Belgium
Contents
Key Facts
| Date of Independence: | 4 October 1830 |
| Total Area Ranking: | 139th in the World |
| Population Size Ranking: | 76th in the World |
| GDP Ranking: | 20th in the World |
The Country
Geography
Belgium is located in Western Europe on the southern shore of the North Sea. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south and west and the North Sea to the northwest. It’s strategic location on key Western European trade routes has made the area both prosperous and a battleground in time of war.
The country is divided by the valley of the Meuse and Sambre rivers into two major regions. To the northwest is a generally level costal plain which is drained by numerous canals. To the southeast lies the Ardennes – a forested plateau some 1200-1500 ft (370-460 m) above sea level, broken by several river valleys The total land area is 32,820 sq km (12,672 sq miles).
The Population of 10.2 million (2000 figure) comprises two main ethnic groups. The Germanic, Flemish-speaking Flemings of the north and Celtic, French-speaking Walloons of the south. Flemish is a derivative of Dutch. 58% of the population are Flemings and 33% Walloons. In addition to a small native German minority, there is a significant immigrant population of Moroccan, Italian and other groups, making up 9% of the total. Some 88% of the people are Roman Catholics, 2% Muslim and 10% other faiths. The capital city is Brussels.
National History
Timeline – Key Dates in Belgian History
Further National Information
BBC News Profile: Belgium
Yahoo Belgium page
wikipedia: Belgium
wikipedia: History of Belgium
Aviation
Text to be added on the development of aviation in Belgium.
Markings
Civil Aircraft Registrations
Belgian civil aircraft were registered in the series O-BAAA onwards from 1919, but this changed to OO-AAA onwards in 1929. After WW2 the OO- register was re-established. Military aircraft callsigns are in the OT-AAA and onwards sequence.
An incomplete all-time Belgian civil aircraft register listing is here.
Aircraft Operators
Military Air Arms
Current military air arms-
Air Force (Luchtcomposant/Composant Aèrienne)
Naval Aviation (Marine Component/Composante Marine)
Historical military air arms-
Air Force (L’Aeronautique Militaire Belge) [1916-1940]
Army Aviation (Licht Vliegwezen/Aviation Legere) [1947-2004]
Colonial Policing (Aviation de la Force Publique) [1941-1960]
Central Government Agencies
Air Cadets (De Luchtcadetten van Belgie/Les Cadets del’Air de Belgique)
Public Service Aviation
Medical Aviation
Police (Police Fédérale/Federale Politie)
Commercial Aviation
Air Belgium
Brussels Airlines
City Bird [1996-2001]
Delta Air Transport
European Air Transport
SABENA [1923-2001]
Sobelair [1946-2004]
Thomas Cook Airlines
VLM
Virgin Express
wikipedia: Airlines of Belgium
Belgian Commercial Airlines
The World’s Airlines: Belgium
Private Aviation
To be added
Industry
Aircraft Manufacturers
Avions Fairey
Renard
SABCA
Stampe & Vertongen
Aircraft Maintenance/Repair Depots
None known.
Airfields
Civil Airports & Airfields
Military Air Bases & Airfields
Military Air Bases Listing – to be added.
On Show
Aviation Museums
Brussels Air Museum
Koninklijke Legermuseum
Musee Colonel Aviateur R Lallement
Musee de la Base de Bierset
Stampe & Vertongen Museum
Airshow Dates
More Information
Aviation-Related Magazines
Magazines Guide for Belgium
Aviation Bibliography
Belgian Aviation Bibliography – to be added
Web Links
Luchtzak Aviation
Belgian aviation discussion forum
Books Belgian Aviation
Short bibliography of Belgian aviation books
BAHA – Belgian Aviation History Association
Lots of information on Belgian civil and military aviation
Aviation Society of Antwerp
Society and aviation enthusiast info
Brussels Air Museum Foundation
Links to Belgian aviation history websites
Aviation Heritage in Belgium
Photos of aircraft in Belgian aviation museums
Belgian Aviation Heritage Library
Collection of historical aviation photos
Aviation Museums Belgium
Visitor data and exhibits for each location
flyforfun.be
Belgian leisure aviation portal
30 April 2011 4:14 pm | Last Updated 1 May 2011 7:48 am | 
Subscribe