It was a long wait. The Châteaubernard airbase in Cognac was selected to host the 2020 Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace Meeting National, also known as the National Air Force Airshow. However, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic canceled this event, along with most other major gatherings.
A new date was set for 2021, but another wave of COVID-19 swept the globe, resulting in another cancellation. By 2022, it was uncertain what would happen next.
As dates began to appear on the 2022 airshow calendar, it was finally announced that Cognac would host that year’s National Meeting, which had been postponed for the previous two years.
The last airshow held at Cognac was in 2013. Since then, much has changed. The TB-30 Epsilon training aircraft have been replaced by Pilatus PC-21s, civilian-registered Grob G120As operated by SOCATA/EADS, and AdlA MQ-9A Reaper drones, which are now based at Cognac.
12/709FN PC-21 seen landing back at Cognac.
532/33-EN MQ-9A Reaper ED.02.033 'Savoie'.
94/315-XK TB-30 Epsilon "Petit Prince" special marks are one of two preserved at Cognac; the other is 105/F-SEXV, which is in the colours of the "Cartouche Doré" display team.
650/3-IA Mirage 2000D from EC01.003 at Nancy-Ochey arriving for the static display.
A footnote: After weeks of sunshine, the Friday arrival day was to see overcast and misty conditions.
CE.16-01/11-01 EF2000T Ala 11 EdA. Arriving along with C.16-52/11-52 and C.16-40/11-40, both EF2000s also from Ala 11.
46+44 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF.
F-AYSB F-86A Sabre marked as 01675/FU-675 ex 01+13.
Sunrise on Saturday morning, clear sky and temperatures reaching a sweltering 36°!
2802/SK EC725R EH01.067 AdlA.
H29 A109BA 1W BAF Special colours.
204 Mi-8MTV from Split/Divulge Barracks Croatia 345 ETH Helicopter transport Eskadrilla.
T.21-05/35-05 C295M 353Esc EdA.
C.16-52/11-52 EF2000 and CE.16-01/11-52 EF2000T on the Flightline.
059 PC-9M.'Wings of Storm's Croatian Air Force display team.
F-ZBME/44 CL415 Securite Civil.
322 M346A 150 Sqn RSiAF.
1381/ER TBM-940 DGA-EV.
510 and 538 F-16C 343 Mira HAF 'Team Zeus'.
510 F-16C 343 Mira early morning practice flight.
15/709FQ PC-21 with 04/709FF and 05/709FG from tactical demonstration team 'Mustang X Ray'
122/30-GA RafaleC EC03.030 of the Vautour tactical demonstration team from Mont de Marsan.
110/30-IN RafaleC EC03.030 of the Vautour tactical demonstration team from Mont de Marsan.
Seen landing 0110/F-RBAR A400M ET04.061 Sp/C.
109/115-YH Mirage 2000C EC02.005.
F-AZKM )V-10B marked as 155454/UU-26 USMC ex 99+24.
F-AZXV CM170 marked 479/2-HB.
French Air Force Team Mustang X-Ray taxi.
122/30-GA RafaleC EC03.030 Sp/C was seen on Saturday before the Sunday mishap when 110/30-IN clipped its tailplane. Both aircraft from the Vautour team landed safely, although debris dropped from 122/30-GA into a local village damaged a house. Luckily, nobody was injured or worse.
The cause may have been a wind gust, as a large storm was forecast for Sunday evening, breaking the intense heat of the weekend.
136/4-GO Rafale Solo presentation coming from St Dizier.
2802/SK EC725R from EH01.067 'Pyrénées' from BA 120 at Cazaux.
The EC725R 'Caracal' is used by special forces, as was demonstrated.
PC-9Ms of the Croatian Air Force' Wings of the Storm' practise during Fridays' misty weather.
E80 Alpha Jet E DGA-EV leads Monday's departures. The weather had changed to heavy rain overnight, and it had not stopped by the time of the show's departures.
120/115-KC Mirage 2000C from EC02.005.
120/115-KC Mirage 2000C from EC02.005, there were some fascinating, particularly marked aircraft.
109/115-YH Mirage 2000C EC02.005
136/4-GO Rafale C ETR03.004. Solo presentation team special marks.
322 M346A 150Sqn RSiAF Special colours, showing how bad Monday's conditions were. Not to mention how wet I was!
322 M346A RSiAF close-up of the special marks.
140/4-GS Rafale C ETR03.004 spare aircraft.
146/30-GY Rafale arriving at Cognac Monday morning from Mont de Marsan.
30 Rafale M FN Special colours.
198/XE Jodel D140E EIVV25.535 'Cordouan'. departing home to BA722 at Saintes/Thénac.
725/UV HK-36TTC also from EIVV25.535 'Cordouan'
510 F-16C 343Mira HAF.
538 F-16C 343Mira HAF.
A farewell wave from 'Mustang X-Ray'
To see the 2004 meeting, press the link below.
