LH Aviation Photography

28/04/2024

Last operational Belgian Air Force Lockheed F104G Starfighter, FX99 (c/n 9172), has been painstakingly restored by its current owner at Bilzen, Belgium.

FX99 was build by SABCA and delivered to the Belgian Air Force on April 2nd, 1965 but remained in storage for almost two years and finally entered service with the 10th Fighter Bomber Wing at Kleine Brogel on April 12th, 1967. On September 26th, 1983 the aircraft made the last official F104G flight within the Belgian Air Force when it was ferried by Kapt.vl. Aerts (31 ‘Tiger’ Squadron) from Kleine Brogel to Koksijde for storage, for this occasion the aircraft received a special cartoon marking depicting a ‘Tiger F104G…. Bye F104’.

In 1987 the aircraft was part of a batch of TF104G/F104Gs that was sold to Radcomm Enterprice who stripped them of all useable parts and abandoned the remains at Koksijde, but FX99 was one of a handful that was shipped to the US in november 1990 for preservation. It was first noted at Bangor, Maine in 1991, but in 1995 the aircraft had been acquired by International Vintage Aircraft at Markham airport, Ontario (Canada) were it later became part of the Canadian Air Sea Land Museum, where it was slowly rotting away.

In 2021 two Belgian enthusiasts managed to acquire the aircraft and dismantle and pack it into two containers during the summer period and shipped it back to Belgium. In October 2021 FX99 arrived on their premises at Houthalen-Helchteren and they started to reassemble the aircraft, but for various reasons they had to abandon the project and it was offered for sale.

In August 2022, it was acquired and transported by Luc Degens from nearby Bilzen with the plan to restore it and display it next to his Antonov An2TPS (c/n 1G 185-05, ex SP-FIX) behind his aviation themed B&B ‘Air Bil-Zenn’. Over the period 2022-2023 the owner has painstakingly repaired all the damage that FX99 suffered during its travels and recreated the paint scheme it wore during its last flight in 1983.

The end result is really magnificent and FX99 can be considered the best restored F104G in the country at the moment.

25/02/2024

In June 2023 I had the possibility to visit the Museo Storico del Servizio Aereo della Guardia di Finanza (the Historical Museum of the Italian Customs Police Flying Service) at Pratica di Mare.

The museum was created in 2010 and holds a nice collection of mainly helicopters that were in use by the Guardia di Finance since the creation of the Air Service in February 1954.

The most recent addition to the collection is a wonderfully restored Beech C45F-BH Expeditor. Although GdF initially only used helicopters (for example the Agusta-Bell AB47G) with a range too small for long-range patrol missions over the sea a collaboration with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force) started and a number of Expeditors were taken into service and flown by missed AMI and GdF crews. In more recent days this long-range patrol role has been taken over by the ATR42-400MP.

All the helicopters and aircraft at the museum were restored to a very high standard by a small team lead by Lieutenant Di Terlizzi, who also acts as curator of the museum.

The museum only owns one helicopter that was part of the GdF, a Breda-Nardi NH500M that was once operated by the Maltese Air Squadron.

After the tour of the museum with a detailed explanation by Lieutenant Maurizio Di Terlizzi, I was also shown around the operational part of their facility, unfortunately it was not allowed to make pictures of their new equipment. Final part were a number of stored aircraft, and these could be photographed without a problem.

This museum is certainly worth visit when you are in the area, but you need to plan ahead and request permission for a visit as it is located on Practica di Mare airbase and here you need permission for a visit in advance.

I would like to thank Lt.Di Terlizzi and his colleagues for their hospitality and time.

24/02/2024

Official reception last Airbus A400M for the Belgian Air Force

On February 20th, 2024 the Belgian Minister of Defence Mrs.Ludivine Dedonder together with her Luxembourg counterpart, Mrs.Yuriko Backes, officially accepted the last Airbus A400M Atlas. It was officially inaugurated during a small ceremony at Melsbroek airbase during which the aircraft was given a traditional water salute.

A400M, CT-08 (MSN 133), was already delivered to Melsbroek in the evening of Friday January 12th, 2024 and did its first operational mission during the following weekend with a return flight to N’Djamena, Chad. Since then it was kept on the ground to hide it from sight and especially the cameras of the local spotter community.

