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Post by nuuumannn on Sept 8, 2019 14:27:21 GMT 12
Hello, Some images from the vast military museum in the centre of Brussels. The aviation hall is an impressive sight, but the aircraft are covered in a layer of dust and some are in a rough state. Caravelle.  Europe 422 Maurice Farman MF.11.  Europe 423 Meteor and Spitfire, with F-16, Vampire and Oxford behind.  Europe 424 SPAD XIII.  Europe 425 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter.  Europe 426 Ju 52/3mge. This is a Junkers built Ju 52 sold to the Portuguese in 1937.  Europe 427 Fairchild C-119, with DH.89 and Percival Pembroke and miscellaneous small aeroplanes on the mezzanine level.  Europe 428 RAF RE.8  Europe 429 The impressive aviation hall in all its dusty splendour.  Europe 430 More to come. |
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Post by nuuumannn on Sept 8, 2019 14:35:37 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 8, 2019 14:38:33 GMT 12
That really demonstrated how big the Fairey Battle really was when you see it next to the Mossie.
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Post by shorty on Sept 8, 2019 15:49:01 GMT 12
I visited this Museum in 1996 when I was on my OE (which was my 50th birthday present to myself) and was pretty impressed.
On arrival I find that, because it is the Belgian Air Forces 50 th birthday there was to be a parade on the square outside reviewed by the King, starting at 4 pm, and then he was to view a special exhibition inside. The aircraft section of .museum was therefore closed However they said it would be open the following day
I thought the fly-over for the parade would be at the Royal Salute (as ours are) but in fact it was at the end of the parade (at which the band played “Happy Birthday”). The flypast seemed to be of all their current types, some trailing smoke in the national colours and the final group of F 16s in a ‘50’ formation.
Went back up to the museum at about 9:30 the following day and was told that the aircraft hall was closed because they were dismantling the special exhibition! Carefully explained yesterdays story, the distance I had come and that I had already extended my stay to get there that day. One of the staff then said that he would personally take me through, however that he spoke virtually no English.. As a result I had the whole place to myself and with my personal escort I had unlimited access didn't have to worry about barrier ropes and was able to climb on the aircraft to view the cockpits etc.
Thought the logistics of getting a Caravelle into a buildin in the middle of Brussels must have been impressive
BTW it's a Bristol Bolingbroke, not a Fairchild.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Sept 8, 2019 19:14:00 GMT 12
Impressive! That Fairey Battle is a rare gem
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Post by vultee43 on Sept 8, 2019 21:14:47 GMT 12
Seriously cool collection with some really rare gems. If I ever get to Europe I'm making a beeline to Brussels, dust or no dust
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Post by nuuumannn on Sept 9, 2019 13:50:29 GMT 12
Thanks guys. The Canadian Bolis were built by Fairchild Aircraft at Longueuil Quebec. it was a subsidiary of the US Fairchild company. Strictly speaking, the only Bristol built Blenheims/Bolis surviving are in Finland and then they were built out of components manufactured in Finland. The only complete one is on display in the Central Finland aviation museum. Yet you failed to pick up on the Nood 1002?  |
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Post by nuuumannn on Sept 9, 2019 13:52:53 GMT 12
That's just the aviation hall. It is certainly worth it. I spent hours there looking around the place. Just across the way is a fantastic car museum, Brussels Autoworld, which is just as impressive, although less dust.
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