thunder Tiger Stick, Graupner Eindecker and my old red & white F-15 trainer.

My motorbikes

A good school friend of mine infected me with the love for engines and motorbikes. At the same time, my elder brother became a motorbike afficionado, so it was not a big surprise that it resulted in me working on his bikes and riding them from time to time (on private roads, I was only 14 at the time...).

My brother's first motorbike was a Saroléa Régina, a popular 200 cc two stroker. He paid 3500 Belgian Francs for it (less than 100 euro). The bike was not very reliable, but maybe that was just because we were still learning how to properly maintain them. One day, the front tire ran flat. As my brother didn't like working on the bike, I was assigned for the repair job. Unfortunately, on reassembly, I mistakenly swapped the spacers on the front axle resulting in the anti rotation boss becoming dislodged upon the first brake application on my brother's test drive. As his braking action was right in front of me, I could see how the handlebar bent down as the front brake cable entangled around the dislodged brake drum. It was an embarrassing learning moment for me as a novice motorbike mechanic...

This is a similar Saroléa Regina as the one we had

The second motorbike was a BSA Bantam, a 125 cc two stroker, bought from a second hand motorbike merchant in Bruges after a short test drive in the snow... Price was 3000 Belgian Francs (approx. 75 euro). My brother rode the bike for a short while on the streets before we decided to use it as a base for a low cost chopper. The project stalled however and that was a shame because in the process, we had ruined a classic bike...

This is a similar BSA Bantam as the one we had

On my 16th birthday (1974), I rode my first 50cc bike on the road, a two year old Yamaha FS1 Street two stroke with five speeds, bought second (or third) hand for 6000 Belgian Francs (approx. 150 euro). Although it was substantially faster than the 40kmh speed limit for that class of bikes at that time, I took care not to exceed that limit.

At that time, it was very popular to modify bikes and I did just the same. My Yamaha FS1 was first repainted in the black and gold John Player Special livery similar to the Lotus Formula 1 racing cars. Later, I had some parts chromed like fuel tank, side panel covers, head light and head light supports, front and rear springs etc. I painted the frame in red and that gave a splendid contrast with the chrome. Too bad I don't have any pictures.

A bit later, I decided to design and make a full fairing for the bike. I had no experience with fibreglass work, but the friendly people at Artois Plastics tought me how to do it. My Yamaha FS1 started to look more and more like a racing bike. Sadly, no pictures of the bike in that version neither.

this is approximately how my 1972 Yamaha FS1 looked like originally (photo is not of my bike)

I don't remember why exactly, but I sold the Yamaha and acquired a Honda SS50 four stroke. It was an early black version with chrome and rubber side covers on the fuel tank and a low exhaust.

this is approximately how the 1970 Honda SS50 looked like originally (photo is not of my bike)...

at one time, I repainted my Honda SS50 in orange and had some fun doing wheelies...

The bike was later completely restyled as seen below. The long fuel tank was in fact a fibreglass dummy that covered the original fuel tank. I upholstered the fibreglass seat myself. That way, I got introduced at working with a sewing machine. The full fairing was a complete new design, made to fit my posture. The bike was a pleasure to ride.

...and this is how my Honda SS50 looked like after the restyling modifications

My brother's first serious motorbike was a beautiful green and white Suzuki T500 like the one on the photo below. He travelled to the Grand Prix motorcycle races in Francorchamps in 1974 and 1975 with me as a passenger. I still have fond memories of watching those races with great names like Angel Nieto, Phil Read, Giacomo Agostini and Barry Sheene...

my brother's first serious motorbike was a Suzuki T500 like the one on this photo

His second bike was a Suzuki GT550, a bike I liked a lot. It was equipped with a powerful three cylinder two stroke engine with four chromed exhaust pipes. When I got the occasion to buy one second hand back in 1978, I jumped on it. It was a black version equipped with a Rickmann full fairing, twin horns, low steering bar and a beautiful Giuliari cafe racer style seat. I removed the fairing as it didn't match the bike very well and I repainted the fuel tank and side covers in a stylish colour scheme of metallic blue and black with white pinstriping. I still think my Suzuki GT550 ranks amongst the most beautiful ever.

I loved to ride that motorbike but when I had a near miss with a reckless car driver, I decided to sell the bike as I was afraid of jeopardizing my career as a fighter pilot. I'd love to find that particular bike again today, I would buy it back without hesitation.

my Suzuki GT550 motorbike looked like this after removal of the Rickmann fairing (the helmet I'm carrying on the photo was a rare JEB's Clay Regazzoni replica which unfortunately was lost)

My own customised Suzuki GT550 motorbike (1979)

I didn't ride motorbikes until 1989 when I bought a second hand Honda MB50 two stroke motorbike from a fellow Sea King pilot. As it was only 50cc, it was not the most exciting bike. This time, I kept the bike 100% original. I sold it in 1993.

this is approximately how the Honda MB50 looked like (photo is not of my bike)

After my retirement as an air force pilot I felt the urge to ride motorbikes again. Nostalgia hit and it would be a classic bike. My mind was kind of set on a Honda four cylinder or similar. But this was met with a veto at home and a compromise was made in the form of a Honda Dream 50R on static display in my office.

I aquired this retro racer, a Honda Dream 50R in 2008. This example is serial number 175 and was built by HRC, the racing division of Honda, towards the end of 2003. This beautiful piece of engineering and collector's item adorns my office and no, it is not for sale...

More info here

During our 2023 holidays on the beautiful island of Tenerife, I decided to rent a motorbike. I chose a Honda CB500X as it is a good entry level bike with its limited power (A2 licence) considering my 30 years gap in experience. It took me a few minutes to get accustomed to bike riding again, but it went surprisingly well (don't they say that you never loose the feeling?). I was particularly impressed by the handling and the braking power of this modern bike.

rented Honda CB500X in Tenerife

Prior to the rental bike experience, I would have loved to own a classic bike from the seventies, but now I would rather go for a modern retro bike. I had the opportunity to do a test ride on a Kawasaki Z650RS and that's without hesitation the bike I would buy today if I was allowed to...

Kawasaki Z650RS, my choice of a modern retro bike today

My cars

My first car was this little Honda N600 purchased for the equivalent of € 125,00...

A year later I inherited this classic Citroën DS when my dad passed away

The day I got the opportunity to buy my dreamcar, the Opel GT, I didn't hesitate

As a consequence of family expansion, I bought this Opel Kadett D 1.3, my first new car

This Opel Kadett E Break 1.6 Diesel is similar to the one I had, i.e. a three doors (mine was dark red however)

This Opel Astra Break 1.7 Diesel is similar to the one I had

This Citroën XM V6 is similar to the one I had

This Renault Grand Espace III 2.0 16V was bought in 1999

My second Opel GT 1900 purchased in 2006

This Renault Grand Espace IV 2.0 dCi 150 FAP was bought in 2010

This Beetle Cabrio 1.4 TSI DSG7 on the right was purchased in 2014 and is shown here in the company of an oldtimer Beetle Cabrio (courtesy Stefan Werner)

This Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 1.5 TSI DSG7 mHEV replaced the Espace IV in 2025

This car definitely lacks the space of the Espace, but it's such a nice ride. On a recent model meeting, I still managed to stow 11 RC model aircraft in it (against 14 in the Espace).

I like the simple styling of this second generation Kodiaq but there was one thing that bothered me esthetically. I therefore added some black vinyl wrap sections at the rear quarters just below the window. Let me know if you like the subtle cosmetic change...

homepage