Frank Phlippo (1949 - 2020) joined the Flemish air cadets at Semmerzake airbase when he was 14 years old. The start of an impressive career with the Belgian Air Force. After his secondary education in 1969, he started his basic training with SV4 in Goetsenhoven. Later on he flew with the Fouga Magister at Brustem.

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His training ended in the T33 in Twente, where he also received his wings. After this Frank Phlippo returned to Brustem as an instructor on Fouga Magister. Later he also flew on F-104 at Kleine Brogel with the 23rd squadron.

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In 1975 Frank Philippo ended up in Koksijde, where he was part of the 40th Squadron. Here he first flew on Sikorsky where he was also an instructor. In 1976 Frank Phlippo was the co-pilot on the delivery flight of RS01 from Culdrose to Koksijde together with Cdt.vl.E.De Landtsheer, Kapt.H.Derechter and 1SM A.Verhelst.

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One of his most difficult scrambles there was On December 17, 1979. At a quarter to eleven that evening, he and his crew had to rescue 5 people on board from the sinking fishing boat O.82 in gusts of 90 km per hour and waves of 6 meters.

In 1987 on March 6, Frank was one of the pilots who provided assistance after the sinking of the Harold of Free Enterprise at Zeebrugge. For this he received a commemorative coin from P&O. The 40th Squadron also received the FAI's “outstanding airmanship” prize for their performance during the rescue mission.

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During the airshow of 1986, Frank Philippo was also the pilot who performed the last flight with the Sikorsky B-8/OT-ZKH. It was taken out of service after 3,489 flying hours and wore a special paint on the occasion of the last flight. For many years he was also one of the people responsible for the organization of the air show in Koksijde.

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