Known as the Belgian Air Force until January 2002, the Belgian Air Component is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. 

It was originally founded in 1909 as the Belgian military aviation. 

CT-5 @ Stansted 2023

HARDSHIP RED

'Red Devils'

Founded in 1957, following the disbandment of the Acrobobs demonstration team, the team initially flew 9 standard 'camo' scheme Hawker Hunters. The 'Red Devils' team name was adopted in 1960 when they flew only 4 Hunters, painted red, but they were disbanded soon after. The team was reformed in 1965 using 7 Fouga Magister CM-170R again in a red paint scheme. The number of aircraft flown in the early 1970's was reduced until the team stopped flying in 1977. In 2008 the team were reformed in an 'unofficial' capacity using 4 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 trainers. In the following year the team, having received 'official' status, became known as 'Hardship Red', the call-sign of the Belgian Marchetti instructor pilots and the main color of their badge. The team was re-branded in 2011 as the 'Red Devils' and their aircraft repainted back to a red scheme.