Candidate replacement for Belgian Air Force SF260s

A delegation of the Belgian Directorate of Material Resources and the Belgian Air Component (Belgian Air Force) visited the Diamond's Headquarters in Wiener Neustadt (Austria) on 21 and 22 October 2020. There they had a close look at the Diamond DART 550 (Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer) training aircraft.

The Belgian Air Force is looking for a new Basic Training Aircraft to replace the ageing SIAI-Marchetti SF260M and SF260D, of which the first aircraft are in use since 1969.

Belgium ordered 36 SF260M basic training aircraft early 1969, the aircraft were delivered from November 1969 until spring 1971. An additional nine aircraft, model SF260D, were ordered and delivered in 1992. The Belgian Air Force still has 32 operational SF260s, 23 SF260M+ and nine SF260D, in it's inventory.

The Head of Work Group Future Pilot Training & new Basic Training Aircraft and former Head of Training of the Belgian Air Force, Colonel Aviator Patrick “Goose” Goossens, did an introductory flight on the DART, together with a Diamond Test Pilot. During the debriefing the delegation pointed out that the DART 550 training system is certainly a candidate for the replacement of the existing fleet of SF260s. As well known in the commercial flight training market, Diamond also offers a turn-key training system as a one-stop-shop to military training organisations or service providers.

The timeline for the replacement of the SF260s has not been revealed yet.

Photo: Diamond Aircraft