Legendary Moments in Military Aviation: AdlA

Showing posts with label AdlA. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

RAF Waddington hosts French Air Force invasion of Mirage 2000Ns and Jaguar Jets seeking a splash and dash during Brilliant Foil 1994 Exercise

Brilliant Foil 1994 was held at the beginning of October 1994, coinciding with the ACMI deployment of French Mirage 2000s at RAF Waddington and a deployment of Spanish EF-18s at RAF Coningsby. It was the first Brilliant Foil exercise, replacing Exercise Priory and Elder Forest. The French Air Force, AdlA, flew multiple missions to the UK during Brilliant Foil 1994 with Mirage 2000Ns, Mirage F1Cs, and Jaguar aircraft from the French Tactical Air Commands EC.3, EC.4, EC.11, and Mirage F-1Cs from EC.33.

On October 4th, 5th, and 6th, they made quick turnaround landings at RAF Waddington for a Splash and Dash before heading home to their home bases. RAF Waddington was the preferred base for refuelling the Brilliant Foil 1994 participating French jets as there were already French Air Force ground crews present for the ACMI deployment that was in progress.

For the few aviation photographers and enthusiasts who lined the perimeter hedge at the runway 21 end (20 Today) on those October mornings, it was an exciting wait to see these multi-camouflaged jets, as many were still wearing their 1991 Desert Storm (Gulf War) sand coloured camouflage.

I photographed two Spanish Ala 15 EF-18As from Zaragoza Air Base at RAF Waddington, so they were also there for ACMI training. They were not from the five seen at RAF Coningsby from Ala12 Madrid/Torrejón.

Just to complete the picture, German Marine Tornados down the road at RAF Cottesmore and Norwegian F-16s up at RAF Leeming were all participating in Brilliant Foil 1994.

The images below come from Slide film and were mainly taken on the 4th of October in some reasonable sunshine. The Mirage F-1Cs from EC.33 were on the 6th and not photographed. I hope you will enjoy a look back at those great times.

A160/11-RT Jaguar A EC.11Armée de l'Air.

A89/11-RE Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

A94/11-RN Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

A135/11-RJ Jaguar A EC.11 Armée de l'Air.

335/4-BJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

342/4-AG Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

372/4-BR Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

336/4-BP Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

332/3-JQ Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

348/3-JA Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

358/3-JG Mirage 2000N EC.3 Armée de l'Air.

342/4-AG Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

335/4-BJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

344/4-AJ Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

336/4-BP Mirage 2000N EC.4 Armée de l'Air.

In the jelly zone and one away.

Number two rolling.

Number two is airborne, number three is rolling, and I'm moving before number four re-heats.

C15-35/15-22 EF-18A Ala 15 EdA.

What a great time that was!

Happy Days, and thanks for looking.

Monday, October 3, 2022

Israeli F-15 jets make a star appearance at RAF Waddington's airshow 2001.

Expectations for the 2001 RAF airshow at RAF Waddington had been running high. By the time aircraft began their arrivals, the atmosphere amongst spotters and photographers alike had reached a frenzy of rumour. In fact, unlike today, this is a rumour that really has become folklore.

This is how I remember people telling it. The then prime minister of Britain, Tony Blair, had been briefed that an Israeli Air Force detachment of F-15s, Boeing KC-707s and C-130 Hercules were airborne from Isreal and headed for the UK. In reply to his shocked response, he was informed they were participating in the RAF Waddington Airshow on Saturday, June 30th and Sunday, July 1st 2001.

Whether that is true or an old wife's tale, there is no disputing that they certainly did appear and what a great moment for all of us enthusiasts.

The RAF Waddington airshow team had once again pulled off a mega coup. Still, as time had proved, 2001 would have a mass of great military aircraft types that would produce USAF B-2Bs E-8A, Spanish Navy AV8s, Greek and French mirage 2000's P-3 Orions from Norway and the Netherlands and more and then more, a truly memorable moment in UK airshows.

It is all captured here on the Fuji Velvia slide film.