Semper Vulture

I was honored to be contacted by Lieutenant Colonel Cloetens of the Belgian Air Force. He is the head of the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), which is responsible for the basic conversion training for all young pilots and the tactical training of future Air Defence pilots (in short, the training of F-16 pilots).

F16 Fighting Falcon graffiti painted by SMOK
picture by Robin Mues
In the past, I had the opportunity to paint a vulture on their club building at Kleine Brogel Air Base. The vulture, known for its strict discipline and hierarchical structure within groups, is also deeply caring for its family. This symbolism made it the perfect mascot for the OCU.
picture by Robin Mues
The F-16 comes in two versions: a single-seat and a two-seat configuration. The aircraft I was tasked with painting is the two-seat version, designed for training purposes, allowing both an instructor and a student pilot to fly together. This added an extra layer of meaning to the artwork, symbolizing the mentorship and training that are central to the OCU's mission.
A vulture painted on the tail of a Belgian F16 by SMOK
picture by Robin Mues
With the transition from the F-16 to the F-35, the current OCU is coming to an end. To commemorate this piece of history, Lieutenant Colonel Cloetens invited me to paint an F-16, marking the closure of this significant chapter.
Street Art by SMOK on a F-16 Fighting Falcon
picture by Robin Mues
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