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.
bierset 2003 polnavy mi14 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 polaf w-3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 fn dauphin by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 fn super frelon by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 haf mi8 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 slovaf mi17 sfor by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 slovaf mi17 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
bierset 2003 slovaf mi24v by Paul Downes, on Flickr
You really did feel part of the operations going on.
Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
- capercaillie
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- StandardTom
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
Oh wow, absolutely stunning!
- Wrexham Mackem
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
"fantastic rare helicopters" is right. Ace post. Timely too, after reminiscing about Heli-meet yesterday!
- capercaillie
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Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
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 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.
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9384
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- Location: Leominster
Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
Starting with the biggest exhibit and something that hadn't moved for years, destined for the Congo. Photo by Geoff Stockle.
img150 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img145 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img148 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img144 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img143 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Slovak contingent were great, strange never been to a UK show with rotary wings?
img147 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img139 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img137 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img141 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img138 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img150 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img145 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img148 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img144 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img143 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Slovak contingent were great, strange never been to a UK show with rotary wings?
img147 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img139 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img137 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img141 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img138 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
- capercaillie
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- Location: Leominster
Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
This coming in and landing on a pad next to you was just epic, great colour scheme, just magic.
img135 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img136 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img134 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img133 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img132 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img131 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img130 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Sweet Italians
img127 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img128 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img129 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img135 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img136 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img134 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img133 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img132 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img131 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img130 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Sweet Italians
img127 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img128 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img129 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9384
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
Hungary Hippos
img126 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img124 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img125 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img122 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Czech mates
img118 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img120 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img121 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img119 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img123 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img114 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img116 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img117 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img126 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img124 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img125 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img122 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Czech mates
img118 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img120 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img121 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img119 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img123 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img114 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img116 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img117 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Last edited by capercaillie on Fri 10 Jul 2020, 4:54 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Belgian HeliDays 2003 Bierset Liege
What a great event - many thanks for posting.
Andy
Andy