Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

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capercaillie
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Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by capercaillie »

A quick sneak preview of some pics from the fabulous Belgian HeliDays arranged annually in the early 2000s at the former Mirage 5 base and subsequently Belgian Army. Some fantastic rare helicopters drawn in over the years it was held.
Imagebierset 2003 polnavy mi14 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 polaf w-3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 fn dauphin by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 fn super frelon by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 haf mi8 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 slovaf mi17 sfor by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 slovaf mi17 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imagebierset 2003 slovaf mi24v by Paul Downes, on Flickr

You really did feel part of the operations going on.
"The surrogate voice of st24"

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StandardTom
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by StandardTom »

Oh wow, absolutely stunning!
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Cheers, Tom.

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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

"fantastic rare helicopters" is right. Ace post. Timely too, after reminiscing about Heli-meet yesterday!

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capercaillie
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by capercaillie »

2003 was quite a busy year for me airshow wise, looking back st24 and me clocked up four or five European events, the first of those being our second visit to the Belgian HeliDays at Bierset near Liege. I'd been there before in 1993 for the final Mirage 5 show and was surprised how different the far side of the base looked having been developed into a freight hub. The army were now in residence and operating the A109, Alouette II and Islanders from there.
The Belgian HeliDays were fast gaining a reputation for attracting some rare rotary types from around Europe, but you needed to go for the top package so you gained access on the Friday as they arrived and parked in their allocated slots, map and timetable in the spotters pack and eyes to the sky in case things crept in unawares. I was surprised the amount of folks shooting the Dutch Cougar and Apache as the star for me the Polish Mi14PL was hovering into position. Each to their own.
The weather started a little overcast, not helping the first arrival the SHAPE Blackhawk from Chievres, but soon the sun came out and it was very hot and very humid and hazy. Legging it up and down the airfield to try and get the best arrivals in the air was hard work, but definitely worth it.
As well as the Polish Navy Mi14, the Air Force brought a wacky camo W-3, The Czechs and Slovaks brought Mi24Vs and Mi17s each, the SFOR Slovak Hip particularly eyecatching. An older Hungarian Mi8 completed the Eastern bloc types. Two Austrian Kiowas included the special also seen the year before. A French Navy Dauphin was new for me, although the Super Frelon still held more interest and the Italian MD500s added to the gems rarely seen. UK items making the journey included Navy Merlin and Sea King, Valley based Griffin, Puma and a Northolt Twin Squirrel which must have been a rarity for the European spotters.
Following the Saturday morning arrival of the Czechs, the flying display got underway with an impressive line up of different types and good international contributions including the Blue Eagles, both Hinds, German UH-1D, the French Navy pair, Merlin and most Belgian types.
Sadly after another couple of years the show passed into history as with so many others but a good helicopter event has always seen good crowd numbers, whether our own Middle Wallop or Weston seafront or here at Bierset. I fear we won't see anything similar being put on again.
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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capercaillie
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by capercaillie »

Starting with the biggest exhibit and something that hadn't moved for years, destined for the Congo. Photo by Geoff Stockle.
Imageimg150 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg145 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg148 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg144 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg143 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Slovak contingent were great, strange never been to a UK show with rotary wings?
Imageimg147 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg139 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg137 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg141 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg138 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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capercaillie
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by capercaillie »

This coming in and landing on a pad next to you was just epic, great colour scheme, just magic.
Imageimg135 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg136 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg134 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg133 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg132 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg131 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg130 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Sweet Italians
Imageimg127 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg128 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg129 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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capercaillie
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by capercaillie »

Hungary Hippos
Imageimg126 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg124 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg125 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg122 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Czech mates
Imageimg118 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg120 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg121 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg119 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg123 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg114 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg116 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg117 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Last edited by capercaillie on Fri 10 Jul 2020, 4:54 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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Blackbird
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege

Post by Blackbird »

What a great event - many thanks for posting.

Andy

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