1Wing Historical Centre

About the museum

The 1Wing Historical Centre (1WHC) traces the history of the units of the Beauvechain air base from 1935 to the present day, with a focus on fighter aviation from 1946 to 1996. The base is named after Charles Roman, a former commanding officer who died during an air mission. Between 1946 and 1996, up to six squadrons flew from here, including on Spitfire, Meteor, Hunter, F-104G and F-16 aircraft, among them the 349th and 350th squadrons, which were formed within the RAF during the Second World War. Since 1996, the base has trained the Belgian Air Force's future pilots.

The museum occupies the buildings of the former large Dewaersegger farm, which was occupied by the Germans during the war, then by the Allies in 1944, and finally by the Belgian Air Force. The farm was destroyed in 1944, except for the old barn, typical of Brabant farms. In 1996, Colonel Thierry Fontaine, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, founded the non-profit association “The Golden Falcon” to preserve the memory of the fighter squadrons. The historical centre was approved in 1997 and opened in February 1998. Volunteers renovated the buildings and fitted out the rooms.

The visit goes through the courtyard and garden, where aircraft that flew at Beauvechain are on display (F-16, F-104, RF-84F, Meteor, Alphajet, Mirage 5, MiG-21 and a 1:1 scale replica of a Spitfire IX), then through rooms devoted to the periods 1935–1945, 1946–1957 and 1957–1996, the meteorological Wing and, upstairs, a collection of radio and radar equipment. Block 24 features dioramas of ground crew life and aircraft engines with explanatory panels. The centre holds about sixty airfield vehicles, only a small part of which is on display.

Highlights

• Aircraft in the courtyard: F-16, F-104G, RF-84F, Meteor, Alphajet, MiG-21 and a replica of a Spitfire IX
• Large model of the base at 1:1000
• Collection of airfield vehicles, unique in Belgium
• Rooms on the history of the base from 1935 to the present day
• Aircraft engines with explanatory panels and dioramas of ground crew life
• Café with terrace facing the aircraft

Permanent exhibition

• Histoire de la base de Beauvechain : salles, avions et véhicules – Rooms on the history of the base from 1935 to the present day, a base model, aircraft in the courtyard, aircraft engines, ground crew dioramas and a collection of airfield vehicles.

Founded

1998

Operated by

ASBL The Golden Falcon

Admission & discounts

Unguided visit on opening Sundays: €9 per person. Guided group tours by appointment, with booking and payment in advance.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Walloon Brabant tourism federation lists the site as accessible to people with reduced mobility; the museum website gives no further details.

Kids & families

Free for children up to age 12. Aircraft and vehicles are displayed outdoors in the courtyard and garden.

Getting there & parking

Address: Rue Longue, 1320 Beauvechain. GPS coordinates given on the website: 50° 45' 22'' N, 04° 46' 54'' E.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café with terrace facing the aircraft (coffee, a special beer, snacks) and a souvenir shop. Free parking; toilets on site, according to the tourism federation.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit