The Belgian Air Cadets in the 60 ties and 70 ties
At the end of the 40ties till 1956, the year the cooperation between civilian and military gliding clubs has ended, the Air Force also helps the Federation of Belgian Glider Clubs on championships and contests by delivering Tiger Moths with the "sauterelle" towing system. Since 1957, 6 SV-4B planes of the EVS (Elementary Flying School) were used for the towingflights at Chievres and Beauvechain. In 1961 the same planes were used for the new towingflights (each 2 planes). Towing a glider is a very delicat work, and asks a lot of the planes and the pilots. This causes some accidents. The most serious accident was the crash on May 15 1965 of SV-4B V51 at Bauffe. After dropping the towing cable, the planes lost power, went in a stall and crashed. Pilot Pierre Naus was badly hurt. When the CZV (Center for Gliders) moves in 1967 from Chievres to Goetsenhoven the planes go back to the EVS. In July 1970 the CZV receives a dotation of 8 SV-4B planes (V4 - 6 - 33 - 43 - 46 - 49 - 52 - 62) that weren't used anymore at EVS because replaced by the new SIAI-Marchetti SF 260.
Belgian Air Cadets with SV-4B V39 in 1965
SV-4B towing Air Cadets gliders in the early 60ties (Denis Loriers)
Aircadets at Oostmalle airfield in 1969
SV-4B V36 towing Belgian Air Cadets glider in 1967 ( © Paul Baquet )
SV-4B V4 - V43 and V49 hangar AD Oostmalle 1969
Following
a two-year theoretical schooling at Melsbroek or Gavere, the
actual flying training was done at Zoersel-Oostmalle and Weelde.
The Rhönlerche was the basic training glider. Only at Weelde a
winch was used. At Oostmalle the gliders were towed into the air
by SV-4B glider towers.
Motor glider "Sperwer" and SV-4B at airfield Oostmalle-Zoersel(Belgium 1973)
Here
the last SV-4b of the Belgian Air Force flew in military service.
Between 1969 and 1975 the following SV-4B were used as glider
towers for the Air Cadets :de V4 - V6 - V16 - V43 - V46 - V49 - V52
- V62. Also V33 which can be seen at the National Airport
Brussels, as gate keeper. These planes were military planes that
were used by the Gliding Center (CVZ/CVV), which became in 1977
the Military Gliding Center (MCVZ/CMVV).
The last were written off in 1975. They were replaced by a Piper
L21 of the Royal Dutch Air Force.
V43 crashed on the airfield in Twente (Netherland) in 1986, is
restaurated in the mean time and flies again. V49 still flies
today in original colors, it is also the only SV-4B that kept its
trailer hook till the nineties. V4 also flies in original colors,
V16 flies in Canada (CG OMD), V52 is showed at the Stampe Museum
in Antwerp (butin flying conditions) as OO-ATD, and V62 in
Danmark. The other planes were written off, mostly after
accidents.
SV-4B V43 and V49 Oostmalle (Belgium) 1973
Rhönlerche gliders and SV-4B V49 and V62 in background 1973 and the same location at Oostmalle airfield in 2019 (now unused)
Schleiger Rhönlerche KA4 - the last gilder towed by a SV-4B biplane
Hooking the towing cable at the SV-4B (Oostmalle 1969)
Air Cadets Logbook in 1973, when the Rhönlerche gliders were towned by SV-4B planes at EBZR (Airfield Zoersel)
The Belgian Air Cadets today.
Actual Aircadets glider Astir and towing plane
Some former Air Cadets and their Flight Instructors (M. Van Der Zwalmen + and L. Slegers )
The
Belgian Air Cadets Today
The "Belgian Air Cadets" lists some 300 members and
trainees. Their president is Lieutenant-General Pilot (ret'd) Debêche.
Every year the organisation opens its gates to eighty 15 or 16
year-old boys and girls offering them a glider pilot course
either at Oostmalle or Weelde in the Province of Antwerp.
