Tribute to my Uncle Jack

My late uncle Jack (full name Jacques Lebeau) was the person who infected me with the aeromodelling virus. Furthermore, as a Belgian Air Force pilot, he was also the inspiration source for my Air Force career. As a young boy, I admired his skills as an extremely proficient model builder. I couldn't understand how one could make such perfectly built and finished models. It took a long time before I could equal his skills, eventually culminating in F4C World Championships and Jet World Masters wins. Those wins made uncle Jack very proud. He used to say that the student surpassed his master... Thank you uncle Jack, for all the inspiration and help you gave me! Rest in peace!

Uncle Jack himself was inspired by his good friend Luc Mommer to join the Belgian Air Force. He did his pilot training in an SV4b, followed by the Fouga Magister and T-33A. He progressed onto F-84F Thunderstreak but soon went to the 15 Wing Transport to fly the aircraft he preferred: Pembroke, DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, C-119G, HS748 and finally the mighty C-130.

A more detailed story on his Belgian Air Force career can be found on this website (in Dutch or French).

Young uncle Jack in an SV4b

Together with his fellows from Prom 144

In front of an F-84F at Florennes airbase

The Dakota, uncle Jack's favourite aircraft

C-119G Flying Boxcar

His last assignment, the C-130

Uncle Jack retiring from the Belgian Air Force after his last flight on C-130

Three generations of Belgian Air Force pilots in the family (uncle Jack to the left)

And now some photos of his models in random order. He built at least 50 R/C models, all of them of exceptional quality. Some builds date from the sixties, but the majority were built in the seventies, eighties and nineties. Enjoy the photos and the associated nostalgia...