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At Belgian Army Light Aviation Airbase Liège-Bierset
are stationed the 17th und 18th helicopter-battalion of Belgian Army for
anti-tank-defence (17ème und 18ème Bataillon d' Helicoptères Antichars). They are
equipped with the Italian helicopter type Agusta A 109. The weapons consist of pivoted
anti-tank missiles type "TOW". The sight-aiming is situated on the cockpit-roof.
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The
Slovakian Air Force took part in the Belgian Helidays 2003 with two Mil Mi-24 fighters.
One of them was presented during the flight-program, the other one was shown at the Static
Display. Everybody could have a look at it from close to. This photo shows both Slovakian
Mi-24 together ! |
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Interested
visitors had the chance to have a look from close to at TOW-firing-barrels in a hangar. |
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The fighter Mil Mi-24 ( Nato-Codename "Hind" ) can transport a high
capacity of weapons on his stump-wings. Moreover, additional tanks can be fastened at the
outer load-carriers. Eight fully equipped soldiers can be carried in its fuselage. |
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Also the
Czech Air Force presented a Mil Mi-24 in the
flight-program and another Mi-24 at the Static Display. |
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The
Augusta A 109 can be used an equipped also for other purposes besides anti-tank defence.
The A 109, for example, can be armed with a high number of non-pivoted missiles. |
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The Mil Mi-24 has beyond the fuselage a tower
with a swivelling 12,7 mm machine gun with four barrels. In the front of the cockpit
on-board gunners can be positioned. The pilot’s cockpit is situated behind it –
in a raised position |
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The fighter AH-64 D Apache can be armed to
the teeth. It is equipped with a swivelling 30 mm cannon in the front part of the
fuselage. In addition, it can be equipped with up to 16 "Hellfire" pivoted
anti-tank missiles – or – with up to 76
non-pivoted missiles caliber 70 mm. The Apache shown on the photo belongs to Squadron 301
of the Dutch Royal Air Force stationed at Gilze-Rijen and is equipped with both types of
missiles. |
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The
famous Russian transport helicopter Mil Mi-8 was built in a very high number of pieces.
The Mi-8 shown on the photo belongs to the Hungarian Air Force. |
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Famous
North American Indians are the Kiowas. It fits really well to see this Bell OH-58 Kiowa of
Austrian Federal Armed Forces with its special Indian painting – put down next to a
Apache-fighter – another „Indian“ |
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Slovakian
Air Force showed two helicopters type Mil Mi-17 at the Belgian Helidays 2003. The
helicopter type Mi-17 is a revised and improved version of helicopter type Mi-8. The
distinguishing feature of both types Mi-17 and Mi-8 is the tail rotor. The Mi-8 has
a tail rotor on the right side (in direction of flight) , the Mi-17 on the left side (in
direction of flight). |
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This Bell OH-58 Kiowa – belonging to the 3rd
Squadron of the Aviation Regiment 1 of Austrian Federal Armed Forces - is equipped with a six-barrel Gatling MG 134
Minigun caliber 7,62 mm. |
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The Mil
Mi-17 as well as the Mi-8 mainly has been built as transport-helicopter. For use as
fighter, the MI-17 can be equipped with lateral outer load carriers to fix an enourmous
number of weapons. |
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German
Army showed two MBB Bo 105 (version PAH 1 A 1, which is an anti-tank fighter). These
helicopters are equipped with 6 pivoted anti-tank
missiles type „HOT“. With one of these Bo 105 (in VBH-version, that means
„Connecting helicopter“) fighters of German Armed Forces took part in the Flight program |
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The Mil Mi-14 is a
naval helicopter for submarine hunting derived from the Mil Mi-8.
Clearly
visible are the opened flaps of the internal shaft for weapons. The Mi-14 can be equipped
with torpedos for submarine-hunting and depth charges. The Mil Mi-14 shown on the photo
belongs to Polish Navy. |
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The
Education centre of German Army and Air Force at Bückeburg recently introduced a
helicopter type Eurocopter EC 135. 15 of these helicopters are used for basic training of
pilots. |
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The
German Naval Pilots showed a helicopter type Westland Sea Lynx MK 88 A in the Static
Display at Liège-Bierset. |
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Besides
the high number of very interesting helicopters of the Russian manufacturer
„Mil“ a huge Mil Mi-26 was presented at the Belgian Helidays 2003. The Mi-26 is
a heavy-lift helicopter for transport purposes. It is the biggest and most powerful
helicopter of the world built in series. The eight-bladed main rotor of the Mi-26 has a
diameter of 32 meters ! Its cargo compartment is huge enough for up to 100 persons or up to 20 tons of cargo. |
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720th
Squadron of Norwegian Air Force sent two helicopters type Bell 412 to the Belgian Helidays
at Liège-Bierset. |
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The
Breda-Nardi NH-500 E shown is an Italian version of the well-known helicopter type Hughes
500 E. The Breda-Nardi NH-500 E is manufactured under license in Italy. Italian Air Force
presented two helicopters of this type at the Belgian Helidays 2003. |
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Of
course, the Mil Mi-26 can also be used for transporting vehicles. The photo shows the
charging of a Mil Mi-26 with an „Unimog“ –truck of Belgian Army. |
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