boudewijn page

Somewhere along the month of november '99, our Air Force's PR-service asked me to set up a HGU-26/P with the '350' logo. The day I presented the helmet to Colonel Laurent at the Royal Palace I met Mr de Maere d'Aertrycke: conservator of 'Bellevue': 'The King Boudewijn Memorial'. I was given the grand tour of this wonderful museum. Although finding many personal belongings of King Boudewijn, I regretted to see there was little or no material displayed of the King's military career.

I knew he loved flying: he frequently visited Beauvechain and flew backseat in the F-104G STARFIGHTER so...

... I suggested Mr de Maere d'Aertrycke I would try and find everything needed to complete a similar flight suit as the one Boudewijn wore...

It took me a few months but thanks to some friends and good contacts I managed to come up with a complete outfit! Orange coverall, white scarf, g-suit, F-104 boots with spurs, 349 & 350 squadron patches and last but not least: a wonderful HGU-2A/P 'Dual Ramshorn'! The helmet was restored to its original state and VSRP supplied the MBU-5/P.

When I presented Mr de Maere the full gear I thought: 'Ask not and thou shall get not'... I asked him whether it would be possible to present the outfit to Queen Fabiola herself. He replied calmly: 'I'm meeting the Queen this weekend in Germany, let's see what she has to say to this...'

May 2000: the Royal Spanish family are visiting Belgium and yes: they will also be visiting 'Bellevue'! Mr de Maere had quite an overwhelming surprise for me : he invited me on may the 19th to present the outfit to Queen Fabiola and to have a little talk with Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos! The whole event took only a few minutes but I felt quite proud of having brought this project to a royal end!

YOU CAN CALL THE 'BELLEVUE' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS:

02/502.25.41 - 04/239.97.39

Children < 8, except in group: Free, 250 BEF

< 18, Pensioners, Large Families, The disabled: 200 BEF

Groups >20 and schools: 150 BEF