On the weekend of 1 and 2 October 2022, from 10am to 4pm, the Directorate of Defence invites all interested visitors to Findel Airport.
In recent years, the Directorate of Defence has substantially developed its capabilities in the fields of air transport and air surveillance. With the support of the Luxembourgish army as well as national and international partners, the Directorate will exhibit these aircraft to the general public.
Although the Luxembourgish army had three light surveillance and observation aircraft at its disposal in the early 1960s, it is historically an army specialised in the field of reconnaissance. However, to meet national and international (EU, NATO) needs, the army has expanded its fleet in recent years.
Among the exhibits that weekend will also be the Airbus A400M, the transport aircraft belonging to the Belgian-Luxembourg bi-national fleet. The plane will be open to the public, allowing visitors to discover the A400M from the inside. Experts and military personnel operating the various aircraft will be on site to answer technical or practical questions from the public.
Other aircraft on display are:
- Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) – strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling and medical evacuation aircraft of the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF), composed of six participating nations (Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- Beechcraft BE350 ISR – maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, contracted to DEA Aviation and currently operating as part of the IRINI mission, securing the Mediterranean under mandate from the European Union
- Airbus H145M – light multi-role helicopter of the Luxembourgish army, equipped and made available to the Luxembourg police for police surveillance and search missions
- Insitu Integrator – Short Range Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (SRTUAS) drone for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance of the Luxembourg army
Interested individuals can register via the website https://identials.lu/gouv/registration/defence-open-air-days. The event will be organised on a secured part of Findel Airport. This area is only accessible by a shuttle bus which will run continuously between the airport’s “Parking M” and the event venue.
The number of people allowed on the site is limited. It is therefore necessary to indicate a time slot when registering. Access to the site and the shuttle bus is only possible during this time slot. All visitors are therefore invited to arrive at the car park on time.