Come celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Belgian air force at the International Sanicole Airshow as you witness a true giant of the skies as the Belgian Air Force’s newest heavy lifter sweeps over Hechtel-Eksel in Belgium for afew spectacular flypasses: the remarkable Airbus A400M Atlas.
Taking over the legendary role of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the A400M is quickly earning its place among aviation’s modern icons. Stationed at Melsbroek Air Base with the 15th Air Transport Wing, eight of these powerful aircraft now form the backbone of Belgium’s strategic and tactical airlift capability, including one operated jointly with Luxembourg.
Everything about the A400M is built on a grander scale. It is larger, faster, and dramatically more capable than its predecessor, carrying heavier and bulkier cargo over greater distances. Its four revolutionary Europrop TP400-D6 engines give it remarkable speed and performance for a turboprop aircraft, allowing it to deliver troops, vehicles, and humanitarian aid wherever they are needed across the globe. Recently, it was announced that Belgium will also join 6 European nations to form a multinational fleet of A400Ms, similar to the multinational tanker unit equiped with A330s.
Belgium welcomed its first A400M at Melsbroek at the end of 2020, with the final aircraft arriving on 12 January 2024, marking a major milestone in the modernization of the Belgian Air Component. Already, the aircraft has proven its value on real-world missions, from humanitarian relief flights over Palestine to evacuating Belgian citizens from the Middle East.
During the weekend of 12-13 September 2026 , this flying colossus will make a few passes that truly lives up to its reputation. Powerful, elegant, and unmistakably modern, the A400M represents the future of Belgian airpower. When it roars overhead the Sanicole airfield at Hechtel-Eksel in Belgium, you will not just see a transport aircraft. You will witness the latest chapter of the Belgian Air Force in action.
