Belgian Air Force Days 2026, Florennes
Belgian Air Force Days returned for 2026 at Florennes Air Base in Wallonia. The event cast an eye on the past, present and future of the Belgian Air Force as it celebrated its 80th anniversary. It was the first chance for the public to see the air arm’s new Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs up close and in the air. Alongside the Belgian contributions there was a solid line-up of international participants. Sadly though, organisational shortcomings did cast a shadow of the event, particularly considering the extreme heat the weekend saw which was forecast well in advance.
Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography by the author. Video by Chris Janssens/Wheels-up Airshow Debrief
In 2023 at the previous edition of Belgian Air Force Days held at Kleine Brogel Air Base, it was rumoured that the event would no longer be held. Security and staffing issues were starting to prove increasingly challenging given the transition the Belgian Air Force continues to go through. However, the world has changed significantly since 2023, and the decision was taken to continue the event to showcase the work of the air arm and inspire the next generation of pilots and engineers in light of the increasing importance of defence.
With Kleine Brogel now undergoing a major modernisation project, Florennes was chosen to host the event in 2026. This airfield has recently seen its own modernisation works completed to house both the F-35A Lightning II and MQ-9B Remotely Pilot Air Systems. Florennes last hosted Belgian Air Force Days 10 years ago but has organised smaller events in the meantime. It must be said from the outset, it is one of the more ‘challenging’ venues in Europe as its layout does not lend itself to big public events with no ability to host much car parking close to the showground. In 2016, visitors faced nearly a 7km walk from the eastern car parks to enter the showground. This time, that was cut to just about 2-3km with entry down on to the main apron area rather than following a perimeter road all the way round to the western end of the parallel runway.
However, the challenge of Florennes was exacerbated by a series of odd decisions and oversights. These started with confusion over the ticketing. Firstly, admission tickets were put on sale ahead of parking tickets. The latter were made available closer to the event, but without much fanfare and as the event got closer there were some ‘panicked’ social media posts encouraging people to make sure they had passes. Some clearly didn’t as we saw several turned around as they joined the closed off roads for the Red car park on the Saturday. Then the actual car parking plan was a little strange for the Green and Red Zones. To enter the green car park, traffic had to cross the traffic entering for the red car park!
Then there were issues over the ‘personalisation’ of the tickets. It is standard for other events at such as those hosted at Kleine Brogel for each ticket to be personalised so if necessary, it can be checked against an ID card or passport. At KB this has not been difficult but at Florennes the process did seem overly complicated. If you simply bought tickets for yourself, this was not really an issue. However, for those who had bought tickets for a group, they had the added task of personalising each ticket for individuals once the tickets had been purchased. This was not the most straight forward process and in fact it was impossible to enter all the information the website/social media stated you had to! To advert complete disaster, there was a desk at the entrance where visitors could recover lost tickets and update their details – a solution to a problem that should not of existed in the first place.
But it was decisions, or the lack of decisions made regarding the extreme heat that really cast a shadow over the event. The oppressive heat was no surprise; it had been forecast for over a week before Belgian Air Force Days. Things started badly with the Spottersday on the Friday before the show and if you attended it this year you have my sympathies. Given previous experience and the heat, I decided to give it a miss this year but there were plenty of stories heard in the hotel over the weekend. 10 years ago, Spottersday at Florennes was poor and it seems they repeated many of the same mistakes. The first part of the day sees the audience positioned in a pen close to the runway. However, it is a free for all and the ladder wielding enthusiasts seem to think they must set up in front of everyone else despite pleas from the organisers to only set-up ladders 1m back from the boundary. This was not policed and left many disappointed. Then, at lunchtime, Spottersdays visitors are moved back to part of the public display area to allow for rehearsal flights. At least following ‘the March of the Spotters’ visitor could at least get some refreshments. One good decision by the organisers given the heat for Spottersdays was to put on shuttlebuses during the afternoon. However, these were far too few and only ran infrequently meaning many were left to wait for a long time for space on a bus back to the car park. Sitting in the hotel lobby, I’m not sure I’ve seen so many over heated and exasperated people stagger into a hotel before!
