Chièvres Air Fest 2024 - Report
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| Czech Gripen performs flying display at Chièvres Air Fest 2024, Belgium. |
At Chièvres air base (ICAO code: EBCV) in Belgium, the Chièvres Air Fest was held on Friday 20240628 (for military personnel and families) and on Saturday 20240629 (public access for everybody).
During the 1980s several air shows were held and after a gap a few years ago, the Chièvres Air Fest was reinstated.
In the 2024 edition, the civilian population in the area got the opportunity to have a view inside the airbase. Food and beverage trucks took care of the catering for the visitors, while a band played pop songs during the day.
For the visitors, a dynamic and a static show was organized; at the static show the large transport aircraft were opened for visitors.
Chièvres AB
The Chièvres airfield was created in 1914 by the German forces and after the First World War finished, the Belgian armed forces took over the airbase. During the Second World War, the German Air Force flew missions from the airfield and after the war, the Belgium Air Force took the base over again. After some years of Belgian fighter jets flying on this base, it became a SHAPE airbase in 1967 to transport SHAPE officials.
The US Air Force controls the infrastructure and flying activities of the airbase and the US Army controls the daily operations of the airbase. The current commander is US Army Colonel Lindsay “Riley” Matthews.
SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the top level command center of NATO in Europe. Until 1967 the SHAPE headquarters was located in France, but it was moved to the village of Casteau, close to Mons in Belgium that year. It is lead by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli of the US Army.
Aircraft
These are the aircraft present at Chievres:
During the 1980s several air shows were held and after a gap a few years ago, the Chièvres Air Fest was reinstated.
In the 2024 edition, the civilian population in the area got the opportunity to have a view inside the airbase. Food and beverage trucks took care of the catering for the visitors, while a band played pop songs during the day.
For the visitors, a dynamic and a static show was organized; at the static show the large transport aircraft were opened for visitors.
Chièvres AB
The Chièvres airfield was created in 1914 by the German forces and after the First World War finished, the Belgian armed forces took over the airbase. During the Second World War, the German Air Force flew missions from the airfield and after the war, the Belgium Air Force took the base over again. After some years of Belgian fighter jets flying on this base, it became a SHAPE airbase in 1967 to transport SHAPE officials.
The US Air Force controls the infrastructure and flying activities of the airbase and the US Army controls the daily operations of the airbase. The current commander is US Army Colonel Lindsay “Riley” Matthews.
SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the top level command center of NATO in Europe. Until 1967 the SHAPE headquarters was located in France, but it was moved to the village of Casteau, close to Mons in Belgium that year. It is lead by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli of the US Army.
These are the aircraft present at Chievres:
Interview Colonel Lindsay “Riley” Matthews
A: The Airbase was started after World War, when German airplanes landed in some crop fields here. And it's been an active air base ever since. Then during World War II it changed a lot of hands between the Italians, the Germans, the Brits and after World War II it became the home of the Belgian Red Devils, the Seventh air wing. During the Battle of the Bulge a lot of support was provided from this Airfield and that actually solidified the relationship between the Mons area and the people of the Bastogne area; because the Mons area took a lot of refugees during the Battle of the Bulge. The United States took it over when NATO moved from France to Belgium in 1967.
Q: Can you tell me about the history and the present Air Fest?
A:There was an air show for many many years but unfortunately in the 1980s and 1990s there were very terrible accidents and safety issues, so the air shows ended. A couple of years ago the commander decided that we need to bring back the air shows because that is 100% the identity of Chièvres Air Base. So I am absolutely thrilled to carry on the tradition of air fests here in the Chièvres air base area. And honestly you can look around and you can see how beautiful it is to bring the community on the base, to bring 11 different nations here together. We have 11 different nations here and it's demonstrating the the most powerful alliance in the world which is the NATO alliance and and that is what keeps the the European theater safe
Q:Can you tell more about the recent use of Chievres?
A: Absolutely because it's getting more and more exciting and one of the reasons it's getting very exciting on Chièvres air base is because we have modeled ourselves as a place for different nations to exercise. So recently we had an incredible Belgian exercise called StormTide. Chièvres is a relatively small air base which makes it a little bit more complicated for some larger aircraft to come and exercise here. And that makes it more interesting for exercises so one of the reasons you see more exercises on the air base is because we've created a reputation for ourselves as a good place to do those exercises.
Interview KC-390 pilot captain David Louis
One of the visitors of the Chièvres Air Fest was the first time visit of the Portuguese Air Force Embraer KC-390
Captain Luis has some 2000 flying hours in total and he has some 250 flying hours on the Embraer KC-390
He flies with the recently created 506 Squadron "Rinocerontes” at Beja air base (ICAO: LPBJ) in Portugal. After flying the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, he transferred to the KC-390.
In October 2023, the first (of the five in total) arrived in Portugal and in June 2024 number two was delivered. During the next few years, the remaining three KC-390s plus one simulator will be delivered and the existing C-130 fleet will gradually be retired.
Q: What is the status of the KC-390, is there a plan to reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC)?
A: The KC-390 has obtained the operational status for cargo transport and during the next years qualifications for other tasks like para droppings and air refueling will be obtained.
Q: Can you tell more about the refueling capacity?
A: The KC-390 has a refueling probe on the nose, to be able to receive fuel from a feeder aircraft with a drogue system. But the KC-390 t can also refuel other aircraft and for that purpose, two (Cobham) refueling pods can be attached on the wings. The refueling operator is located in the cockpit (sitting behind the pilots, facing forward) and uses a special monitor to control the refueling process.
Q: Do you have plans to fly the KC-390 to the Netherlands, as the Dutch Air Force plans to obtain five C-390s?
A: They need to invite us, you know this is how things work, because if the Dutch Air Force does not invite us to go there, probably it will not happen.
Q: Will you visit other NATO countries?
A: In terms of NATO, we are the first country and we have NATO equipment already installed in our aircraft. So probably our aircraft is still more interesting to show to other countries and the Netherlands.
Yeah it's a question of inviting us you know. Since we now have two aircrafts we are more flexible to go anywhere and show the KC-390.
Q: Anything else you want to say about the KC-390?
A: This is the future and it is probably the best replacement for C-130s for sure, yeah.
Text by Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije
Photos by Joris van Boven
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