CT-08 is in the fact the 7th A400M acquired by the Belgian Air Force and it is operated together with CT-01, the sole Luxembourg example in the Belgo-Luxembourg 20th Squadron, part of 15th Transport Wing.

The integration of the Luxembourg personnel in the unit went very smoothly and this is well illustrated that the current squadron commander, is the Luxembourg Maj Avi Daniel ‘Dan’ Olsem.

This collaboration is now acting as a blueprint for a next project, the formation of a Belgo-Luxembourg reconnaissance battalion in the Army, for which the agreement was signed during the same ceremony on February 20th.

-airtransport.be squadron tactical airlift

18/02/2024

Danish Chipmunks for Belgium !

In recent months and weeks the Belgian Chipmunk community has grown with two additional aircraft that were imported from abroad, curiously neither of them had a RAF background.

The first aircraft that was acquired is a Chipmunk Mk.22 (c/n C1/0104) that was delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force on June 9th 1950 as 12-125, later this it was re-serialled P-125. During its whole career it was used by the Flyveskolen (FLSK) at Karup, until being struck of charge on September 30th, 1976 when it was replaced by the Saab T17 Supporter. It was sold in Sweden and received the civil registration SE-GRK. In Sweden it changed hands several times until it was offered for sale in 2023 with a total of 5608 flying hours. A trio of Belgian pilots acquired the aircraft and on August 19th it was ferried from Sweden to Antwerp, its current homebase. Already a few days later Raymond’s Aircraft Restoration (who happens to be one of the owners) gave the aircraft a new paint scheme depicting a Belgian Air Force example with the serial ‘C-2’, but still retaining its Swedish registration SE-GRK and as such it participated in a few aviation events in Belgium. Plans were made to give the aircraft the Belgian registration OO-RLC (RLC where the initials of the three owners of the aircraft). However, plans changed as one of them pulled out of the project, more on that later… On January 3rd, 2024 the aircraft finally received its new Belgian Registration OO-CII. Its current color scheme is historical accurate as the Belgian Air Force acquired two Chipmunks in march 1948, serialled C-1 and C-2, to act as evaluation aircraft for a new primary trainer that had to replace the Tiger Moth. The Chipmunk was not acquired, but instead a new batch of Stampe SV4Bs were acquired.

The second aircraft that was imported into Belgium is another former Danish Air Force example, this time serial 12-132 (later P-132, c/n C1/0702) that entered Danish service on August 26th, 1952. It’s operational career is similar to P-125 and it was also struck of charge on September 30th, 1976. It was initially allocated the Danish registration OY-ALW by the Veteranklubben Fly, but this went not ahead as it became part of a deal with the Brussels Air Museum in 1977 when Chipmunks P-130 and P-132 were exchanged with a Belgian Air Force SV4B V-62, which is still airworthy in Denmark as OY-DBC. P-132 only remained in Belgium until 1980 when it was exchanged with a Morane-Saulnier MS315 part of the Jean Salis collection. In France it was restored to airworthiness and received a fake Royal Air Force color scheme as ‘WB557’ and registered F-AZCH. In 2023 it was offered for sale and was acquired by the third pilot, who pulled out of the purchase of SE-GRK. On January 7th, 2024 is was ferried from France to its now home at Kortrijk-Wevelgem. For time being the aircraft will continue flying as F-AZCH, but on December 28th, 2023 a reservation was made for the Belgian registration OO-VNL, that it probably will receive after its next annual inspection.

On January 28th, 2024 I had the opportunity to participate in a mini ‘Chipmeet’ as Balen-Keiheuvel airfield were both aircraft were present and I want to thank the respective owners for their cooperation in the making of this pictures !

01/01/2024

First of all Best Wishes to all of you and I hope 2024 will be as good or hopefully even better as 2023.

A new year, but also a time to look back at some of my personal aviation highlights of 2023. Due to personal circumstances I was not able to do a lot of travelling last year, but nevertheless managed to visit the fantastic 100th Anniversary of the Italian Air Force at Pratica di Mare, RIAT at Fairford and Athens Flying Week at Tanagra in Greece. The traditional visit to Les Temps des Hélices at La Ferté-Alais was my last foreign trip that was bit further from home. More locally we had the Belgian Air Force Days at Kleine Brogel and Zeeland Rescue at Vlissingen in the Netherlands that always give some nice photo opportunities. I ended the year with a night shoot with the BD09-team at nearby Brustem.

