Location: ANR/EBAW

Photo: collection Skystef

Description: this factory fresh Marchetti was on December 24 1970 registered to the Belgian State, department Ministry of Communications, for Ecole d’Aviation Civile / Burgerlijke Luchtvaartschool (founded in May 1952) but operated by Sabena and based at Grimbergen airfield. It carried the colors of the former Belgian flag carrier with on the right hand side "Burgerlijke Luchtvaart School" titles (depicted such) and left hand side "Ecole d'Aviation Civile" titles. After the Belgian State ended its financial support on December 31 1989, Sabena was on January 12 1990 authorized to continue these kind of operations by creating a few weeks later on January 26 a 100% subsidiary of Sabena called the Belgian Aviation School (B.A.S.), based at Grimbergen airfield. It was officially transferred to B.A.S. on January 15 1991 but the Marchetti was never used for these training flights and instead put for sale. On July 31 1991 it was cancelled from the register and a few weeks later on August 14 sold to a couple private owners of the States (L. Hale & J. Magoffin Jr) as "N126MJ" leaving Grimbergen airfield on August 27 of the same year.