Melsbroek Air Base is a Belgian Air Component facility in Zaventem

Zaventem

Zaventem is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Nossegem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Sterrebeek and Zaventem proper. On January 1, 2006 Zaventem had a total population of 28,651...

, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

. It is located on the northern side of the same site as Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport is an international airport northeast of Brussels, Belgium. The airport is partially in Zaventem and partially in the Diegem area of Machelen, both located in the Flemish Region of Belgium.Brussels Airport currently consists of 54 contact gates, and a total of 109 gates...

, with which it shares runways and ground and air control facilities.

The 15th Air Transport Wing

15th Air Transport Wing

The 15th Air Transport Wing is a wing in the Air Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.The wing comprises two operational squadrons, the 21st Squadron and the 20th Squadron, and a Training & Conversion Unit. 21st Squadron is also known as the Liaison and Long-Haul Flight...

 operates from Melsbroek Air Base with following types:

• Airbus A310
  Airbus A310
  The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
  
   (retired)
• Airbus A330
  Airbus A330
  The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
  
  
• Dassault Falcon 20
  Dassault Falcon 20
  The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:...
  
  
• Dassault Falcon 900
• Embraer 135 & 145
  Embraer ERJ 145 family
  The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...
  
  
• Lockheed C-130

History

The aerodrome was created by German military during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Melsbroek also was operated by the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) during World War 2 (after the 1944 liberation). After the war, Melsbroek replaced Haren Airfield as the Belgian national airport. That title is now carried by the Zaventem terminal on the same aerodrome, built for the 1958 world exposition. At that time, the existing terminal was taken over by the then Belgian Air Force.

When Trans European Airways

Trans European Airways

Trans European Airways is a now defunct airline that had its head office in Building 117 on the grounds of Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem, Belgium.- History :...

 existed, its head office was in Building 117 of Melsbroek Airport. When CityBird

CityBird

CityBird was an airline founded in 1996 and based in Building 117D, Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem. Founded in 1996, the airline filed for bankruptcy in October 2001. Thomas Cook toyed with the idea of buying them out of bankruptcy, but later pulled out....

existed its head office was in Building 117D.