I hope to be able to do a bit more travelling this year and also can restart my ‘normal’ spotting activities at local airbases and airports.

Here is a small overview of my what passed in front of my lens this year…. To be continued in 2024 !

10/12/2023

Today is the day !

The first Lockheed-Martin F35A Lightning II has been officially presented during a ceremony earlier this evening at the Lockheed-Martin production facility at Fort Worth, Texas.

/PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin [LMT] presented Belgium's first F-35A Lightning II to the Belgian government during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin's...

02/12/2023

A small 'promotional' message for my local followers.

My friends at Belgian Scale Modellers Club vsw (BSMC) are organizing next week Sunday, December 10th, their next Belgian Scale Modellers Convention at Putte (Belgium).

It will take place at Klein Boom, Mechelbaan 604, 2580 Putte. All practical info can be found on the following website: www.bsmc.be

See you all there on December 10th !

26/11/2023

The story of an aircraft restoration.

When in February 2021 the announcement was made that in Italy a team of aircraft restorers was about to return to the air a Fiat G91 many were a bit skeptical. Since the retirement of the type in 1995 not one flew again, so this would be a mammoth task to finish.

The actual work began in January 2022, about 18 month before their target date June 16-17-18th, 2023, when the major airshow at Pratica di Mare to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Italian Air Force was going to be held. The work was divided over several locations: a team lead by Renzo Catellani worked on the fuselage, avionics and hydraulic system in Reggio Emilia. They got the support from various Italian Air Force departments and specialists, such as the Distaccamento Aeroportuale di Piacenza, the NVPA (Nucleo Valorizzazione Patrimonio Aeronautica) also at Piacenza-San Damiano, the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department at Cameri (Novarra), the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Department (3°RMAA - Reparto Manutenzione Aeromobili) at Treviso, the 6°Stormo (Wing) at Ghedi and 61° Stormo at Lecce-Galatina. They also received from ACS (Aeronautical Consulting & Solutions S.r.L) and various other Italian companies.

The aircraft selected was a Fiat G91R/1A, c/n 169, that saw service with the Italian Air Force as MM6305. This aircraft was previously preserved until 2009 at the small ‘Deltaland’ collection at San Possidonio, in that year it left for the Collezione Renzo Catellani at it restoration facility at Reggio Emilia airport, at Poviglio. A second aircraft MM6272 (c/n 38) served as a sources of spares.

Literally days before the big event at Pratica, on Wednesday June 14th, 2023 the aircraft made its first post-restoration test flight in the hands of pilot Maurizio Lodovisi painted in the overall blue color scheme of the Frecce Tricolori, the demonstration team of the Italian Air Force… but still without the rest of the markings. After this flight the rest of the markings, the red, white and green cheatline and a large yellow ‘10’ were applied to the aircraft.

On Thursday June 15th, 2023 the aircraft made a ferry flight from Reggio Emilia airport to Pratica di Mare airbase (near Roma). Unfortunately, during this flight part of the paint had detached itself from the fuselage, but as such it made a first public appearance during the spotters day on Friday on June 16th. In the evening of that Friday (and probably the early hours of the Saturday) the paint scheme was restored… just in time for the big event on Saturday and Sunday.

The aircraft is now registered I-AMIC and will be operated by Renzo Catellani on the Italian (and hopefully) European airshow circuit alongside his MB326 and MB326K.

22/11/2023

A small progress update on A400M CT-08 (c/n 133), which is due for delivery in January 2024.

The aircraft made a first flight on August 31st, 2023 as 'CASA433', registered 'A4M133' from Seville in Spain.

A second flight flight was made on November 20th, 2023.
For those who want to have a 'look' at the flight, here are the ADSB-links for :

1st flight
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=3443d8&lat=37.710...

and

2nd flight
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=3443d8&lat=37.419...

So far I haven't found any pictures of the aircraft, but perhaps someone has more luck.

02/11/2023

For the spotters who live locally to myself.

On February 3rd, 2024 a group of friends (including myself) will be organizing a photo evening in the 'Kristoffelheem' in Ham.

If you want to participate to this event you can register yourself on the following link :

https://fb.me/1RtsPOeGhmIfNex

Don't wait too long as the number of places is limited to 80 people !

