When OO-UBA opened Sabena's helicopter airmail service on 21 August 1950, the airline's second Bell 47 went ahead, carrying a journalist.

'The mail helicopter in Libramont.' Sabena's involvement with helicopters began with an air mail contract and OO-UBA flew the first circuit around eastern Belgium on 21 August 1950. Note the 'mailboxes' fitted. This football pitch in Libramont, a small but central town in the Ardennes, was the first stop from Brussels - Porte de Ninove / Ninoofse Poort. The other stops were: Liège - Orban; Tongeren - De Motten park; Hasselt - St Hubertsplein; Beringen - Vigor football club; Turnhout - road to Kasterlee; Herentals - Oude Vaart; and Antwerp - Wilrijkse Plein.