To replace the Percival Pembroke the Belgian Air Force ordered six Swearingen Merlin IIIA turboprop aircraft in september 1975. OneTwo aircraft waswere equipped for the calibration of navigation aids on airfields and a second aircraft was equipped for vertical aerial photography mainly on behalf of National Geographical Institute. In 2003 the remaining 5 aircraft were sold to CAE Aviation in Luxembourg.
CF-01 c/n T-259 ex N5374M (testregistration) call-sign BAF51
280376: delivered to 15 Wing - 21 Squadron
010801: arrived Weelde for storage
000000: sold to CAE Aviation, Luxembourg-Findel
220903: first noted as LX-NOP at Weelde
191003: departed Weelde as LX-NOP
Short history : N5374M, CF-01, LX-NOP Collection Laurent Heyligen
CF-02 c/n T-260 ex N5373M (testregistration) call-sign BAF52
080576: delivered to 15 Wing - 21Squadron
000601: noted stored Melsbroek
200202: officially struck of charge Melsbroek
000000: sold to CAE Aviation, Luxembourg-Findel
000000: registered LX-RSO
Short history : N5374M, CF-02, LX-RSO, N422GK Collection Laurent Heyligen
CF-03 c/n T-262 ex N5375M (testregistration), N500BW call-sign BAF53
060676: delivered to 15 Wing - 21 Squadron
160480: Cat.5 Crash on the runway of Lille-Lesquin, France, during a touch-and-go the engine went into "full reverse". Unfortunately both crewmembers were killed. Capt.vl.Jean-Claude Timmermans (trainee), ADC vl.Etienne Lemmens (instructor)
000000: remains scrapped at Vilvoorde
240698: parts noted at dump Beauvechain
Short history : N5375M, N500BW, CF-03 Collection Laurent Heyligen
CF-04 c/n T-264 ex N5378M (testregistration), N100JB (ntu) call-sign BAF54
280676: delivered to 15 W Trans - 21 Squadron
001001: struck of charge
000000: sold to CAE Aviation, Luxembourg-Findel
000000: registered LX-LAP
190703: first noted at Luxembourg-Findel
Short history : N5378M, N100JB, CF-04, LX-LAP, N422AG, F-GZJM Collection Laurent Heyligen
CF-05 c/n T-265 ex N5381M (testregistration) call-sign BAF55
121076: delivered to 15 W Trans - 21 Squadron, equipped for navigation aid calibration
160600: stored Melsbroek after damage to the left wing during towing
000901: noted at Melsbroek (used for spares)
000000: sold to CAE Aviation, Luxembourg-Findel
000000: registered LX-NRJ
Short history : N5381M, CF-05, LX-NRJ Collection Laurent Heyligen
CF-06 c/n T-267 ex N5382M (testregistration) call-sign BAF56
300976: delivered to 15 W Trans - 21 Squadron, equipped for vertical aerial photography
020693: during a flight Melsbroek-Perpignan (F), the main landing gear would not lock properly. The captain decided to abandon the flight and make an emergency landing at Beauvechain. After the fire department had laid out a foam carpet on the runway, pilot Cdt.vl.Freddy Polfliet made a successfull belly landing. Damage was minimal and nobody of the four passengers was hurt
000302: struck of charge
000000: sold to CAE Aviation, Luxembourg-Findel
000000: registered LX-PIX
090504: arrived at Deurne-Antwerp airport after the aircraft was purchased by Aerodata International Surveys BVBA and it's currently used for aerial photography.
140207: reservation made for PH-PIX by Rijnmond Air Services BV, Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
071107: application made for CofA by Aerodata Remote Sensing BV, Prinsenbeek (the Netherlands)
Short history : N5382M, CF-06, LX-PIX Collection Laurent Heyligen