Saturday saw equally warm conditions as the Spottersday with forecast temperatures as high as 39°C and actual air temperatures recorded locally over 40°C. On a positive note, the organisers had erected some marquees for added shade which proved very popular. However, they simply failed to provide adequate water supplies or signpost them clearly. At the height of the day, tannoy messages relayed that the was no water available in certain areas as there was so much demand. This was cured by mid afternoon and some additional water points established. However, it a firm reminder of just what a good job the Royal International Air Tattoo and other major events have done in providing plentiful supplies of free water at numerous locations across their sites in recent years. Equally baffling was the lack of marshals along the long exit routes. By the end of the day several people were struggling on the walk back to their cars – one poor gentleman had a long wait feeling quite unwell while his friend continued to the car park to ask for help. In such conditions, there really should have been openly available shuttle buses to reduce the stress that many felt.
The weather then dealt a further blow overnight with some quite spectacular thunderstorms and associated strong winds. These caused issues across Belgium with some evening outdoor events closing their doors early. Some aircraft were evacuated over night to Beauvechain while others were found shelter. However, come Sunday morning there was a fair amount of repair work required to some areas of the show site.
It is shame there were so many organisational shortcomings, as actually Florennes did attract a very solid line-up of aircraft participants and there was some superb ground exhibits spread across the showground. The static displays included all the usual suspects from the Belgian Air Force including the Airbus A400M (wearing the Luxembourg Armed Forces colours), Dassault Falcon 7X, SIAI Marchetti SF260D and Agusta A109BAi. There was also the Lockheed Martin F-16BM Fighting Falcon with the special tail markings celebrating the Air Force’s 80th Anniversary. Two other F-16AM Fighting Falcons also highlighted the stores Belgian F-16s use. The 31 Squadron anniversary jet was shown fitted with the rocket pods used to fire the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapons Systems (APKWS) which has rapidly been brought into service to counter drones. A further anonymous F-16AM was shown with equipment used to load AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. There were also aircraft representing the Air Force’s future in the static display. One of the stars was Belgium’s first Airbus Helicopters H145M which has been christened Dragonfly in Belgian service. These multirole utility helicopters will eventually replace both the Agusta A109BAi and NH90TTH in Belgian service and may be augmented with a heavy-lift type. Manufacturer demonstrator aircraft were also on hand to show other future types including the Cessna SkyCourier which has been ordered for the special forces support role and the Pilatus PC-7MkX which is due to replace the SF260 training aircraft. The French Air and Space Force Embraer Xingu and French Army Airbus H120 Calliope that were on static also link to the Belgian Air Force which sends future rotary and multi-engine pilots to France for training.
But the star Belgian Air Force attraction was the 1st Squadron Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II seen on static display for the first time at any public event. It headed a small F-35A meet with an Italian Air Force example (which required a second security fence) and a pair of aircraft from 313 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
There were also several other visiting air forces represented in the static. Standing out from the rest was the Turkish Air Force which brought a pair of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs for static display, both wearing eye-catching special markings. Not too far away was another F-4E Phantom II from the Hellenic Air Force. Further static fast jets aircraft came from the Luftwaffe with a Panavia Tornado IDS, a SAAB JAS-39D Gripen from the Swedish Air Force and an Aero Vodochody L-159T1 ALCA from the Czech Air Force. Other noteworthy aircraft included an Austrian Air Force Pilatus PC-7 and the Airbus Helicopters H225M from the Hungarian Air Force.
One of the most outstanding contributions came from the Portuguese Air Force with a trio of Embraer A-29N Super Tucano light attack and training aircraft. The Portuguese are the launch customer for the A-29N which has been developed for NATO nations. The aircraft are operated by Esquadra 103 ‘Caracóis’ and have replaced the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet As. They are currently working up to full operational capability which is expected in 2027.
An interesting aspect of the static displays was significant involvement from Defence contractors which provide air combat training to European Air Forces. Top Aces brought examples of their Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet A and McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawk for display while Skyline exhibited their Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross. It was Draken International that really caught the eye with a pair of their Aero Vodochody L-159E Honey Badger jets on static display. These aircraft have been developed from surplus L-139A ALCA aircraft from the Czech Air Force and look rather different with the rear portion of the cockpit shrouded over as they are fitted with additional avionics for their training role. Joining the current aircraft were a smattering of historic aircraft including a Stampe SV4 and a rather glossy Beech Model 18.
