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what to do.
The plan was as follows:
respecting the running order, the helicopters would take off and take their place in the formation. From the Beauvechain area, 15 km east of Brussels, they will
in the second formation, behind the leader, followed by a German Airbus Tiger on the left and a French Airbus Tigre on the right.
The crew is in position. The rotors are rumbling. We run slowly, then wait for the
the Belgian leader, then the German and French Tigers after us.
Brussels introduces itself with its suburbia, the urban neighborhoods, the proud buildings cut off by large
describe an arc of a circle getting to the city from the north and then heading to the new NATO headquarters in formation.
The entire helicopter detachment is divided into five formations, each with an Agusta 109 BA Hirundo helicopter
of the host country, with the GRFN sign, the Griffon being displayed on the blazon of the 17th Beauvechain Squadron. The two Romanian helicopters were
approval for takeoff. It takes a few good minutes until it is our turn. Although we had had five take-offs only in the last three days, this time I feel the takeoff from the ground differently. The helicopter is a massive beast, with personality, mastered by the pilots' skills. "Yes, there is shaking in such a formation",
the clarification comes. The
first group appears clear and compact at the horizon, we follow
boulevards.
A turn to the left gives an
incredible view: a helicopter line behind us, like black birds of
prey, in the same direction and for the same purpose. Yes, it's just a parade, I tell myself, but when do you have the chance
to see something like that?! A trace of delight crosses the face of every crew member, but it is quickly replaced by attention and concentration on the mission. The
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