Last Sunday (26-7) we used the nice weather and day off to fill a few gaps of Dutch and Belgian wrecks & relics. Recently we passed a small airfield in Belgium when coming back from Ramstein, and that triggered us to go in this direction. But while driving southbound we made a long overdue visit to a Dutch museum first.
Bevrijdende vleugels, Best (51 30 56 N, 5 26 23.6 E)
D-5805 TF-104G pr, OCU mks
3036 MiG-21UM pr, no mks, ex Hun AF
"2100847"/L4-B C-47B pr, real id FAF 76787, 91 sq mks
"290321"/UA-D C-53C pr, real id 43-2022 (carries also N32MS), 43 sq mks
(44-80476/58) L-4J std
The museum has had a make-over recently, or was actuall still undergoing this. The C-47 is "dumped" in the wood, to resemble a crashed example (although the wings are still fitted), and the C-53 is under a roof which is still being built. Next to it is the L-4, covered in plastic and with the wings separated. The 104 and MiG are in outside storage, easily visible behind a plastic covered fence. No sign of the nose of Polish MiG-21 5612, and the staff didn't know anything about this one either. When I checked out their website last week I noticed they recently received a Dakota nose from the States. This was in the workshop and not available for viewing unfortunately. I also haven't been able to determine its id yet. This was the first Cub of the trip by the way!
Next was our "main target" for today, the little airfield we saw along the A27/E42 a few weeks back.
Theux-Laboru (50 33 12 N, 5 51 20 E)
(OO-FIR) L-18C u. rest, ex USAF 51-15371
OO-KKK L-18C ex OL-L77, see note below
OO-LVZ L-18C ex ALAT 115405
OO-OAW Pa.18-150 dump, ex ALAT 18-5346
OO-VIX L-18C dump, ex ALAT 115366
OO-VIZ L-18C dump, ex ALAT 115507, c/n 18-1507
Easy to reach, just take exit 7 (not 3 as said in EMOOS by the way) and head west. The airfield is almost immediately at your left. People only spoke French here, but we got permission to walk around without any problems. Also present was Pa.18 OO-VVH which has no mil history afaik. We were hoping to catch OO-NLG here (a former Dutch L-18) but apparently this has recently been sold to Germany. The three dumped Pipers are inside the hangar next to the clubhouse (towards the highway). They were a nice surprise obviously! Regarding KKK: according to the books this has c/n 18-3155, but from the frame inside the cockpit roof I read off 18-3143. Does this make sense to someone? OO-VIZ had the c/n painted on the tail, but also had a real c/n plate inside the cockpit; first I have ever seen on a Cub!
Just a bit further south along the A27 is the airfield of Spa.
Spa-La Sauveniere (50 28 37.70 N, 5 54 36.00 E)
BA30 Mirage 5BA pr, 1 and 8 Sq mks
FR27 RF-84F pr, 42 Sq mks
L44 L-18C OO-SPQ, no mks
A very busy airport on a sunny afternoon, with lots of skydivers but also a lot of public. The Cub was inside the main hangar next to the tower, but when we asked if we could see and photograph it this was no problem at all.
On to the next airfield, but with a quick stop inbetween.
Aubiorix Kazerne, Tongeren (50 46 58.00 N, 5 28 53.20 E)
FX15 F-104G pr, 10 W mks
This is preserved on a pole at the parade ground of this kazerne, and easily visible through the gate.
Then on to the former military airfield of Brustem
Brustem-St. Truiden (50 48 11.70 N, 5 12 10.70 E)
MT03 CM.170 pr, Rode Duivels c/d
(V)41 SV.4B OO-LUK, EVS mks
OO-LVP L-21B ex MM54-2393
I say "former" military airfield, but it turns out this is still military property! There is a public ringroad around the airfield, but when the local flying club is active this is closed halfway, so you can't cross the runway, but also can't reach the flying club... Luckily we saw the two aircraft above flying around, but there should be more interesting stuff based here. One to come back for I guess. The coordinates above are the roundabout with the Fouga, which is the entrance to the airfield.
Hasselt-Kiewit (50 58 10.30 N, 5 22 40.00 E)
R-164 L-21B dump, also PH-DKA, no mks
90+27 FWP.149D dump, c/n 040
(F-BOUK) L-18C dump, frame, c/n 18-1605, ex ALAT 115605
The Dutch Cub was the surprise (and highlight) of the trip! We came here for the Piaggio, but in the hangar where this is stored we found two Piper Cubs as well, plus the (unidentifiable) front half of a third one. Again getting permission to have a look around was received without a problem ("as long as you don't touch the aircraft"). The dumped stuff is in a hangar that is closed with a fence, since it is going to be demolished soon apparently. I guess the aircraft inside will be scrapped as well then, so if you want them you might have to hurry! Also present were the wings of a Do.27, which I presume is 56+95, but nobody knew what had happened to the rest of it.
By now it was getting time to return home, but we made one last stop.
Verreyt scrapdealer, Balen (51 11 05.35 N, 5 11 38.50 E)
MT29 CM.170 std, in parts, no mks
This scrapdealer is at Breden Els 99. The Fouga is stored on top of some containers just around the corner of the house, and easily visible. Don't know how long it has been lying here, and how long it will stay, but nice to tick another Fouga off
No less than 11 (Super) Cubs were seen this trip, all of them new to us. A good score for just a regular Sunday! And with a good portion of Belgian fries we ended the day.
As always comments, additions and corrections are very welcome.
That's all folks!
Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
