The Belgian ‘Luchtcomponent’ has a long history of demonstrating their F-16s in the skies. For the latest airshow seasons, the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team is piloted by Cdt (Commandant) Steven ‘Vrieske’ De Vries.
Text and photos: Emiel Sloot
Only a handful of F-16 drivers worldwide match Vrieske's experience level. In 2021, he logged his 5,000th flying hour in this fighter aircraft. Just five others – all being US Air Force pilots – have reached that milestone.
In 1992, De Vries started his career with the Belgian Air Force. Following his flight training on the SIAI-Marchetti SF.260MB and the Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jet E, he joined the F-16 Operational Conversion Unit at Kleine Brogel Air Base in 1994. This location would eventually remain his home base for the rest of his impressive career. His first posting was with 23 ‘Devil’ Smaldeel (23rd ‘Devil’ Squadron), until this unit disbanded in 2002. De Vries then joined 31 ‘Tiger’ Smaldeel (31st ‘Tiger’ Squadron) as part of 10 Tactical Wing.
In his operational career, De Vries joined virtually every exercise and international operation in which the Belgian Air Force was involved, including deployments over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. In 2021, De Vries was asked to join the F-16 Solo Display Team, and it is expected he will fulfil this role until late 2024.
For display purposes, an F-16AM with serial FA-87 received a special colour scheme. The number ‘19’ that is applied on the aircraft’s nose refers to De Vries as being the 19th Belgian F-16 Solo Display pilot following the establishment of the team in 1979, the same year Belgium started operating the aircraft. The theme for the paint job is a viper, a species of snake that is also the common nickname used for the F-16, alongside its official name Fighting Falcon. FA-87’s scheme is dubbed the ‘Dream Viper’. The design was actually made by De Vries himself, and the aircraft was painted at home base Kleine Brogel.
A total of 136 F-16As and 24 F-16Bs were built by SABCA at Gosselies, Belgium between 1979 and 1985, for service with six operational squadrons. Currently, some 45 F-16AM and 8 F-16BM Block 20 MLU are still operational. These equip 1 ‘Chardon’ Smaldeel and 350 ‘Ambiorix’ Smaldeel (1st and 350th Squadrons) of 2 Tactical Wing at Florennes Air Base, along with 31 ‘Tiger’ Smaldeel and 349 ‘Goedendag’ Smaldeel (31st and 349th Squadrons) of 10 Tactical Wing at Kleine Brogel Air Base. Finally, the Operational Conversion Unit, that is also part of 10 Tactical Wing, still trains new F-16 pilots.
In a few years, 34 Lockheed F-35A Lightning IIs will replace the remaining F-16s. From 2024, the first of eight will join the 312th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA for crew conversion. Florennes will receive their first F-35A in 2025, and a few years later, Kleine Brogel will transfer to the new fighter aircraft. ■
