Retirement of another Belgian Air Force C-130H Hercules
On 17 December 2020, a Belgische Luchtmacht (BAF, Belgian Air Force) C-130H Hercules, with serial CH09, made her final flight out of Brussels-Melsbroek. By the end of the day, CH09 touched down at her home base at 16:21 hrs LT.
This Hercules was delivered to the BAF in February 1973 and has been operated by 20 Squadron Sioux Bleu/Blauwe Sioux ever since.
At this moment, six Hercules' (out of thirteen) are still operational with 20 Squadron. With the upcoming deliveries of the Airbus A400M, these six aircraft will be withdrawn from operational service in the coming two years.
In 1972, the BAF ordered twelve Lockheed C-130Hs to replace its 22 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. The first C-130H (CH01) was delivered that same year. By the end of 1973, all twelve aircraft had been handed over.
Two C-130Hs were lost in accidents; CH02 during a hangar fire at Brussels-Zaventem on 5 May 2006, and CH06 in a fatal crash at Eindhoven Airport (the Netherlands) on 15 July 1996.
In 2007, an additional Hercules was delivered. This thirteenth aircraft was originally a US Air Force WC-130E (serial 64-0552). After storage at the 309th AMARG at Davis Monthan (AZ) the aircraft was sold to Evergreen International as N130EV. Before delivery to the BAF, the Hercules was converted to a C-130H in 2007 and delivered as CH14. In 2009, the aircraft was reregistered as CH13.
The following aircraft are still active with 20 Squadron:
Photos: Kristof Moens/Belgian Air Force