Meet the “Dream Viper,” the new special painted F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team

Meet the “Dream Viper,” the new special painted F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team

By Dario Leone
Jun 13 2022
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The cool photos in this post feature the “Dream Viper,” the new paint scheme of the F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team.

Taken on Jun. 9, 2022 by our friend Andrew Timmerman from Finn Aviation Photography, the cool photos in this post feature the “Dream Viper,” the new paint scheme of the F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team.

With the start of the new 2022 air meeting season, the Belgian Air Force has a new demonstration pilot in command of the F-16 Solo Display Team.

Meet the “Dream Viper,” the new special painted F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team

According to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Facebook Page, Aviation Commander Steven ‘Vrieske’ De Vries, of the 31st Tiger Squadron at Kleine-Brogel Air Force Base, will be able to represent the Belgian national colors as an ambassador for the next three years at numerous air events in Belgium and abroad.

Like his predecessors, Steven, as the 19th F-16 demonstration pilot since 1979, also receives a unique-painted aircraft. The aircraft’s design was created by Aviation Commander Steven De Vries with the graphic contribution of Nico De Boeck. The fantastic painting is from the painters section of the Kleine-Brogel Air Base.

After a period of technical inspections and detailed painting, the aircraft with the tail number FA-87 and named “Dream Viper” had been unveiled on Thursday, Jun. 9, 2022 to colleagues, guests, media and aviation enthusiasts under the approving eye of the Air Component Commander, the Major General Aviator Thierry Dupont.

Meet the “Dream Viper,” the new special painted F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team

‘Senior Captain Steven “Vrieske” De Vries will together with his team be displaying the Dream Viper around Europe and amaze the crowds with his breathtaking flying skills. The highlight would be the Negative loop that he flies in his display,’ Timmerman explained to The Aviation Geek Club.

Vrieske and the Dream Viper debuted this past weekend during the Cosford Airshow at Royal Air Force (RAF) Cosford, UK. The next chance to admire the Dream Viper will be at the Danish Air Show in Karup, Denmark.

For the biggest fans, a reference book of the Belgian Air Force’s F-16 Solo Display Team, containing the most beautiful photos and souvenirs of the 2022 season, will be available this fall.

Meet the “Dream Viper,” the new special painted F-16AM belonging to the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Team

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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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