Joyeux Anniversaire à la Patrouille de France

Welcome to this latest edition of Aerodrome and our regular look at the fascinating world of aeroplanes and the historic aviation scene in the UK.

The latest edition of Aerodrome is dedicated to a significant anniversary occasion for a national aerobatic display team which is widely regarded as being the oldest in the world, the magnificent Patrouille de France, in what is their 70th Anniversary year. A team which will be familiar to millions of people around the world, the Patrouille are airborne ambassadors for the French nation, regularly displaying to spellbound audience all over the world, highlighting the skill and professionalism of the modern French Air and Space Force, albeit using their compliment of classic Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet trainers. Style and professionalism come as standard with this team, but they can also always call upon a little je ne sais quoi, and some undeniable Gallic flair!

With an extremely hectic schedule of displays to perform this season, the team are rightly concentrating on allowing as many French nationals as possible to see the team performing in their anniversary year and as a consequence, only a handful of overseas Airshow appearances have been planned, with none on the UK mainland. That being the case and not wanting to miss out on all the celebrations, if the aeroplanes won't come to your intrepid Aerodrome reporter, there was only one thing for it, a trip across the channel and two Patrouille displays on consecutive days at the Fête Aêrienne, Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis event at the Aérodrome de Cerny, La Ferté Alais. 

Please join us as we wish the French Aerobatic Display team Joyeux Anniversaire. 

70 years of flying excellence

The team are sporting special tails for this 70th Anniversary season.

For anyone who has ever attended an Airshow, the appearance of our national aerobatic display team is always something of an occasion, an opportunity to marvel at a display of precision formation flying, combined with thrilling aerobatic manoeuvres, whilst at the same time joining thousands of other people in a little spontaneous show of national pride. For us here in the UK, that's obviously reflected in our affection for the Red Arrows and how no matter how many times we may have seen them display before, how we always find ourselves clapping along with everyone else at the end of their latest exciting display, with our hearts bursting with pride and admiration.

As the UK public's love for the Red Arrows is an aviation 'given', imagine if your own national aerobatic display team had an even longer history than the Red Arrows and even though you shared a population similar to that of the UK, the geographical footprint of your nation was 126% larger by area than your near neighbours across the English Channel. Surely on the occasion of their 70th Anniversary season, you would definitely want to see them display as many times as possible, even though the team's demanding schedule might restrict such opportunities. These were the issues facing the command team behind the Patrouille de France in advance of this current season, just how could they allow as many French nationals as possible to enjoy one of their spectacular 70th Anniversary performances?

The answer was clearly to arrange a largely 'At Home' year of display flying, appearing at as many Airshow and commemorative events as possible, covering the vast expanses of this nation and purposely avoiding including too many overseas commitments. Indeed, as 'Le Blues' were not scheduled to appear at any UK mainland events this year, the question for me was, how could this particular aviation enthusiast ensure that he didn't miss out on all the anniversary fun? With this in mind, I decided to head for the annual La Ferté Alais Airshow to experience a Patrouille de France display in front of a home audience in this significant anniversary year, not actually realising that this venue, or more accurately, the immediate area where the airfield is located, possesses historic significance with regard to the heritage of the team. With a weather forecast set fair and all travel arrangements made, the scene was set for a memorable aviation occasion.

The first Airshow event in France to feature a display by several aircraft in formation took place in 1931, when a group of instructors from the training aerodrome at Etampes flew three Morane-Saulnier MS.230 parasol trainers in a coordinated aerobatic display routine for the first time. This was the fortuitous link for us, because we were actually staying in Etampes for the duration of our visit, an unexpected historical bonus for us in this anniversary year. Calling themselves Patrouille (Patrol) Etampes, the team's performances immediately met with popular public acclaim and huge crowds descended on whichever airfield was due to host them.

The popularly of the team grew with each passing display, however, the outbreak of the Second World War would clearly impact on the team and its activities, and it wouldn't be until 1946 that a former member of Patrouille Etampes had the opportunity to establish a new team, this time made up of instructors from the airbase at Tours. Continuing the tradition of naming the team in reference to the station from which they operated, the new team were referred to as 'Patrouille Tours'.

One of the world's premier aerobatic display teams, do the Patrouille de France have the distinction of also being the oldest?

The Patrouille de France as we know it today was established in 1953 and since that date, several units have actually taken the honour of representing the team, shedding the original tradition of including their home base as part of the team's name. This naming development is thought to have emanated from a display which took place in Algeria, when a local journalist eloquently described the team as the 'Patrouille de France', essentially the display patrol representing the whole of France. From this point forward, the team represented the entire nation and not just the station they called home and the world famous Patrouille de France were born.

Initially, the team used suitably presented American made Republic F-84G Thunderjet aircraft, but soon exchanged these for home built Dassault Ouragan fighter bombers, as the incredibly popular team began to be viewed more as national ambassadors than simply an aerobatic demonstration team. Over the next few years, the team would either use the Ouragan or the more advanced Dassault Mystère IV, another single seat design, and another aircraft which announced the French Air Force's transition to the jet age using home designed and built types.

Unfortunately, at a time of great international austerity, the sheer expense of using these fast and expensive jets for this display purpose was becoming problematic and the justification for this outlay was being discussed at the highest levels - there was a very real possibility that the team was facing disbandment, as their jets were required for squadron use. Thankfully, a forward-thinking senior Air Force commander from the flight training school at Provence, convinced his superiors that if the team used the more economical little Fouga Magister jet trainer, it would offer everything the prestigious national display team would need, whilst at the same time also representing the French aviation industry. Importantly, using the Magister would allow the team's continued existence at a fraction of the current cost.  

