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May 17 2008, 5:10 PM EDT (current) LaurentH 18 words added
Apr 28 2008, 3:11 PM EDT LaurentH 1 word added, 1 word deleted

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MBLE Epervier-Asmodée UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) - Belgian Military Aircraft Database
D-31 Daniel Brackx Collection

D-32 Type: Epervier
  • 000078: taken on charge
  • 080999: last flight
  • 000999: wfu
  • 000000: sold to Deraero

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

MBLE Epervier-Asmodée UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) - Belgian Military Aircraft
Royal Military School, Brussels 160308 - Photo Jos Schoofs ©

D-38 Type: Epervier
  • 000000: taken on charge
  • 260599: last flight
  • 000599: wfu
  • 000000: preserved Elsenborn Barracks Museum

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

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

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



1910-1929 - Belgian Military Aircraft Database