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NATO building can be seen at the horizon.
Upon landing, everybody smiles.
Back to the meeting room for debriefing. The conclusions are satisfactory, the plan was followed and there were no problems. Small time and space corrections between aircrafts, the ground observers recommend a closer formation.
The bus takes us to the hotel while we are deep in thoughts about tomorrow.
July 11
Overflight at the Summit
It is happening today. Today! And we have good news:
they managed to convince the organisers to fly with all three Romanian helicopters (38, 46 and 53)! We go to the briefing, calmly review the plan with the modified formation. There are
no more questions, each crew knows what to do. In the end there is a “Good luck, gentlemen!” With a French accent. We're going to the runway. It is useless to say that the helicopters
were prepared, checked, and cleaned. Moreover, eversince the departure from Romania, each Romanian aircraft has the flag on the board, carefully placed by the onboard technicians before each take-off.
Ready to start in 5 minutes! orders the captain. I see the pilots put their helmets on. Movements have become automatism, eyes look inward, reviewing plans for the last time. Yes, everything will work fine. Ground technicians are heading for the safe area and they waive at us encouragingly from there.
The noise encompasses us, we run along the track and wait for the takeoff moment. On the side I see the well-known image of the other two SOCATs, a dear image that accompanied us for about 2,000 miles. If until this
The aircrafts leave the perimeter of the base, and at the edge of the road a group of observers try to catch as many frames as possible.
Brussels comes towards us, first with gardens and houses,
moment I could get an idea of the feelings of the crew, for a more objective account, at this stage, apart from the smiles and good wishes before the take-off, their faces are no longer animated. Everything is focus and attention to every detail. The Belgian helicopter in front of us is shaking at a fixed point, one meter above the ground. I read an "Ok!" in the pilot's gestures and ... we take off!
trees, then industrial buildings, living spaces, imposing buildings. In the distance, we recognize the metallic structure of Atomium shining in the sun.
The formation is gathering, a sign that we are approaching the destination. Although yesterday
I had the opportunity to see (almost) the entire formation, the view of the threatening line at the horizon, made up of black spots
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