15/10/2023

On Saturday October 14th, 2023 the Mirage 5 BD09 Restoration Group, organized a nightshoot in their new home, Hangar H27, at Sint-Truiden/Brustem airport, for an international group of aviation enthusiasts. Off course the teams own Dassault-Breguet Mirage 5BD BD09 was present, but this year a second aircraft preserved at the same location was present.

Lockheed F104G Starfighter, serial 26+72, is a former Germany Navy (Marineflieger) aircraft and still wears the colorscheme of its last users, The Vikings demo team.

In early 1979, Marinefliegergeschwader 2, based at Eggebek, had the idea to create a F104G demo team. The team consisted of two aircraft and performed their first public display a few months later during the International Air Tattoo at RAF Greenham Common. MFG2 was the last user of the F104G within the German Navy, until the type was replaced by the Panavia Tornado in the summer of 1986.

After the nightshoot at Hangar 28, I also took the opportunity to make some evening shots of Fouga Magister MT-03 that is preserved on the roundabout at the entrance of the industrial estate where Hangar 27 is located. Magister MT-03 was mounted on its in May 2008 and unfortunately being exposed 15 years to the Belgian weather has seriously affected the Red Devils colorscheme. The paint is slowly fading away, and hopefully this can fixed in the near future.

I wish to thank the BD09 team for organising this event and hope to visit you soon!

16/09/2023

Today, September 16th, 2023, an Aermacchi MB339PAN from the Italian Air Force Aerobatic Team 'Frecce Tricolore' crashed while taking off from Turin-Caselle airport. The pilot of 'Pony 4' managed to escape with his ejection seat.
An Italian news report indicates that debris of the aircraft hit a number of cars, in one of which a 5 years old child was killed.

On Youtube this video was posted a few minutes ago.

10/09/2023

During the Belgian Air Force Days Spotters day on Friday September 8th, 2023 the Belgian Air Force said goodbye to its first Lockheed Martin F16AM Fighter Falcon, serial FA95, as it had reached an impressive 8000 hours of flying time. Flight operations beyond this limit no longer guarantee the structural integrity, safety of the aircraft and pilot, so the aircraft had to be decommissioned.

F16AM FA95, c/n 6H-95, USAF FMS 80-3586, left the SABCA production line in January 1985 and made its first flight on January 28th in the hands of SABCA test pilot Serge Martin. After being accepted by the Belgian Air Force on February 18th, it was ferried from Gosselies to Kleine Brogel airbase where it joined the fleet of No 10 Wing. Already on the same day the first military flight was carried out by Major “Toeker” Kortleven, then member of the No 23 “Devils” Squadron. Over the next 38 years the aircraft accumulated a total of 8000 hours in 6500 flights while being flown by members of 23, 31 and 349 Squadron at Kleine Brogel and also by pilots from 1, 2 and 350 Squadron during its short stay at No 2 Wing at Florennes airbase in the beginning of this century. The aircraft was used during several operational missions over Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and also participated in QRA missions over the Baltic States.

After its flying career the aircraft will remain at Kleine Brogel where it will be used to train technicians, a role for which until now an operational aircraft had to be reserved.

Enclosed are a few pictures of its last flight for which it received special markings and a few pictures from during its operational life at Kleine Brogel.

05/09/2023

Last weekend I attended for the first time the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra air base in Greece. My main goal was to see as many different Greek Air Force aircraft types, a goal that was surely met. Here is a quick selection of what participated in this great (and well organized) event.

A big thank you for your hospitality and friendship, I will surely be attending the event in the future.

For those of you who want to see the Greek Air Force F-16 "Zeus" and the T-6 "Daedalus" demo teams, the Danish F-16 demo, the U.S.Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team and off course own Belgian Air Force F-16 solo display with 'Dream Viper' a bit closer to home, all four of them (and many more) will be displaying at this years Belgian Air Force Days that will be held next weekend at Kleine Brogel air base.

14/07/2023

In the weekend of June 16-17th, 2023 the Aeronautica Militare Italiana organized a large air display at the base of Pratica di Mare (near Rome). The highlight for many was the presence of an airworthy Lockheed TF104G Starfighter. The aircraft was airlifted with a Lockheed C130J Hercules from its homebase in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA to Italy to participate in this event. The aircraft itself entered service with the Italian Air Force on January 22nd, 1970 as MM54258 (c/n 583H-5209). On December 3rd, 2003 it made its first flight in an overall black color scheme coded ‘4-9’ while in service with 4°Stormo and flew as such until it was withdrawn from service on October 14th, 2004.