Training and flying are free of charge! The air cadets merely pay
for their meals and share in the acquisition of their flying
clothing. A yearly small contribution is also at their expense.
Both civil and military instructors provide training. These
usually stem from the world of aviation and find here an
excellent opportunity to be able to let new generations partake
in their knowledge and their equally vast experience.
What about the training?
Training starts on location during the Easter holidays. For two
weeks the trainees take part in theoretical courses, which is
concluded by an examination covering all subjects. During summer
holidays the trainees take part in a flying schooling for three
weeks, which are entirely spent on location, in the course of
which they will make their first solo flight. The second year
trainees can subscribe to another two-week Easter holiday course
and partake in flying weekends. On top of that they will be given
the opportunity to fly for another full three weeks during the
summer holidays!
From the third year onward cadets can participate in flying
weekends and summer camps. As part of the International Exchange
Programme, the best among them will be selected to visit with
another country of their choice for two weeks.
Costs are taken care of by the organisation. However, as soon as
a cadet turns 19 he or she has to bid farewell to the Air Cadets.
Exceptions are made for extremely good cadets who can stay on
till the age of 21. However, by that time most will have already
found an occupation in the world of aviation.
Conditions for admission
- If you intend to become an air cadet, you should have the
Belgian nationality, be 15 or 16 years of age on January 1 of the
year your candidacy will be accepted for. If you apply for the
year 2001, you must be born either in 1984 or 85 en put in your
subscription forms prior to August 1, 2000. Subscribing can be
done from the age of 14.
- Initially you will have to pass a profound medical examination.
This is done at the Centre for Aerospace Medical Sciences at
Evere.
- The major reason for failing your medical test is insufficient
eyesight. Without any mechanical correction your eyesight should
be 10/10 and not even the slightest aberration in distinguishing
colours or in field-of-depth is allowed for. Corrective tools
such as spectacles or contact lenses are out of the question.
Also a prior eye operation is a negative factor.
- You should pass a competitive exam in mathematics, comparable
to the 1st Grade A.S.O. as well as a Dutch dictation.
- Needless to say the results obtained during sports tests should
be above average.
Want to know more?
For those who have more questions with respect to the Belgian Air
Cadets, additional info can be obtained from
Kwartier Koning Albert I, Raketstraat 70, 1130 Brussels.
Phone (from 9 to 11.30 a.m.): 00 32 2 701 5394 or 00 32 2 701
5396.
Fax: 00 32 2 701 5995
E-mail: secr.bac@skynet.be.
Database, history and
gallery
of the 65
airplanes used by the Belgian Air Force, and the still flying
planes.
Acro Team "Les
Manchots" ,
the SV planes they used, and the aces. Article of
Dominique Hanson.
Crash report of the
accident with SV-4b V43 in Twente (Netherland) in 1986 - Crash report of the
accident with SV-4B V53 at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome New York (USA)
in 2001 - SV-4B crashes in Belgium database of all Belgian SV-4B
crashes
SV-4B with Blackburn
Cirrus engine article
of L. Wittemans.
Other types of SV
airplanes and the LINK trainer , the other types of SV airplanes build bij
Stampe Vertongen and an article about the LINK trainer, the first
generation of flight simulators.
SV-4B OO-ATD and Divoy and Donnet, flight to freedom of Leon Divoy and Michel Donnet
and SV-4B OO-ATD - SV-4B OO-ACB van
Verbraeck en Reuter and their flight from France to Portugal in 1940
SV-4B V2 trip to Kamina
(Congo) , in 1950 military pilot
Manu Geerts had to deliver SV-4B V2 in Congo, Kamina. A trip of
10.578km, and 66 hrs flying time, article of R. Decobeck.
SV-4B in WWII in Africa , at the beginning of WWII
24 planes of the earlier SV-4B version airplanes, were
transferred to Congo, at that time a Belgian Colony. This version
had no closed canopy. An article of L. Wittemans.
Belgian Air
Cadets , they used for several years the last military SV-4B
airplanes.
SV links and other
related links.
Reactions of SV-4B pilots, mistery photos and contact address
