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Belgian Military Aircraft

MBLE Epervier-Asmodée UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)

On April 24th, 1969 the Ministry of Defence bought the MBLE Epervier-system as an answer to a NATO-requirement issued in 1964 regarding an advanced battlefield reconnaisance and observation system.
After a long test and development period the 1 Platoon Drones SCB became operational in 1976.
Three aircraft where of the Asmodée-type, a non NATO-standard version that was not very successful.
The Asmodée were modified to a 'Long Range'-version, which included the installation of an additional fueltank in the camera compartment.
On September 3rd, 1999 the last flight was made and the Eperviers were replaced by the Eagle B-Hunter.
Deraero bought the remaining Eperviers and is currently offering them for sale.

Prototypes & Development Aircraft

X-1 Type: Epervier (prototype)

000465: Taken on charge
240465: first flight
240465: Cat.5 Crashed into the sea at Lombardsijde, during the first testflight

X-2 Type: Epervier (prototype, venture version)

001165: Taken on charge
201165: first flight
000067: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn

X-33 Type: Epervier (prototype)

000067: Taken on charge
000000: made at least 3 testflight
000068: wfu

X-34 Type: Epervier (prototype)

X-42 Type: Epervier (prototype)

000000: Taken on charge
000000: donated to an engineer upon his retirement
000000: sold to scrapyard at Forest/Vorst (near Brussels) by his widow
000008: discovered in the scrapyard
000408: recovered by the Brussels Air Museum for preservation

MBLE Epervier-Asmodée UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) - Belgian Military Aircraft

Brussels Air Museum 270408 - Photo Laurent Heyligen ©

X-45 Type: Epervier (prototype)

000068: Taken on charge

X-46 Type: Epervier (prototype)

000000: made at least 5 testflight
000072: wfu
000000: preserved Royal Army Museum Brussels
000000: preserved Elsenborn

MBLE Epervier-Asmodée UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) - Belgian Military Aircraft Database

Elsenborn 140506 - Photo Daniel Brackx

X-5 001 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°1) "Odon 1er"
static airframe only, never flown

000099: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn

X-5 001 Elsenborn 140506 - Photo Daniel Brackx

X-5 002 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°2)

000973: taken on charge
260973: First NATO mission Elsenborn
000000: minimum 4 flights
000074: wfu

X-5 003 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°3)

000973: taken on charge
260973: Second NATO mission Elsenborn
000000: minimum 1 flight
000074: wfu

X-5 004 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°4)

000072: taken on charge
000074: wfu

X-5 004 - Daniel Brackx Collection

X-5 005 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°5)

000973: taken on charge
260973: Third NATO mission Elsenborn, Cyclope camero (Infrared TV direct transmission)
000000: minimum 1 flight
000074: wfu

X-5 006 Type: Epervier X-5 (prototype N°6)

000072: taken on charge
000000: minimum 4 flights
000074: wfu

Production Aircraft

D-07 Type: Epervier
Test- and Development aircraft, converted from Epervier to Asmodée (Non NATO-standard)

000088: taken on charge
000000: named "L'Evolée"
000089: modified to Asmodée
241193: last flight, crashed after 2 minutes
000000: totally 7 flights in this configuration
000000: repaired and converted to Asmodée 'Long Distance', 15 flights (07:08hrs)
080999: last flight
000000: preserved Elsenborn

D-08 Type: Epervier

000073: taken on charge
250698: last flight
000000: during an inspection the aircraft appeared to be out of tolerances and was declassified
000098: wfu
000000: preserved Bertrix

D-09 Type: Epervier

000679: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn during second qualification flight, completely burned
000679: struck of charge

D-10 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
111299: last flight
001299: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: preserved at Nostalgic Aviation, Cannes (F)

D-11 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000000: named "Eglantine"
070999: last flight
000999: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn (80 Sqn UAV)

Elsenborn 140506 - Photo Daniel Brackx

D-12 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
120697: last flight
000797: wfu

D-13 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000991: Cat.5 Crash on take-off from Elsenborn, completely burned
000091: struck of charge

D-14 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
240699: last flight
000699: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: to MLC Belgium

D-15 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000000: named "Jasmin"
200599: last flight
000599: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: to MLC Belgium

D-16 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
051095: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn, during take-off the aircraft hit the end of the launchrail
001095: struck of charge

