Situated between Zahleh and Heliopolis-Baalbek right
in the middle of the plain in the Beqaa valley, Rayak
lies at nearly three thousand feet above sea level
and is just under forty miles from Beirut. Its name
is of Semitic origin, coming either from rac, meaning
an empty space, or from ric, meaning lightning or
brilliance.
In the town of Rayak one finds true social harmony
involving all the religious communities. Churches
and mosques rise side by side. Agriculture prospers
here as it does throughout the plain, with fruit trees,
vines, cereals and vegetables of every kind. There
is a functioning infrastructure, assuring electricity,
telephone service, schools, medical attention, clubs,
and of course restaurants.
The name of Rayak is linked to two national institutions
of great importance. The railroad station stands here,
one which linked Lebanon to all the surrounding countries,
Syria, Jordan and Iraq. This, at a time when locomotives
chugged through the plain at ten or twelve miles an
hour, inspired the poet Moutran to say of the train
that “...speeding along, it devoured space.” What
would he have thought of the speeds attained by man
now, reaching towards the speed of light? We are told
that during the stiff climbs around Bhamdoun, the
passengers would clamber down to pick grapes in the
vineyards bordering the track and jump aboard again
at the next turn, treating the whole affair as routine.
This railroad dates from 1895, but as for the other
institution, a military one, with barracks and aircraft
hangars, that is a whole story that evokes nostalgia.
The airstrips here were used by the Germans in the
early part of World War II. The airbase was seized
by the British and French allies, who enlarged and
re-equipped it and so enabled the French air arm to
send specialists to form a certain number of Lebanese
pilots. With pilots and mechanics for the aircraft,
on August, 1st, 1945 Lebanon now had its aerial patrol
and air force. But under the French Mandate, Rayak
was the airbase and center of attraction for all the
military units of the region comprising Syria, Lebanon
and the Near and Middle East. The base had all that
comfort could demand, including restaurants, gardens,
a swimming pool and heating.
In 1949 the French Air Force evacuated the place and
the Lebanese military command decided to reopen the
base, with the addition of new installations and supporting
services. Officers were posted to the base and some
excellent pilots were formed.
In the base, one can see the administrative building,
several hangars, a control tower, an officers’ club,
houses, a parachute tower, barracks, workshops, landing
strips, lighting installations and a technical air
school.
The base shelters the air school, Air Force Lebanon,
AFL. Here pilots are trained for civil aircraft, fighters
and helicopters, and qualified technicians are provided
for the Air Force.
The base at Rayak is also a house for all the Lebanese
in the AFL, for it shelters in its grounds all the
old planes and most of the present fleet. There is
a museum still not open to the general public and
would-be visitors have to obtain permission to see
around. In it there are De Havilland Vampires T55,
Hawker Hunters F6, Sud Aviation AB212, Fouga Magister
CM170 and Aerospatiale SA3421 Gazelle. There is already
a hanger which is to serve as a museum open to the
public.
All the aircraft go to Rayak for retirement. The base
was the target of Israeli attack on 13th July, 2006.
Some of the aircraft were repaired by the technicians,
ones that were used against the Fateh el-Islam installed
at Nahr el-Bared. There are also three monuments,
dedicated respectively to the Lebanese, French and
Syrian armies.
A day passed in the Beqaa between Zahleh, Anjar, Baalbek-Heliopolis
and Rayak is certain to be most agreeable, on condition
that in summer particularly one protects oneself from
the scorching sun. The airbase is still in use but
one can only wonder if anything is to be done with
the neglected railroad station. One place not to be
omitted from the itinerary is the large seminary founded
by the White Fathers and which at present accommodates
priests of the Greek Byzantine rite. Its presence
played a welcome role in the social, cultural and
religious development of the region.
Joseph Matar, Translated from the French:
K.J. Mortimer
- Lebanese Air Force, Rayak base: >>
View Movie << (2011-08-01)
