The beginnings
The first aircraft provided for members of the club was an Auster J1 Autocrat (OO-ABN) and was soon followed by two Piper Cubs (OO-EAB and OO-EAE). Also at that time they flew out of the airfield of Grimbergen, previously a military spare airport which existed since 1939.
Delivered to SSTA in 1946. It flew until August 1970 and was then transfered to the Brussels Air Museum.
Here seen with OO-EAB, a Piper L-4H Grasshopper (J3C-65D), in the background.
From 1965 onwards, more modern aircraft were added to the fleet, like a Cessna 150 (OO-SEZ). In 1966 the club bought its first four-seater, a Cessna 172 (OO-SEY). In 1974 an extra Cessna 150 (OO-SEW) was acquired due to the large number of members (120).
In 1985, under Sabena CEO Carlos van Raefelghem, the SSTA was transformed into the Sabena Aeroclub, the flying club of the Sabena Airline. Due to this change, the airplanes also received a new look: they were painted blue and white (the official Sabena colours) besides the classic S-tail (the Sabena logo) on the airplane’s tails. Soon the association would reach its record number of 280 members.
The plane was acquired by the club in March 1990. Sadly it was victim of an accident and part of the wreckage were stored at Grimbergen airfield in 2002.
Here seen in front of a Sobelair B737-400 at Girona in 1994.
Sabena bankrupcy
For everyone
In 2004 the club celebrated its 50th birthday which was extensively celebrated. One year later the club received the title 'Royal' by his royal and Belgian Majesty King Albert II. Since then the club may be officially called "Royal Sabena Aeroclub".
Today we are a proud, independent and self-sufficient aeroclub. We have about a 150 members flying our modern well maintained aircraft. We do our utmost to fly as environment friendly as possible with highest regards to safety. Therefore where possible, we reduce noise pollution, avoid residential areas, reduce fuel consumption, etc.
We are a Declared Training Organisation (DTO) in Belgium, providing modern ground and flight instruction in English and French.
Challenges for the future
For example:
- Safety is the first and ever present topic in all our activities.
- We continuously strive to improve our way of teaching the art of flying.
- Continue to attract interested youth and to help them with their first steps towards becoming a professional pilot.
- Guiding passionate people into their aviation hobby.
- Keeping our fleet up to date with the latest technologies.
- Like in the good old days of Sabena we want to stimulate the pleasant atmosphere among club members, colleagues and aviation enthusiasts.
Tradition is not worshipping the ashes, but keeping the fire burning.