After its military service it was acquired by Florida-based ‘Starfighters Inc.’ who operates a fleet of Starfighters. On June 2nd, 2023 the Italian Air Force C130 took off from Cape Canaveral with on board its precious cargo. After arrival at Grosseto it was reassembled and made it its first flight on June 12th. Just in time for its ferry-flight to Pratica di Mare on June 15th.

On Friday June 16th, during the spotters day of the airshow, it made it first public flight in Italy, but unfortunately after this flight a hydraulic leak was noted which stopped the aircraft from flying on Saturday during the first airshow day. However, the leak was fixed in time so it could participate in the fly-over on Sunday.

Unfortunately the flights itself were relatively short in duration, and only consisted in a few passes in front of the crowd, both in formation with a Eurofighter Typhoon, a North American F86A Sabre and a Lockheed-Martin F35A Lightning II and also a couple of solo passes before landing. Nevertheless it was great experience to see this aircraft back in air.

16/06/2023

Day 3.... not a lot pictures with the mobile.... but this one will do nicely!

15/06/2023

Day 2 in Italy. As the Italian Air Force is not yet open, I had to find an alternative.

The Piana Della Orne museum in Latina has a large collection of objects including a number of aircraft.

Highlight was this Lockheed PV2 Ventura, I even think the only one preserved in Europe.

Later more from this museum....

14/06/2023

Day 1 of the first major trip of the year.
First appointment was a visit to the museum of the Guardia di Finanza at Pratica di Mare. A very beautiful museum dedicated to the aviation division of the Italian customs. Here is already a small preview. A more detailed report will follow later

29/05/2023

The Open Door at the Belgian Army Camp of Leopoldsburg on May 14th, 2023, saw the first public appearance of the latest flying asset of the Belgian Defense, the Boeing-Insitu RQ21 Blackjack reconnaissance drone.

In December 2020 the Belgian Defense announced that it would acquire the RQ20 Puma and RQ21 Blackjack (company name ‘Integrator’) unmanned reconnaissance drones for use by the Belgian Army.

In collaboration with the Netherlands and Luxembourg a total of 7 systems were ordered from the manufacturer Boeing-Insitu. (The Netherlands : 3 systems and Belgium and Luxembourg each 2 systems). One system is formed by 2 drones and its support equipment comprising of one launcher, one ICOMC2 (command & control unit), one skyhook system to catch the aircraft after its mission. As the Netherlands is the lead nation in this project, the drones will carry Dutch markings and registrations, the example at Leopoldsburg was registered ‘Z-913’.

Although the system was acquired with budget from the Belgian Air Force it will be operated by the Belgian Army. The future operators of the Belgian Blackjacks are currently under training in the Netherlands and will form a new unit within the ‘Bataljon Jagers te Paard’ (in French : Bataillon de chasseurs à cheval), also known as the ISTAR Battalion at Heverlee (ISTAR = intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance), with the difference that the Blackjacks will actually be based at a new facility at Lombardsijde near the Belgian coast. The Bn ISTAR is the reconnaissance unit of the Belgian Army.

The Blackjack made its first flight in 2012 and was first deployed by the US Marine Corps in Afghanistan in 2014. As the drone can also be launched from ships it uses a rather unusual method of ‘landing’. It is fitted with an arrestor hook on its wingtips that catches a cable attached to a skyhook system during the landing phase. The device weighs 61 kg and has a wingspan of 4.8 meters and a length of 2.2 meters. It is fitted with day/night camera that with a resolution of 7 on the NIIRS scale at 2400 meters, in other words it can detect an object of about 0.20-0.40cm at an altitude of 2400 meters

Diagram: Koninklijke Landmacht

13/05/2023

For many spotters present at last weeks’ Spottersday at Florennes airbase ‘the’ highlight was the presence of Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire FR.14e RM927/X (G-GXIV) that made a series of beautiful passes along Lockheed-Martin F16AM Fighting Falcon FA57, still painted in the special color scheme it received in 2022 to celebrate the 105th Anniversary of No 1 Squadron.

