| Albert-Picardie airshow report |
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The Albert-Picardie airshow is always a mix of old-timers and newer jet aircraft. But besides this, the organisation also has some interest in commercial aviation. The highlight this year in the form of the Airbus A300-600ST 'Beluga'.
The airshow of Albert-Picardie brought the team for the first time to the airport of Albert in the bay of the Somme, some 150 km north of Paris. The airport was built specifically to accommodate the Airbus Beluga. This remarkable transporter hauls everything from cockpit fuselages to wings between the different Airbus factories.
On Friday Neskes, Kristof, Pipo and TC drove down to France and arranged everything to take on the F-16s. Mitch first had to do a display at Beauvechain on occasions of the wings parade. After a quick refuelling, Mitch joined up with Donny overhead Beauvechain and set off for France.
Twenty minutes later Albert was in sight and after a short rehearsal, the two F-16s landed.
The whole team enjoyed a traditional, warm French welcome and after a delicious dinner everyone went to bed to get up early for the airshow.
Around noon on Saturday the show started. Almost every display team from the Armée de l'Air was present: Rafale, Extra-300, Cartouche Dorée, Patrouille de France and a two-ship Mirage 2000N from Luxeuil. Next to the military aircraft, a large number of old-timers flew as well: Yak-18, Yak-3, Boeing Stearman, Sopwith Camel and many more. Some of which the team got to see up close on Sunday.....
For the first time Mace got to go with the 2010 Demo Team. Mace is the 349 sqn mascot for the 'I fly for charity' initiative started by the crew-chiefs at Kleine Brogel AB. After many trips around the world he's finally back home. On Saturday Mace flew with one of the Yak-18s and was very impressed by the Russian prop!
 Then Mitch was on. Luckily a big hole of blue sky arrived just in time so that he could fly the high profile. The public was amazed by the F-16 and everyone congratulated the team with the new color scheme of the 'Vortex'.
Later that day the team was given a tour on the Beluga by the captain himself and a dinner organised by the organising team was a perfect venue to relax after a long day of work.
Sunday brought a few surprises. The team had to go to the airport to check on the jets. They met again with Pascal Cordier, who was the airshow organiser, and were invited to fly on two of his old-timers. Of course Mitch and Donny could not say no so Mitch flew with the Boeing Stearman followed by Donny in a Stampe & Vertongen SV-4 (made in Belgium!). Both flew to the small grass strip of St-Quentin where they enjoyed a delicious couscous with the whole Cordier family and friends. Even when they thought things couldn't get even better, Mitch and Donny were asked if they would mind flying along in a T-6 Texan from La Fertée-Alais. Of course they didn't say no (again) and both of them were amazed by the aerobatics the T-6 was capable of! Mitch offered our new friends to come see the departure on Monday and showed everyone the cockpit of the F-16.
 After a lot of thanks, the team went for a dinner in Amines to conclude a successful second airshow weekend. Mitch and Donny left around noon on Monday direction Orléans where Mitch did the reconnaissance of the display area for the next weekend before heading back to Kleine Brogel.
The team would like to thank Mr. Pascal Cordier, family and friends for a fantastic weekend, the great hospitality and the lovely bottle of champain. Thanks as well to all our friends among the display team and especially the Patrouille de France for the nice souvenir!
The Team
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