Continue reading]]> A father and son, sharing a deep passion for restoring vintage watches and airplanes, have combined their love for both into something truly special.

Inspired by the legendary SV-4B, an aircraft that played a pivotal role in Belgian aviation history, they’ve  crafted a watch that honors its legacy. Built in Alfred Renard’s factory in Evere, the SV-4B was the backbone of the Belgian Air Force’s training fleet after World War II.

This limited edition watch, with only 65 pieces available, is more than just a timepiece – it’s a tribute to the spirit of innovation and excellence. Each watch features the iconic silhouette of the SV-4B on a sleek black dial, and the case back is engraved with a unique number from V 1 to V 65, making each one as unique as the plane it represents.

Pre-orders are now open! Secure your piece of aviation history today by visiting https://www.sv-4.com/ or clicking the image below.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020: unloading of the aircraft in front of the BAPA workshop-hangar. (© BAPA Aero)

The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association (BAPA) collection has opened up to the jet age.

After having recently received two Turbomeca Marboré II engines equipping the Fouga C.M.170 Magister. (one being cut out in a didactic way and the other on its original maintenance support), a first jet has been added to the association’s aircraft collection.

It is the De Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5 (c/n 699, serial VX950, coded 5A-X) previously located at the Mas Palegry in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.

The DH.100 prototype, originally called “Spider Crab”, is of mixed wood/metal construction with an original twin-beam formula.  The first flight was made in Hatfield on September 26, 1943, piloted by Geoffrey Raoul de Havilland, son of the firm’s founder, under the serial LZ548/G *, and was propelled by a Halford H-1 (later de Havilland Goblin 1) engine of 2,300 lbs of force designed by Major Frank Bernard Halford CBE FRAeS.

THe BAPA’s DH.100 Vampire is one of the very first jets to be mass-produced.  Part of contract number G/AIRCRAFT/2467 for English Electric Co Ltd, it was built in the Preston factory and its engine is one of the first de Havilland Goblin 2 engines, developing 3,100 lbs of thrust.

The aircraft left English Electric’s Salisbury (Preston) factory on 17 June 1949 and was transferred to the RAF base at Manston on 20 June 1949.  It was then delivered to the French Air Force on 7 December 1949.

On September 11th, 1953, after a rather short operational career with the 2/5 Ile de France fighter squadron coded 5A-X at the Orange airbase, it was used as an instructional airframe.

It was then delivered to Karouba airbase (Tunisia) on September 25th, 1953.  On 20 January 1954, she was delivered to the Naval School of Lanvéoc-Poulmic (Brittany).

The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5 VX950 when it was recovered in the late 1970s. (Photo courtesy BAPA)

She was acquired from a scrap merchant in 1979 by Charles Noetinger who housed her in his museum at Mas Palegry. This collection was sold and dispersed in 2019. This is how the sole surviving French DH.100 Vampire arrived in the BAPA collections!

Although the plane does not fit in with the “Belgian” side of the association, it has a small connection with Belgium and is very interesting technically and historically.

For the record, in 1947 the Vampire was competing with the Meteor for the replacement of the Spitfires in Belgium. The Air Force tested both planes, but the Meteor won the contract.

An “amusing” side story is that the two machines were displayed to the public at Melsbroek on 7 May 1947 by Belgian airmen, Captain Marcel Mullenders on the Meteor and Captain Remy “Mony” Van Lierde on the Vampire. Due to landing gear problems, the two aircraft were accidented within the span of an hour.

This new arrival constitutes a new challenge and will require the acquisiton of new technical knowledge for the BAPA restoration team, which is already very efficient in sheet metal work, mechanics, carpentry and canvas covering (marouflage of the wooden nose)!

Our thanks to Marc Lecocq and the BAPA for sharing this text and photos.

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A message from the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association

The restoration of the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association’s (www.bapa.aero) B-25 Mitchell is an ongoing project, as is the search for parts and equipment to re-equip what initially was an empty B-25 shell.

After obtaining the plexiglass canopy of the dorsal turret during the shooting of the “Catch 22” series, all that was needed was what came beneath it, i.e. a Bendix turret.

This is a rare and difficult to acquire part, but we were able to locate and reserve one in Australia, for $5400. It is incomplete but can serve as the basis for a full restoration.

We are therefore calling on all B-25 Mitchell enthusiasts and those who support our goal of honoring the Belgian crews that flew on the Mitchell with the Royal Air Force.

You can help us by donating to the Fondation Roi Baudouin :

BE10 0000 0000 0404 (BIC : BPOT BEB1) with the compulsory mention: « 128/2714/00065 »

If you are a Belgian fiscal resident, any donation over 40€ will make you eligible to a tax refund.

For our foreign supporters, a donation on the bank account of our association is also possible:

BAPA bank account: BE81 3631 1427 4124 (BIC : BBRU BEBB).

Thank you to all, and a Merry Christmas !

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(Photo courtesy © BAPA)

The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association (BAPA) recently added a “classic aircraft from the future” to its collection !

The aircraft in question is the most recent variant of the famous Stampe & Vertongen SV-4 : the SV4-RS, built by Ultralight Concept.

The SV4-RS is an ultralight version of the SV-4 designed and built by Raoul Severin. The airframe received by the BAPA is one of the prototypes that underwent and survived stress tests in order to obtain the type’s certification in several countries.

The BAPA intends to complete and reassemble the airframe in order to showcase the construction technique of this specific variant.

Ultralight Concept acquired the original Stampe SV.4 blueprints in 2007 and designed this lightweight version by changing the construction techniques and materials, which made it possible to lower the empty weight from 560 kg to 295 kg.

Source: Email from BAPA

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Silence on set, the BAPA makes its cinema, first, action, rolling!

BAPA will be holding its open house on Saturday, August 31 to celebrate the fifth participation in a shooting of its B25J Mitchell with its almost fully equipped interior and its superb current Pinup “Yankee Doodle” from the mini-series “Catch-22”.

The whole event will revolve around him with the evocation of the shoots in which he participated.

The association’s volunteers will welcome you to visit the restoration workshop and admire our collection of restored aircraft, in progress or awaiting restoration, and will present various activities.

(Photo © BAPA)

Various magazine stands and aeronautical books, postcards, photos, aeronautical accessories, model aircraft and small catering will be available.

Several military vehicles and extras in period clothing will be present throughout the day.

Depending on the weather, the workshop will be flown over several times by several old aircraft.

Address:

Chaussée de Tirlemont, 75, A6 (behind LOCK’O)
B-5030 Gembloux
Belgium

Free entry and easy parking.

(Photo © BAPA)

Filmography of the B-25J Mitchell 44-30925 (N9494Z G-BWGR):

•  “Catch-22″ by Mike Nichols in 1970 with Alan Arkin. He flew under the name of Laden Maiden” and then”The Abominable Snow Man”.
• Peter Hyams”’Hanover Street” movie in 1978 with Harrison Ford (who drove this B25). He flew under the name of Gorgeous George-Ann.
• Richard Marquand’s “Eye Of the Needle” film in 1981 with Donald Sutherland. Static filmed with the name Thar She Blows.
• “AIRMEN”” short film by Olivier Merckx in 2016 with Russel Cummings. Static filmed for indoor scenes.
• “Catch-22″” George Clooney’s mini-series in 2018 with Georges Clooney and Christopher Abbott with the name”Yankee Doodle”. Static filmed for indoor scenes.
• Once restored, it should in principle be called “Pat’s Victorie” coded”NO-V” of No 320 Squadron of No 139 Wing.