Bastille Day 2024 with the Armée de Terre aircraft at Chartres airport

The Armée de Terre launched their Bastille Day Défile aircraft from Chartres airport, and from there, they joined the 2024 flypast over Paris. As I have said, the 2024 flypast was different, and the aircraft flew along Avenue Foch due to the preparations for the Olympic Games. 

Below is a record of the preparation and launch on Sunday morning, July 14th, which coincided with Bastille Day.

5593/AYM AS555UN EALAT Armée de Terre.

An early Sunday morning, July 14th, arrival at Chartres airport.

5544/AYM AS555UN EALAT Armée de Terre.

Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral dominates the backdrop.

5544/AYM AS555UN EALAT Armée de Terre.

Three NH90-TTH and three Tigre HAPs are lined up South of the runway.

2027/BHS Tigre HAP from 5 RHC.

887/MCA and 891/MCE PC6/B2-H4S beyond.

As the launch time approaches, all engines are started, including the air spares for all types. The first Vanguard is the PC6s, heading for the runway.

5544/AYJ AS555UN awaits departure.

2027/BHS Tigre HAP from 5RHC running up with 1482/ECB NH90-TTH from 3RHC.

887/MCA PC6/B2-H4 from the ETCM.

891/MCE PC6/B2-H4 from the ETCM.

F-HBKR/R EC120B Colibri from Helidax at Dax.

5527/AYE AS555UN EALAT also in the first Vanguard.

F-HBKT/T EC120B heading for the runway.

5544/AYJ AS555UN.

1482/ECB NH90-TTH Anniversary marks.

1482/ECB NH90-TTH landing on the Southside.

887/MCA PC6 holds at the runway.

MCE prepares to roll.

1528/ECJ NH90-TTH prepares to join the second Vanguard.

1485/ECE, NH90-TTH lifts.

6005/BJE Tigre HAP 5 RHC will lead the heavies.

It's getting congested. 

1485/ECE ready to depart.

2443/CGW AS532UL departs Northside parking to bring up the rear of the Armée de Terre aircraft participating in the 2024 Bastille Day flypast.

The second wave is away.

Turning East for Paris.

Heading for the Avenue Foch, Paris.

Use the link to see the fixed-wing section of the flypast, which was practised at Bricy Airbase earlier in July.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2024/07/paris-2024-defile-flypast-what-to-expect.html

Great weather made for some Happy memories.

NATO Tiger Meet 2003 held at BA103 Cambrai Airbase France featuring some of the best ever Tigered coloured jets.

• The 39th annual meeting of the NATO Tiger Association was held at Cambria BA103 in Northern France from June 2nd through June 8th and hosted by EC 01.012. As the hosts, they applied one of the best-ever Tiger schemes to Mirage 2000C 83/12-YL featuring the Tiger's Eyes. Other NTM aircraft carried some distinctive markings. Sadly, the USAFE's 494th FS was missing, along with the Italian Air Force's 155 Gruppo's F-104s and the RNLAF's 313 Squadron's F-16, which did send two aircraft to join the excellent final days airshow.
• The airshow featured some classic aircraft types, with the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 150th squadron sending a pair of A-4s from the training detachment at Cazaux. The specially marked Alpha jet marked the 30th anniversary of the Jaguars in French service, who themselves, both an A and E model, carried Tiger fins. And a rare airshow appearance by the Italian Air Force's Tornado F-3. Who can forget the 'Tiger SA442M Gazelle' that arrived on Saturday morning from the 3RHC?

• See below to see these and other participating NTM 03 and airshow aircraft.

 

 83/12-YL Mirage 2000C EC01. 012 Armée de l'air. The host's exceptionally marked flagship aircraft.

See this paint scheme up close at the airshow where it was a static exhibit:-

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/09/nato-tiger-meet-airshow-2003-cambria.html

83/12-YL Mirage 2000C EC01.012  Armée de l'Air, recovering at Cambria NTM 2003. 

38 Super Etendard 11F French Navy.

43+96 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF

77/330-AX Mirage 2000-5F EC05.330 Armée de l'Air

FA93 F-16AM 31sm BAF.

15250 Alpha Jet Força Aérea Portuguesa.

93-0696 F-16D 192filo TUAF from Balikesir AB.

46+54 Tornado ECR JBG32 GAF.

45+57 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF

43+96 Tornado IDS AG51 GAF returns from a COMOA operation for which "Cambrésis 03" was one of the major themes.

46+51 Tornado ECR JBG32 GAF.

Tiger tails, and it's great to see the return of Turkish Air Force jets. 

FA122 F-16AM 31sm BAF taxies for a DACT mission, formed the second part of "Cambrésis 03".  

292  F16AM 338skv RNorAF.

285 F-16AM 338skv RNorAF.

T.19B-20/35-38 CN235EA02 Ala35 Spaf

508/5-OT Mirage2000B EC02.005. Many were visiting non-NTM Mirage 2000s, probably associated with the second element of the exercise DACT. 

38 Super Etendard 11F FN. It is one of my personally best-marked NTM 03 aircraft.

525 12-KN Mirage 2000D Armée de l'air.

20/5-OF Mirage 2000C EC02.005 Armée de l'air and another DACT visitor.

528/12-YQ Mirage 2000B EC0.012 Armée de l'air.

119/12-KD Mirage 2000C EC02.012 Armée de l'air.

15250 Alpha Jet A Esq. 301, Força Aérea Portuguesa.

15226 Alpha Jet A Esq. 301, Força Aérea Portuguesa.

43+96 TornadoIDS AG51 GAF.

0839  MiL-17  332LtDVr  CzechAF.

2461/IH AS532UL EET06. 330 Armée de l'air.

90/12-YS Mirage 2000C EC01.012 Armée de l'air.

38 Super Etendard 11F FN taxing past some of the 2003 Tigers to start another mission.

After Friday's Spotters' Day closed on the Base, we dispersed to the runway approach area to witness the last missions of NTM 2003. 

Saturday morning, we were back at the runway approach, enjoying the arrivals for the NTM 2003 airshow on Sunday; unfortunately, overnight, the beautiful weather broke, leaving a very overcast sky for the Sunday airshow.

In part two, I look back at the NTM 2003 Airshow.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/09/nato-tiger-meet-airshow-2003-cambria.html

Happy Days!

For a full list of participants, see below:-