D-17 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
120686: Cat.5 Crash Eicks (Germany), crashed into the ground at 500km/h

D-18 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
240698: last flight
000698: wfu

D-19 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
200599: last flight
000599: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn (80 Sqn UAV)

D-20 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000000: named "Cédric"
280699: last flight
000699: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

Vogelsang 050596 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)

D-21 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
260589: Cat.5 Crash near Reculémont, the parachute deployed at a speed of 500 km/h
000589: struck of charge

D-22 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000000: named "Gaétan"
110698: last flight
000698: wfu
000000: preserved CI Br2 (Army) , de Hemptinne Barracks, Heverlee

de Hemptinne barracks, Heverlee, 130606 - Photo Jos Schoofs (c)

D-23 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
110698: last flight
000698: wfu
000000: preserved Artillery School/6A, Brasschaat

Brasschaat 050505 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)

D-24 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
080999: last flight
000999: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

D-25 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
230597: last flight
000597: wfu

D-26 Type: Epervier

000678: taken on charge
000678: Cat.5 Crash during first flight from Elsenborn, defect to JATO (Jet Assisted Take-Off)
000678: Struck of charge

D-27 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
080999: last flight
000999: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: acquired by a British owner, who converted it into a jet-propelled bicycle, more info on : www.jetpower.co.uk/epervier_home.htm

D-28 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
110698: last flight
000698: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

D-29 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
250397: last flight
000397: wfu
000000: preserved Royal Military School, Brussels

D-30 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
200290: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn, during take-off the aircraft hit the end of the launchrail
000290: struck of charge

D-31 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
070999: last flight
000999: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: sold to the United Kingdom

D-31 Daniel Brackx Collection

D-32 Type: Epervier

000078: taken on charge
080999: last flight
000999: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

Saffraanberg 250596 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)

D-33 Type: Epervier

001078: taken on charge
001078: Cat.5 Crash during first flight at Elsenborn, parachute deployed after 17 minutes of flight
001078: struck of charge

D-34 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
230597: last flight
000597: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero
000000: to MYB, United Kingdom

D-35 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000384: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn
000384: struck of charge
D-36 Type: Epervier
000000: taken on charge
091096: last flight
001096: wfu

D-37 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
210599: last flight
000599: wfu
000000: preserved Royal Military School, Brussels
current: preserved Royal Military School, Brussels

000000: taken on charge
260599: last flight
000599: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn Barracks Museum

Elsenborn 140506 - Photo Daniel Brackx

D-39 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
000080: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn
000080: struck of charge

D-40 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
280699: last flight
000699: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

D-41 Type: Epervier

000000: taken on charge
180399: last flight
000399: wfu
000000: preserved Elsenborn (80 Sqn UAV), used as gateguard

D41 Elsenborn 140506 - Photo Daniel Brackx

D-42 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
000079: Cat.5 Crashed on take-off for its very first flight from Elsenborn
000079: struck of charge

D-43 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
050684: Cat.5 Crash at Elsenborn, parachute did not deploy correctly during recovery
000684: struck of charge

D-44 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
000000: written-off in an accident at un unknown date
000000: struck of charge

D-45 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
240491: Cat.5 Crash during the recovery at Elsenborn, parachute hook ejector system defect
000491: struck of charge

D-46 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
290698: last flight
000698: wfu
000000: sold to Deraero

D-47 Type: Epervier

000079: taken on charge
000000: named "Caroline"
120598: last flight
000598: wfu
000000: preserved Royal Army Museum, Brussels

Royal Army Museum, Brussels 021005 - Photo Laurent Heyligen (c)

D-48 Type: Asmodée

000088: taken on charge
300988: Cat.5 crash at Elsenborn, parachuate did not deploy correctly during recovery
000988: struck of charge

D-49 Type: Asmodée

000088: taken on charge
000000: modified to Epervier
240594: Cat.? crash at recovery by external pilot, parachute got entangled
300895: noted repaired
280699: last flight
000699: wfu
000000: preserved 101RPV-Cie 't Harde (The Netherlands)

LaurentH	Latest page update: made by LaurentH , May 17 2008, 5:10 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by LaurentH 18 words added view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: Asmodée Elsenborn Epervier MBLE uav More Info: links to this page