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:

Summary Narrative History

Timeline - Key Dates in Belgian History

Further National Information:
BBC News Profile: Belgium
Yahoo Belgium page
wikipedia: Belgium
wikipedia: History of Belgium

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.

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

Aircraft Manufacturers:
Avions Fairey
Renard
SABCA
Stampe & Vertongen

Airports, Airfields and Air Bases:
Airports in Belgium

Military Air Bases and Airfields-
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Aviation Museums:
Brussels Air Museum
Koninklijke Legermuseum
Musee Colonel Aviateur R Lallement
Musee de la Base de Bierset
Stampe & Vertongen Museum

Airshow Dates:
Key Airshow Dates

Aviation-Related Magazines:
Magazines Guide

Magazine Dealers:
Recommended second hand magazine dealers

Aviation Bibliography:
Belgian Aviation Bibliography - to be added

Aviation Bookshops:
On-line bookshops

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