The flying displays may have been quite relaxed but were full of quality throughout. The heat and unstable weather did mean there were some cancellations in the lead-up to the weekend. The Belgian based Penguin Formation Team of Stampes pulled out due to the excessive heat and the F4U Corsair from Flying Legends was also absent. Another casualty of the weather was the formation of four USAF F-35As from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath which had been due to make a flypast over Brussels as part of US 250th Anniversary celebration event and taken in Florennes within their routing.
Opening the show on Saturday was one of Belgium’s newer civilian display teams, the Giddy Formation Team flying four Alpi Pioneer 300 ultralights. Being non-aerobatic, the team flew a polished routine of formation passes, breaks and synchronised flying under the leadership of former Belgian Air Force Fouga Magister display pilot, Paul Rorive. Much more familiar are the four Piper PA28 Cherokees of the Victors Formation Team which were the only other general aviation act in the display. Based at Ursel Aero Club near Bruges, the team are often seen at major Belgian aviation events but have recently moved on supporting much more diverse occasions with flypasts for motorsports, football and other ceremonial events which their coloured smoke trails.
Alongside the civilian display teams was a superb selection of military aerobatic teams. The Royal Jordanian Falcons kicked off their 50th Anniversary display season at Florennes with a display of precision formation and solo aerobatic flying in their four Extra 330LX. The eastern connection was maintained with a rare appearance by the Turkish Stars flying seven Northrop NF-5A/B Freedom Fighters. There is a lot of support from Turkish ex-pats in Belgium who descended on Florennes to wave their Turkish flags as the team flew some spectacular flypasts in front of crowd. It must be said however their display has become a little disjointed and seemed to require a very amount of airspace. Even more characterful F-5s came from Patrouille Suisse making one of just a handful of appearances outside of Switzerland. Saturday was perhaps one of the fastest displays the team has ever down with the extreme heat forcing the team to fly their Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs 40kts faster than they would normally do so. However, if I had to pick out the best team display, it would be that from Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm) from the Croatian Air Force. Flying six Pilatus PC-9M turboprop trainers, they fly one of the most original and most technical display routines of any team in the world with perhaps the six-ship mirror formation being their most famous manoeuvre. They have recently added smoke systems to their aircraft which really makes their superb flying stand out even more.
More stunning aerobatics came from the French Air and Space Force’s L’equipe de Voltige. Capitaine Geoffrey ‘Bryce’ Dennis flew an astonishing routine in the Extra 330LC which included gyroscopic tumbles, rapid rolling figures and an impressive heart for a solo display. The aerobatic prowess of Bryce’s display was matched by Dassault Rafale C solo flown by Captaine Alexandre ‘Rocky’ Roeckel. Rocky’s routine, like all other Rafale solo displays, is constant action – the aircraft is never not turning, rolling or pitching at any point during his routine which is most impressive for solo jet display.
The Rafale was joined by a small, but excellent selection of international fast jet solos. The Swedish Air Force contributed its SAAB JAS-39C Gripen display from F7 Skaraborg Wing based at Såtenäs. It was a particularly eye-catching performance with the aircraft liberally firing flares in many of the vertical manoeuvres.
The Hellenic Air Force contributed two fast jets to the display. The ‘Zeus Demo Team’ has a slightly different look now with the team using the Lockheed Martin F-16V Fighting Falcon variant. The Hellenic Air Force now operates more than 50 of these upgraded aircraft which will continue to fly alongside the Dassault Rafale and the F-35 when that enters Greek service in the coming years. The biggest difference for airshow audiences is that the F-16Vs so far have appeared without the conformal fuel tanks which give the aircraft a much more aggressive stance.
