RIAT 2016 - Belgian F-16 Solo Display Team 3
Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team
The Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team for 2015-2017 is based at Kleine Brogel AB. The home base of the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team shifts between Kleine Brogel and Florennes AB every two to three years. In 2015 the Florennes team - who had acted as the BAF representatives between 2012 and 2014 - handed over their responsibility to Kleine Brogel AB for showcasing the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team for the coming period. The BAF F-16 Solo Display Team is comprised of personnel from both resident units at Kleine Brogel being 31 and 349 squadrons. Commandant Tom "Gizmo" De Moortel is flying his first season as the display pilot for the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team.
The demo might seem spectacular to the general public, but in fact contains standard F-16 manoeuvres which are flown during practise sessions as operational missions. The only difference between real life operations and this demo is that these manoeuvres are flown in a smooth pattern and at very low altitude. This does mean the demo puts a lot of G forces on the pilot which limits the demo to a maximum of around 15 minutes, giving the audience an overview of the F-16s manoeuvrability and the skills of all F-16 pilots in the Belgian Air Force.
Demo pilot 'Gizmo'
BAF F-16 Solo Dispay Pilot Tom “GIZMO” De Moortel joined the Belgian Air Force in 1996 and started his standard pilot training at Beauvechain Air Base with prom 96A. After completing basic flying training on the Alenia Aermacchi (formerly: SIAI Marchetti) SF-260M/D and basic jet training on the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet 1B, he received his pilot wings in 1998. He then went to become a C-130 pilot at Melsbroek Air Base but returned to Beauvechain Air Base 2 years later as an Instructor Pilot on the SF-260.
“GIZMO” started his conversion training with the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at Kleine Brogel Air Base in 2005 and began flying Lockheed Martin F-16s. He joined 31 squadron at Kleine Brogel Air Base in 2006 and became the Wing Aviation Safety Officer (WASO) there in 2013. He has over 4,400 hours flying of which around 1,500 hrs on the F-16 MLU.
The Jet
The aircraft chosen to be Tom’s companion throughout the season is F-16AM #FA-123. It recently received the so-called MLU M6.1 update making it the most modern of all operational F-16s within the Belgian Air Force. The aircraft received an impressing three-tone gray/black/white colour scheme. The aircraft is called ‘Blizzard’ and the stunning colour scheme is designed so it complements the vortices and smoke winders during the display routine. The idea was – once again - realized by Johan Wolfs and Peter Verheyen together with the KB Paintshop.
RIAT 2016 - Belgian F-16 Solo Display Team 3
Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team
The Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team for 2015-2017 is based at Kleine Brogel AB. The home base of the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team shifts between Kleine Brogel and Florennes AB every two to three years. In 2015 the Florennes team - who had acted as the BAF representatives between 2012 and 2014 - handed over their responsibility to Kleine Brogel AB for showcasing the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team for the coming period. The BAF F-16 Solo Display Team is comprised of personnel from both resident units at Kleine Brogel being 31 and 349 squadrons. Commandant Tom "Gizmo" De Moortel is flying his first season as the display pilot for the BAF F-16 Solo Display Team.
The demo might seem spectacular to the general public, but in fact contains standard F-16 manoeuvres which are flown during practise sessions as operational missions. The only difference between real life operations and this demo is that these manoeuvres are flown in a smooth pattern and at very low altitude. This does mean the demo puts a lot of G forces on the pilot which limits the demo to a maximum of around 15 minutes, giving the audience an overview of the F-16s manoeuvrability and the skills of all F-16 pilots in the Belgian Air Force.
Demo pilot 'Gizmo'
BAF F-16 Solo Dispay Pilot Tom “GIZMO” De Moortel joined the Belgian Air Force in 1996 and started his standard pilot training at Beauvechain Air Base with prom 96A. After completing basic flying training on the Alenia Aermacchi (formerly: SIAI Marchetti) SF-260M/D and basic jet training on the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet 1B, he received his pilot wings in 1998. He then went to become a C-130 pilot at Melsbroek Air Base but returned to Beauvechain Air Base 2 years later as an Instructor Pilot on the SF-260.
“GIZMO” started his conversion training with the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at Kleine Brogel Air Base in 2005 and began flying Lockheed Martin F-16s. He joined 31 squadron at Kleine Brogel Air Base in 2006 and became the Wing Aviation Safety Officer (WASO) there in 2013. He has over 4,400 hours flying of which around 1,500 hrs on the F-16 MLU.
The Jet
The aircraft chosen to be Tom’s companion throughout the season is F-16AM #FA-123. It recently received the so-called MLU M6.1 update making it the most modern of all operational F-16s within the Belgian Air Force. The aircraft received an impressing three-tone gray/black/white colour scheme. The aircraft is called ‘Blizzard’ and the stunning colour scheme is designed so it complements the vortices and smoke winders during the display routine. The idea was – once again - realized by Johan Wolfs and Peter Verheyen together with the KB Paintshop.