Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the Belgian Air Force, Koksijde Air Base on the North Sea / Channel coast held an air display on 6th/7th July 2011. Located about 30 minutes drive North of the Channel Tunnel, this location is easier to get to and from than some UK displays for those of us in the South East of England!
Still an active base for the SAR component of the Belgian Defence Forces, with 40 Squadron operating Sea King Mk48 helicopters, the display also attracted other ‘local’ SAR units, including the French, Dutch and British.
The Display organising committee worked hard to develop a wide and varied programme, which included not only such staples as the Belgian F16 display (naturally), the Dutch F16 and AH-64D display teams but also no less than 7 aerobatic display teams, including the USAF Thunderbirds and Saudi Hawks, as well the Red Arrows, Patrouille de France, Team Izkry, Turkish Stars (with 3 support C160D Transall’s!) and the Red Devils.
The Base Commander also organised a spotters day on Friday the 8th July to cover the departures and some of the photos here were taken during that day.
