Aviation news: Bronco Demo Team – Bringing Poppies from Flanders Fields

The Bronco Demo Team’s OV-10 will be bringing Poppies from Flanders Fields to venues and airshows all over Europe in 2017; supporting a message of peace and reconciliation in remembrance of the sacrifice by so many, 100 years ago.

The Bronco Demo Team is based at Kortrijk-Wevelgem airport situated just 12nm East from the Ypres salient. The airfield was first used during World War I, initially by German fighter squadrons and later, during the advance of the Allied Powers leading to the end of the conflict, by the Royal Air Force.

As a commemoration of The Great War, the Bronco Demo Team has adorned its OV-10 Bronco in a truly amazing new “Poppy” livery. The Poppies and “LEST WE FORGET, 1914-18” graphics reflect light differently when the aircraft moves, producing a different shine and brightness at various angles. 

In addition, the OV-10 Bronco will carry actual Poppy seeds to venues and airshows in 2017, underlining the theme. The seed packets will be offered for sale at the shows, with each bag individually marked with the flight date and event name. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

FLANDERS FIELDS MEMORIAL TOUR: 

On Wednesday 15 February 2017 the Bronco Demo Team’s OV-10 Bronco G-ONAA undertook an extensive tour of the WWI battle fields around Ypres, overflying many of the memorials and cemeteries that lay as silent witnesses to the atrocities inflicted a century ago.

The Team’s initial attempts to conduct this special flight were marred by the typical weather often prevalent in the cold and damp Flanders Fields this time of the year but, when the team was able to proceed, the flight took in no less than 17 memorials and a record was made on photo and film.

1. Flanders Field American Cemetery – Waregem
2. Soldatenfriedhof Praatbos – Vladslo
3. Yser Tower – Diksmuide
4. Dodengang (Corridor of Death) – Diksmuide
5. Belgian Cemetery – Houthulst
6. German War Cemetery – Langemark
7. Brooding Soldier Canadian Memorial – St. Julien
8. Tyne Cot Cemetery – Passchendaele
9. Buttes New British Cemetery – Polygon Wood
10. Hooge Crater Canadian Cemetery – Ypres
11. Sanctuary Wood Cemetery – Ypres
12. Hill 62 Canadian Memorial – Ypres
13. Menin Gate – Ypres
14. Essex Farm Cemetery – Ypres
15. New Irish Farm Cemetery – Ypres
16. Island of Ireland Peace Park – Mesen
17. Soldatenfriedhof – Menin

The Boeing North American Aviation Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s for counter insurgency (COIN) combat and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft in the Vietnam War.

The OV-10B variant was produced for Germany in the target tug role. Eighteen aircraft were delivered in the early 70’s and were equipped with target towing equipment in the fuselage. A clear dome replaced the rear door and a rearwards facing seat was installed in the cargo bay for a winch operator.

Formed in 2010, the Bronco Demo Team’s mission is to preserve and perpetuate the history of the OV-10 Bronco and the people who designed, built, flew and maintained this unique aircraft.

For more information, visit the Bronco Demo Team website.

GAR would like to thank Tony De Bruyne and we look forward to seeing the Bronco Demo Team in 2017.