Thankfully, this idea met with official approval and the Patrouille de France have never looked back, operating the Fouga Magister since 1964, which was the same year in which our very own Red Arrows were formed. The Patrouille used the Magister until the end of the 1980 season, when they exchanged their classic little jet for the far more capable Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet trainer, an aircraft which the team now have a 42 season association and their mount for this historic 70th Anniversary season.

For the 2010 Airshow season, the Patrouille de France were famously led by a female pilot, Commandant Virginie Guyot, the first military aerobatic display team in the world to do so. As you might imagine, the French people love their Patrouille and in exactly the same way as our own Red Arrows do, command the attention of enthusiast and the general public alike at any event which benefits from a display, the pride of a nation and the most prestigious unit in the French Air and Space Force.

A little piece of aviation history

Unfortunately, most UK enthusiasts will not have the opportunity to wish the team a happy anniversary this year, as the Patrouille de France are mainly displaying to home audiences during the 2023 season.

Taking my place amongst the crowds at La Ferté Alais this year, as the arrival time of the team approached, there was a palpable sense of excitement rippling through the gathered masses. The official on-site Patrouille shop had been doing brisk business all day, with a large crowd snaking around the marquee well in advance of its opening each day, with everyone desperate to secure their 70th Anniversary memorabilia. This show is usually extremely well attended, but this year, with a forecast promising blue skies and a programme which offered an eclectic mix of aviation acts old and new, numbers appeared to be greater than ever.

With the arrival of the team now only seconds away, the crowd moved forwards as one, desperate to secure the best vantage point from where to watch the impending spectacle, with every set of eyes scouring the sky for their first glimpse of the team and the start of their anniversary display. Once the team arrived in the overhead, the airfield erupted in a cacophony of cheers and applause, with seemingly every camera in this region of France following the teams every move. The famous eight Alpha Jets of the team were all looking resplendent in their special 70th Anniversary tails and from a personal  perspective, it really was very special to be able to see the Patrouille de France performing in this historic anniversary season in front of a home audience, particularly as this was taking place at an airfield which was only a few miles from where the Patrouille Etampes had performed their very first display back in 1931.

Clearly, 2023 is going to be an incredibly busy year for the Patrouille de France in this significant anniversary year and as the team embark on their mission to allow as many French people as possible to see their beloved team throughout the summer months, this is going to be a memorable celebratory occasion for one and all. I'm sure the current team will be inundated with well-wishers throughout the year, however, I  would just like to add the congratulations and best wishes of a British enthusiast of some years standing, who was fortunate enough to experience two of their early season displays, and was honoured to be part of this 70th Anniversary season - Joyeux Anniversary à la Patrouille de France.

Please enjoy this selection of images which were all taken at this year's Fête Aêrienne, Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis event and all feature the Patrouille de France 70th Anniversary display.

Please enjoy this selection of Patrouille de France display images which I have tried to feature in as near to display order as possible, with formation arrival and passes followed by the dynamic opposition passes, ending with the 70th Anniversary break. 

Joyeux Anniversaire à la Patrouille de France

Mesdames et Messieurs, la Patrouille de France! Congratulations to the team on the occasion of their 70th Anniversary season.

Calling all aviation photographers

With the UK Airshow season now in full swing, it’s probably a good time to remind Aerodrome readers that after an extremely successful inaugural season, the Airfix Aviation Photo Awards are now live and accepting submissions for a second year. As we will all no doubt be attending different events over the coming months and will all have our cameras with us, why not share your photographic talents with the rest of the Airfix community and see if your image scoops one of this year's prizes.

Our guest judge for this year is renowned and internationally published aviation photographer Darren Harbar, a man whose work will be familiar to millions of people the world over. Darren's experience in photography spans over 20 years and started  with him working in a camera store, an apprenticeship which led him to become editor of Which Digital Camera? magazine.

From the covers of national magazines to calendars, appearing regularly in Flypast, Light Aviation and Pilot magazines, Darren’s photographs have been seen by huge numbers of aviation enthusiasts all over the world. He has been running his own business, Darren Harbar Photography since 2011, specialising in a wide range of photography services (Aviation, Commercial, Portfolio etc.).

A love of training people on how to use their cameras has led to Darren offering a range of photography workshops in order to share his knowledge with others. He believes that ‘a good photographer knows how to handle a camera without having to think about it!’

His keen eye will see each submission in the Airfix Aviation Photo Awards, but which two will he pick?

For all the details you might need when considering entering this year's competition, please head over to the Airfix Aviation Photo Awards page on the Airfix website.

I’m afraid that’s all we have for you in this latest edition of Aerodrome, but please keep checking back throughout the year as we endeavour to bring you a series of topical aviation related reviews and features from around the country. As always, if you would like to comment on anything blog related or to suggest a subject you would like to see covered in a future edition, please do drop us a line at aerodrome@airfix.com, where we would be only too pleased to hear your views.

Should you wish to continue the aviation discussions between editions, you will always find something of interest over on the Airfix Aerodrome Forum and if social media is more your thing, please use the respective official social media icon links at the foot of the main Airfix and Corgi website homepages to access our official sites.

The next edition of Aerodrome is scheduled to be published on Friday 21st July, when we will have more aviation features to bring you.

Thank you so much for your continued support of our Aerodrome blog.

Michael

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