This Dassault Mirage IVP 62/CI AdlA was a star attraction amongst the visiting aircraft to be seen and photographed at the French Air Forces 2004 Meeting National (Airshow) held at Reims-Champagne Base Aérienne 112. The show was held over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of July 2004.
Reims-Champagne was home to the 33rd Reconnaissance Wing (Escadre) of the French Air Force until 2011. Back in 2004, the 33rd wing hosted two squadrons of Mirage F1CRs, a third operated Mirage F1CTs, and two-seat F1Bs used for pilot training. These three Squadrons (Escadrons) further break down into Flight/Squadron elements (Escadrilles), of which three were celebrating Ninety-year Anniversaries during 2004, and they had four Mirages marked in very vibrant special colour schemes to mark this occasion. All are photographed below.
Most AdlA types were on show, including the Embraer EMB 312 Tucano. A C-135FR from Istres made a flypast in support of the Mirage IVP but did not land. Foreign highlights were the Moroccan Air Force's "Marche Verte" support aircraft, a CN235M in full Desert camouflage.
Here are the weekend's highlights.
62/CI Mirage IVP ERS01.005 AdlA is approaching runway 25, which was in use all weekend.
Status: Stored at Le Bourget Dugny.
Mirage F1CT "Normandie-Niémen" and Mirage F1CR "Rhine Seagull"
Both are performing a missed approach.
Airshow day, a four-ship flypast opening the show.
leader:- 643/33-CE Mirage F1CR
640/33NV Mirage F1CR
653/33-CV Mirage F1CR
258/33-FO F1CT
It's a mixed flight of Escadron de reconnaissance 1/33 named "Belfont" and has jets marked from 3ème escadrille "Leopard", and the 2ème escadrille "Petit Prince". The Escadron de Reconnaissance 2/33 "Savoie" is represented with 1ère escadrille "Mouette Rhénane" (Rhineland Seagull), and finally, the "Normandie-Niémen"
603/33-CB Mirage F1CR ER01.033 Special Marks AdlA.
Status: Stored in the USA.
603/33-CB Mirage F1CR ER01.033 SAL33 Special marks depicting the Escadrilles marks "A.Bordages Axe"
622/33-NH Mirage F1CR ER02.033 depicting SAL6 marks "Rhine Seagull"
Status: registered with the USA Civil Register as N619AX.
612/33-NJ Mirage F1CR ER01.007 depicting BR1's emblem "Cocotte" (Paper Aeroplane).
Status: Transferred to the USA and stored.
Along the fuselage of 612/33-NJ Mirage F1CR are seen aircraft types that BR11 has flown throughout its 90-year journey.
The fancy special colours of SAL 33, SAL 6, and SAL 11 sandwiched between German Air Force Torndos Mirage 2000N and Mirage 200D and a Danish F-16 Fighting Falcon.
509/33-FS Mirage F1B EC03.033 AdlA also displaying special marks.
Status: Registered with the USA Civil Register as N552EM.
230/33-FH Mirage F1CT still carrying the infamous "Normandie-Niémen" marks.
Status: This aircraft was converted to an instructional airframe.
The four-ship returning to Base Aérienne BA112 Reims-Champagne.
491/312-UJ EMB312F "Tucano" DV05.312 AdlA. From Salon de Provence.
Status: Instructional Airframe at Montmirault.
314/4-AX Mirage 2000N EC01.004 "Dauphine" AdlA. Arriving from Luxeuil/St-Sauveur.
Status: Scrapped.
667/3-JZ Mirage 2000D EC02.003 "Champagne" AdlA.
Status: Written off 9th January 2019.
E140/314-UD Alpha Jet E EAC00.314 AdlA. Touching down from Tours/ST Symphorien.
Status: I last saw it at Châteaudun, so it's probably broken up.
27/5-NT Mirage 2000C EC01.005 "Vendee" AdlA. Coming North from its base at Orange/Claritat.
Status: I last saw this aircraft at the Châteaudun storage facility.
F-AZGE Dassault MD 315 Flamant, previously 158 AdlA.
027/CNA-ME CASA CN235M-100, 3Squadron Royal Morocean Air Force.
027/CNA-ME CASA CN235M-100 is still operational with 3 Squadron in 2026.
Fa117 F-16AM 2Wing BAF.
Status: Operational with Belgium's 10Wing.
FA88 F-16AM 10 Wing BAF.
Status: Sold to the Jordanian Air Force, serialled 150.
471/93-CB C-135FR ERV00.093.
Status: Stored at Nimes Garons. waiting to become N623MA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
Status: Stored at Le Bourget.
62/CI Mirage 1VP ERS01.005. Let's watch it as it lands.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
E91/7-PZ Alpha Jet E 01.007 from St Dizier.
Status: It was sent to the Châteaudun Storage facility, which is now closed.
E32/7-HW Jaguar E EC01.007 AdlA. Also coming from St Dizier.
Status: Scrapped.
054/YX EMB121AA, EAT00.319 AdlA
Status: Was stored at its home base at Avord.
19/5-OX Mirage 2000C EC02. 003 AdlA.
Status: Preserved at Orange.
4221/AED SA342M 6RHC.
Status: Preserved as the gate Guard at Grazzanise.
F-AZGE Dassault MD 315 Flamant, previously 158 AdlA.
207/BF D140E SAVV21.535 AdlA.
Status: To the French civil register as F-GZGS.
105/62-SI (F-AZVM) Nord N2501F Noratlas.
To finish, I include some more of the mighty Mirage 1VP as it prepares to display.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
62/CI Mirage1VP ERS01.005 AdlA.
Happy Days!
