Piet Van Riet

Others on the book "From Fighter Pilot to Airline Pilot":

A book with live stories about aviation interests me always and surely when it is written as a live story of some one you know! My reaction when the book came out, “jet another book about aviation!” Some time later you will find it on your table. The subtitle: A picture of a passionate and rebellious veteran of the Belgian Aviation, fully covers in fact the road completely, highly recommend when you like aviation. The book is ‘peppered’ with spicy stories, personal stories, anecdotes, illustrations and more than 250 photos, from his own albums and out of Air Force and Sabena materials.

Piet describes with ease, in 8 chapters his life before aviation, born in Hamme VL. on 10 March 1931. After he had to interrupt his studies and for circumnavigating one year of military service, he chooses to become a student pilot in the Belgian Air Force. He obtained his ‘Silver Wings’ in Williams AFB, Arizona on August the 2dn 1952 E(asy).

Before returning to the Belgian Air Force, he succeeds the Fighter school on F84 Thunder jet on Luke AFB, Arizona.

On 1st September 1955 he starts as a candidate 1st Officer and after flying for Sabena only 1 and ½ year , he becomes Captain  on Douglas DC 3. For 33 years he upgrades on Douglas DC 4, DC6, DC 7 and DC 10 passing in-between on Boeing 707 to end up on pension age on March the 10th  1991.

In the Military Air Forces, he flew SV4B Stampe, Harvard T6, F80 Shooting Star, F84 Thunder jet, Oxford, Pilatus PC6 Porter, C 119 Boxcar and C 130 Hercules. He ‘touched down’ in all big countries around the world except NewZealand.

He relates every professional life story - straightforward, mentioning first and family names throughout the book, mentioning that his whole carrier happened during the second part of last century.

Jan Vanhulle 
Airport Community EBKT