But the star solo jet was the Hellenic McDonnell Douglas F-4E(HUP) Phantom II flying with the callsign ‘Aries’ – the Greek God of War. This is a relatively new display to the circuit which made its full international public debut at last year’s International Sanicole Airshow. It is very much a nostalgia trip back to the 1980s and 1990s when fast jet displays used copious amounts of countryside to fit their routines into between thunderous passes down the crowdline. For their displays at Florennes, the Hellenic Air Force added to the retro feel using one of their jets with particularly smoky engines. It is not the most dynamic of displays but is an exceedingly rare chance to see one of the most iconic jet fighter aircraft fly for an audience.
Completing the international military flying was Austrian Air Force with their Pilatus PC-7 solo display and the French Army with the Airbus Helicopters H120 Calliope from Dax. These small training helicopters are particularly agile and the French crew put on a near aerobatic display in their smart red and white helicopter.
Warbird displays also featured in the flying with aircraft from Belgium and France. The Belgian restoration scene was represented with a pairs routine from Frederic Vormezeele flying his Curtiss P-40E Warhawk alongside Kris van de Burgh in the Supermarine Spitfire XVIe. Conditions perhaps restricted their routine somewhat to a series of sweeping flypasts before a final tailchase and victory roll. A more energetic display came from Baptiste Salis flying W Air Collection’s North American TF-51D Mustang ‘Miss Ava.’
Parachuting from teams associated with Belgian defence provided a break from the aircraft displays. Hayabusa are a sports parachuting team that competes in competition parachuting around the world. They have several world titles and at Florennes showcased the more extreme end of parachuting with some fast, high performances approaches to land. A more traditional military parachuting display came from the Belgian Army’s Black Devils team. Like Hayabusa, they jumped from a Belgian Air Force Agusta A109BAi. But they did so with more traditional ram-air parachutes allowing them to trail large flags from the feet.
The centrepiece to the afternoon however were displays from the Belgian Air Force. In 2026, the air arm has no established demo teams but does have a search and rescue role demonstration from which come from 40 Squadron NH Industries NH90NFH normally based at Koksijde. The NH90 does have quite a presence in the sky, particularly as it hovers close to the crowd to dispatch and recover its winchmen.
The highlight of the whole show however was the series of flypasts by Florennes based aircraft together with some special guests. The 1st Squadron provided a pair of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs for the flypasts while 350 Squadron flew a trio of F-16AM Fighting Falcons. Opening the sequence was a single flypast with an Airbus A330MRTT from the Multinational MRTT Unit based at Eindhoven leading a single F-35 flying behind the refuelling boom with two F-16s flying off the tanker’s wingtips. This was a formation highlighting the currently frontline as Belgium is a significant contributor to the MMU which supports NATO operations. That was quickly followed by the first of the heritage formations which saw the other F-35A Lightning II flying with W Air Collection’s Supermarine Spitfire FRXIVe RM927 piloted by Brice Ohayon. The Spitfire had been transformed by Florennes personnel on the Thursday before the show with Belgian roundels and the Squadron codes 3R-X which represent a Florennes based Spitfire with the 1st Squadron following the end of the Second World War. RM927 itself is an ex-Belgian Air Force and was at one time based at Florennes.
The sequence of flypasts was then completed by the Florennes jets. First the F-16s returned in battle formation and high-speed passing in front of the crowd before climbing into the blue skies. The F-35s followed with a belly pass and their weapons bay opening. They then accelerated and turned back towards the crowd at high speed for a much more aggressive flypast with water vapour exploding over their wings. The finale was two flypasts as a five-ship with the F-16s flanked by their F-36 successors in a V-formation ahead of one final run-in and break to land.
With such a strong and enjoyable aviation element to Belgian Air Force Days 2026, it is a shame that we have such mixed memories of the event. The Belgian Air Force personnel were all very friendly and doing their very best to entertain and help visitors (indeed, some were going above and beyond their duties) but were hamstrung by some poor planning. Sadly, the experience of a European military led airshow struggling to cope with keeping its visitors safe in hot weather is not new nor is it unique to BAF Days – there have been plenty of tales of other events which have made life difficult in the heat. It is perhaps an issue for the airshow industry associations and councils to take up to promote best practice in a warming climate. We do however sincerely hope that the Belgian Air Force Days return in future years as they are an excellent showcase for aviation.