The history of RM927 is special to say the least. It was build in late 1944 and was allocated to RAF N° 430 'City of Sudbury' Sqn (RCAF) as 'G9-X' on January 25th, 1945. In March 1945 it was based at B-90 ‘Petit Brogel’, one of the temporary airfields constructed in liberated Europe to support the Allied progress. It was operationally used until November 1st, 1945 when it was put in storage at the RAF N°29 MU at RAF High Ercall.

In November 1947 it was selected for use by the Belgian Air Force and flown to Wevelgem and soon after allocated to 161st Wing-351 Squadron, serialled ‘SG-25’. On February 1st, 1948 this unit was re-designated 2 Wing-1 Squadron and based at Florennes and allocated the squadron code ‘3R-D’. Its service with 2 Squadron was very short and soon after it moved to the Fighter School, based at Koksijde. However in April 1950 it returned to Florennes and was allocated to N°3 Squadron with the squadron code ‘YL-x’ (unfortunately the individual aircraft letter remains unknown). Only two months later the aircraft moved again, this time back to 1 Squadron as ‘3R-A’.

In September 1954 it was ‘struck of charge’ and sold to a scrapdealer at Oostende with only 629.05hrs of flying time. Its wings were sawn off at that time.

In 1967 it was sold to a UK owner who sold it in the USA where the aircraft was put on display at the Victory Air Museum in Mundelein, Illinois. In the early 1980s the museum closed its doors permanently and the Spitfire was acquired by a new owner in Chicago, Illinois who started a restoration which he never finished. Again the aircraft changed hands a few times before it arrived at the Lone Star Museum at Galveston, Texas.

In March 2000 it was noted stored at High Wycome in the United Kingdom until in 2005 it left for Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight for full restoration to airworthiness. This restoration took several years to complete and the project moved from the Isle of Wight to Biggin Hill and later to Sywell for completion. On February 24th, 2021 it received the civil registration G-SXIV (although in the period 2009-2021 it already had the registration G-JNMA).

On June 5th, 2022 the aircraft made its first post-restoration testflight… it’s first flight since 1947.

The aircraft is currently based at La Ferté-Alais and I hope to see her again in a couple of weeks during this years ‘Temps des Hélices’ airshow at this airfield.

Belgian Air Force 1st Squadron Stingers Florennes Air Base

07/04/2023

Yesterday evening, in rather moist weather conditions, 10th Tactical Wing at Kleine Brogel organized an night shoot even for a small group of aviation enthusiasts. Subject of the photoshoot was F16AM FA116 wearing the color scheme it received in late 2022 celebrating the 80th Anniversary of 349 Squadron.

I wish to thank all the people and organisations who made this night shoot possible, 10 W Tac PR Office, Belgian Air Force IPR department, 10 W Tac Fire Department (for the ‘special effects’….and some extra water) and of course KeeBee's Maintenance team for preparing the aircraft and supplying the additional lighting!

Kleine-Brogel Air Base 349 Belgian Squadron Belgian Air Force

11/03/2023

On Friday, March 10th, 2023 the Belgian Government decided to acquire a batch of 20 Airbus Helicopters H145M Light Utility Helicopters. The STAR-plan (Security & Service – Technology - Ambition – Resilience) already indicated the requirement for 15 new LUHs to replace the remaining Agusta A109, of which the first was delivered in 1992, and the relatively new NH Helicopters NH90TTH who only entered service in 2013, but who turned out to be too expensive to operate.

The H145M was rumoured to be the favourite candidate as it would mean that the helicopters could be operated in close collaboration with similar aircraft already acquired by our neighbouring countries Germany and Luxemburg. Other European users of the type include Cyprus, Hungary and Serbia. By far the largest military user at this moment is the US Army who already uses the H145M as the UH72 Lakota who replaced the Bell UH1 Iroquois and the Bell OH58 Kiowa, by September 2020 463 examples had entered service.

In the Belgian order also five H145Ms are included for future use by the Belgian Federal Police, where it will replace some of the ageing MD902 Explorer and the MD520N. Rumours indicate that a handful of the ‘newer’ MD902 will remain in service for specific use with the Federal Police Special Units. The H145M is already in use with police units in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Morocco, UK and several others.

Delivery of the first examples for Belgium is scheduled for 2026, but those who want to have a first look at the new helicopter I have added a few pictures of German and Luxembourg H145Ms. The German example was photographed when it arrived for Airpower2022 at Zeltweg last September, and the Luxembourg H145M was captured when it brought a visitor to Brussels in March 2022.