The airshow at Brussels 1967

[Keflavik69]

This month 55 years ago a so called 'vliegmeeting' was held at the military part of Brussels Airport, Melsbroek. It was my first air show abroad. In those days there was obviously enough money for a flying display with a lot of aircraft: 15 C-119's, 24 F-104G's and 26 Thunderstreaks. Unfortunately the Thunderstreaks came from another air base and since I had only a 55mm lens I could photograph the display aircraft only. For the others I was close enough to the runway which was a deafening experience with all those Starfighters taking off. The air show occupied the RWY25R for the duration of the show. I cannot imagine Air Traffic Control was very happy with that arrangement.

Brussels 24 June 1967. C-119 CP-10/CAJ by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. C-119 CP-15/OT-CAO by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. C-119 CP-22/OT-CBB by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. C-47 K-1 OT-CWA by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. C-47-NASARR K-4/OT-CNB by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. Gnat XM707/91 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. Lightning XN791/P by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. U-7A OL-L35 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. Mirage IIIR 347 33-CP by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. KC-135A 61-0313 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. F-84F FU-052 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. F-104G FX-12 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. F-104G FX-43 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Brussels 24 June 1967. F-104G FX-100 by arnold booy, on Flickr

I hope you liked them.
Regards,
Arnold

[Nighthawke]

Fantastic post Arnold - you have put some great ones up but this is one of the best. I would usually pick a Lightning as a favourite but on this occasion I think the F-84 would be my number 1.

[Mustang531]

Thanks Arnold, once again you've provided us with a wonderful selection of photos. Nice to see the C-119s, I only saw a few in service, one of my favourite types. About forty years ago, I turned up at Brussels Air Museum, only to find it closed, but they took pity on me. I was allowed in and I was given a tour, which included the behind the scenes storage areas, I was also taken inside the C-119 (CP-46) and allowed to sit in the cockpit. I must admit that it would be very unlikely these days for an airshow to be held at an international airport. Thank you for sharing these with us.

[paddyboy]

Hi Arnold

What a set

Those Packets must have made a right racket

Nice to see a Lightning F2

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Gordsmith]

Told you Arnold these are MUCH better than my poor efforts. I hope to be able to come close to this quality with my later shots.
Best wishes from a green with envy, Gordon

[LM47]

Excellent post Arnold..thank you.
That KC-135 is still in service!

[Petepilot]

Wowww, thanks Arnold, another wonderful set in sharp B&W, and all from a 55mm lens!

[raptor9]

Lovely. Senior moment, Patrick. Boxcars, not Packets Kind regards. Never thought I would have to correct an expert.. Packet was the C.82, not the C119.

[F3]

Another terrific pin - sharp monochrome set. The Streak + Frightening shots are OUTSTANDING!!!

[paddyboy]

No worries, John

I’ve never claimed to be an expert, because, as I was once told ‘x is the unknown quantity and a spurt is a drip under pressure’

[raptor9]

[Stratocruiser]

WOW!
All great nostalgic shots but the Packets and Daks are my favourites as I love pistons!
Very many thanks for sharing your brilliant pics

[Punkrunner62]

Absolutely brilliant to see your shots of this event, classic's every one, thank you.
Cheers.

[Precinct7]

Lovely. Senior moment, Patrick. Boxcars, not Packets Kind regards. Never thought I would have to correct an expert.. Packet was the C.82, not the C119.

C-119 were always referred to as Packet's , even through we all knew they were official called Boxcars
it was always Belgium Packet, Italian Packet

wonderful shot's & as ha s been said the noise of those Packets taking would be sheer joy !!

[slogen51]

Wow wow!

What an awesome set. So crisp , maybe clearer than today's digital even after scanning!

I will definitely spend more time browsing in this section

[Petepilot]

Another stunning post Arnold, thank you! The F104s will always be my favourite but I have two questions, please:
What camera/lens/film did you use to get these stunning results?
The F84 shot looks like a "turn to finals" and even today would be a unique shot - did you capture this with a 55mm lens?
Thanks again, and more please!

[LM47]

Superb photos Arnold.
I wish some of my digital stuff turned out as well.
As an aside, that KC-135A is still on the go as an 'R' and has visited Prestwick in recent times.

[Keflavik69]

Dear all, thanks a lot for this renewed interest in this post. Dear Petepilot, I used in 1967 an Asahi Pentax S1a with 55mm Asahi Takumar lens. The film was Kodak Panatomic X. The Streak wasn’t photographed on approach but I was standing midfield along the runway. The Streak is between 1/2 and 2/3 of the negative so he came pretty close.
Arnold

[Petepilot]

Dear all, thanks a lot for this renewed interest in this post. Dear Petepilot, I used in 1967 an Asahi Pentax S1a with 55mm Asahi Takumar lens. The film was Kodak Panatomic X. The Streak wasn’t photographed on approach but I was standing midfield along the runway. The Streak is between 1/2 and 2/3 of the negative so he came pretty close.
Arnold

Thanks Arnold. That Pentax produced such great results....almost witchcraft compared to what my camera produced not so many years later! I think we'll have to put it down to the photographer and not the equipment! The Streak wasn't on approach!!?? Looks like he's side-slipping down the runway then, never see such a thing today!
Thanks again, Pete

[Jabba]

One of your best yet Arnold. The results are even more stunning given you weren't even using a telephoto lens. Certainly better than I got with a Zenith-B and a standard lens in the mid-seventies!