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...

Carl Goldberg Junior Falcon with single channel RC (probably Uncle Jack's very first RC model)

Aramis trainer model from the Airalma kit (Robert Lestourneaud design) with Veco .19 engine. See also the dedicated Aramis page for my recent build and the story behind it.

One of two Flat top Stormers (Doug Spreng design) with Merco .61 engine

Carl Goldberg Skylane 62 (similar to my recent Skylane build) with OS .25 RC engine

Top Flite Taurus (similar to my Taurus build) with Webra Speed .40 engine

Kwik Fly MK3 (similar to my Kwik Fly build) in all silver finish with yellow and black stripes

Bar Fly (Phil Kraft design, successor to the Kwik Fly) with Merco .61 engine

Two Aeromasters (Lou Andrews design)

Kaos (Joe Bridi design)

17 models amongst which a Kestrel and Bergfalke gliders, and a Super Chipmunk

Cap 21 (unknown origin)

Midwest Pitts Special (Jerry Nelson design)

Antic monoplane (Lou Proctor kit) with OS max FS-60 engine

Nieuport 11 (Lou Proctor kit)

Nieuport 28 (Lou Proctor kit)

Curtiss Jenny (Lou Proctor kit) originally fitted with an OS max FS-40 engine. It was the first major project uncle Jack undertook after his retirement from the Belgian Air Force. The wonderful model is now in my possession awaiting some minor restoration work