"Slivers" pilot Palmer De Vlieger

Adjudant Chef Palmer De Vlieger was one of the two display pilots for The Belgium Air Force F -104 display team. The Slivers.
The Display team gave their first public demonstration on May 14, 1969 during the international meeting at Brustem.
Their show was based on synchronised high speed crossings with the runway axis as a reference point. The aircraft were painted in the traditonal 'Vietnam' camouflage - 2 tones of green, tan and grey on the underside.
In these first years the planes wore an insigna on the air intakes depicting 2 silhouettes of a F-104 crossing on a red disc. This insigna disappeared to be replaced by the teams name from the 1972 season on.
The Slivers disbanded in July 1975 as Major Steve Nuyts was called upon other duties and there were no candidates to replace him.
This during the seven years the team made 68 official presentations, and displayed in 5 European countries - Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.

copyright © Johan Brinkmans